Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Cole County, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Cole County, MO. How do you hold a driver to blame and receive full compensation for your damages when you have been harmed in a hit and run crash? Call the Cole County, MO hit and run accident attorneys of Burger Law immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online so that we can begin fighting for you and winning you a full recovery for your Cole County, MO hit and run accident.

When a reckless driver willfully breaks the rules of the road and harms you or someone you care about, it is normal to feel shocked and angry. It is particularly perturbing when the negligent party declines to take responsibility for their behavior and leaves the scene of the in a hit and run accident. You may be pondering who is going to reimburse you for the damages to your property and you or your family member's injuries. The committed, seasoned and talented Cole County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold dangerous and knowingly irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you comprehend the situation and will fight for you to maximize your recovery and put you on the road to recovery. Call us now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.

In the United States in 2016, 2049 people were killed in hit and run accidents, which was a 62 percent increase from 2009. Of the fatalities, nearly 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately 20 percent of pedestrian deaths happen in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident happens every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury resulting from a car wreck can be traumatizing and bring about life-long repercussions or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases exacerbate your wounds as you may not get medical treatment right away, and you may not be certain who to trust or how to collect fair compensation for your injuries and damages. Our group of experienced and adept hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped individuals and families injured in hit and run accidents in the Cole County, MO area get full recoveries and understand how to maximize your compensation. When you call us at (314) 500-HURT, we start working on your case at once, and you do not owe us any fees until we win your suit.

If you have been injured in a hit and run accident, use our personal injury calculator to see how much you may be able to collect in compensation.

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys: Understanding the Laws in Cole County, MO

If someone else behaves irresponsibly and harms you in a hit and run accident, they are not only responsible for your injuries, they are a lawbreaker. In Missouri, driving away from the scene of an accident is against the law. When a motorist causes or is involved in an accident, they are required by law to:

• Remain at the accident site
• Move their car if it hazardous to other drivers, otherwise, wait for instructions from police
• Attend to anyone who is hurt
• Call the Cole County, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in bad weather
• Exchange contact info and insurance information with everybody involved
• Stay at the crash site until a police officer tells them differently

Furthermore, an accident report has to be filed if damages exceed $500 or the accident leads to injury or death.

Missouri Statute 577.060 categorizes “leaving the scene of an accident" as a Class A Misdemeanor, which is the most serious misdemeanor offense and carries a maximum penalty of one year in county jail and a fine of $2,000. However, leaving the scene turns into a Class E Felony if any of the three conditions listed are met:

1. Physical injury was caused by another party;
2. Over $1,000 in damages was caused to another party’s property; or
3. The defendant has previously left the scene of a hit and run accident.

A hit and run becomes a Class D Felony if the accident is fatal and results in somebody’s death. While it is reassuring that we have laws discouraging hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the at-fault driver will not get you the compensation you are owed. They may be found guilty in the Cole County, MO criminal court, but you need knowledgeable and dedicated hit and run accident attorneys like we have at Burger Law who will fight on your behalf until you get the full recovery you need to recover. When you hire us, we start working on your case at once and are relentless until we win. We do not charge any fees until we win your case and we will represent you aggressively to make certain the negligent party bears complete responsibility for their harmful behavior.

Dos and Do Nots After Being in a Hit and Run Accident

While being in any crash is scary and can leave you feeling unprotected, it can be particularly nerve wracking if the at fault person does not respect the rules of the road and leaves the scene. The rules were enacted for a reason, and it is disappointing and startling when someone disregards those rules and drives carelessly and dangerously. The dedicated and knowledgeable Cole County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold selfish drivers accountable and recover for you the compensation you are owed. It is important to know what to do and what not to do directly following your accident, so you can increase your odds of getting the best possible compensation:

• DO NOT flee the accident site yourself. You could think the damages are too minor to want to deal with the nuisance, or you may be anxious that you are partially responsible. Leaving the location of a crash will make it much more difficult for you to receive compensation for your damages, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical attention. Your first concern should be your health and safety and the health and safety of anyone else in your car or involved in the accident. If you or somebody else is hurt, do your best to keep them in a stable condition and wait for Cole County, MO emergency services to get there and give aid.
• DO NOT hesitate to call the police. Missouri law says that you have to call the police in any crash that causes over $500 worth of damages or results in bodily injury or a fatality. Even if you do not know the scope of the damages or injuries are right away, having a police report will help a lot in making your case.
• DO NOT go after the driver. When you are hit by another car in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are common reactions. You may want to follow the driver and find out who is responsible. That is Cole County, MO law enforcement’s job. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at further risk, but it will hold you back from being able to get important information and may even cause the police to not believe you.
• DO safely discern what you are able to about the reckless driver and vehicle. To do so, you can:
  • Take photographs. If you are not badly injured and can get hold of your phone before the car is completely gone, take as many photographs as possible. Even if you cannot get a full license plate number, just part of the number and/or the make, model and color of the car will be a great help in determining who the driver was. It also helps to take photographs of any tire marks or other damage to the accident site.
  • Talk to witnesses. Other people at the accident site might have been able to see more than you did, or will be able to verify your story. Make sure to get their contact information so a claims adjuster, law enforcement officer or Cole County, MO hit and run accident attorney will be able to contact them at a later date.
  • Write down everything you can. If you did not have time or the ability to take photographs, any knowledge you have of the other car or driver will be easier to recall immediately following the accident, and those details will still be of great help to the police and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Cole County, MO insurance company. In the event that the driver cannot be located, you will have to make an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance company.
• DO call Burger Law at (314) 500-HURT right away. Our skilled and expert hit and run accident attorneys will assist in collecting evidence, including getting access to adjacent surveillance video and contacting witnesses for full statements. We work alongside a network of Cole County, MO car accident experts who will be able to reconstruct the scene and prove exactly how the liable party caused your injuries.

Listed here are some helpful links and frequently asked questions for hit and runs and other types of car accidents:

Hit and Run Cases in Missouri

The ideal scenario is that police and/or your hit and run accident attorneys will be able to locate the at-fault driver that caused your injuries and hold them accountable for their reckless actions. In those cases, the aggressive and skilled Cole County, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make certain you get maximum compensation from the driver and their insurance company.

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Hit and Run Accidents

In Missouri, motorists are required to have uninsured motorist insurance. If you cannot locate the anegligent driver after a hit and run accident, you and your hit and run accident attorneys will need to utilize this part of your policy to seek damages from your own insurance company. In Cole County, MO, there are four criteria that are required to be met in order for you to make this claim:

1. You sustained physical injuries
2. The injuries happened because of an uninsured motorist, or in the case a motorist you are unable to identify
3. You are legally owed compensation from the at-fault driver
4. All other limits of applicable policies have been exhausted by payment or settlement

In these cases, your own Cole County, MO insurance company acts as a stand in for the negligent party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your damages. However, like other insurance companies, they may still have to be persuaded to pay. To have the best chance at receiving the best possible compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need veteran and expert Cole County, MO hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law to fight by your side. We have been challenging insurance companies and other bullies for over 20 years, and will not give in until your own insurance company pays you back the money you have probably been paying into their policies for a long time.

Whether the at fault driver is tracked down or not, the hit and run accident attorneys at Burger law will make certain you get the maximum amount of money that you are entitled to. When you sustain injuries because somebody else broke the rules of the road, you are entitled to a full compensation for all of damages you have received owing to the accident, such as: your medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life. No matter how grave your injuries, we demand that you are compensated for all the money you deserve. If you or a loved one in Cole County, MO has been hurt in a hit and run accident, call Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online.

Causes of Hit and Run Accidents

It is every driver’s legal and moral responsibility to remain at the scene of a crash. When someone drives away from the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they are more worried about the repercussions for themselves than any damage or injury their careless actions caused. There are many reasons the liable party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In Cole County, MO, not having the right insurance can cause you to have your license suspended for up to a year, paying a $400 reinstatement fee, a $500 fine and/or up to 15 days in jail. "No insurance" tickets also remain on a Cole County, MO driver’s record.

• The driver does not have a driver’s license, or has a suspended license

  This also carries crushing penalties and can be either a Class A misdemeanor or a Class E felony, depending on whether you have been pulled over without a valid license before.

• A drunk driver or a driver otherwise under the influence of drugs

  A DWI is a criminal charge that can also result in fines, jail time, and revocation of a license.

• The driver may have a warrant out for their arrest

  It might not be surprising that people who already fear an interaction with law enforcement would risk breaking the law again to leave a crash site.

• Distracted driving

  Driving while not paying full attention to the road is careless and dangerous. People can become distracted if they are texting, eating, looking at directions, drowsy or are just thinking about something else.

• Lack of potential witnesses or low lighting

  A driver may flee the scene of an accident simply because they think they will not be caught. Hit and run accidents are 4.5 times more probable between midnight and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the Cole County, MO streets or sidewalks.

• A panicked driver

  Sometimes the driver has a clean record but simply leaves the accident because they are afraid and do not want to get in trouble. Sometimes, these drivers turn themselves in once they have calmed down.

While we cannot control what other drivers do behind the wheel, we can take some precautions as both drivers and pedestrians. Try to avoid walking in poorly lit areas at night, and when you are behind the wheel, stay alert at all times and never presume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best option.

Whatever the reason a driver chooses to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have assumed the pros of running were greater than the cons. The Cole County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will hold them responsible and make sure they see they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Cole County, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many different situations. We insist on maximum compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not give up until you collect the money you are owed to put you on the path to being made whole again. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a complimentary case review and so we can begin working on your case right away.

The Cole County, MO lawyers of Burger Law have the experience and knowledge to help you receive the full recovery you deserve after any accident or injury caused by someone else leaves you injured. Learn more about our fields of expertise below.

• Truck Crash Lawyers in Missouri
• Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Missouri

If you or a family member sustained injuries in a Cole County, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, angry, and anxious. Injuries and their related bills can uproot your life. Burger Law is here to help you heal. When you hire our team of Cole County, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting on your behalf right away. We demand the negligent parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we demand that you get full compensation to help you in your recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation to take the first step in getting your life back on track.