Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Concordia, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Concordia, MO. How do you hold a driver to blame and collect the best possible compensation for your damages when you have been injured in a hit and run accident? Call the Concordia, MO hit and run accident attorneys of Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online so that we can start fighting for you and winning you the best possible recovery for your Concordia, MO hit and run accident.

When a reckless driver willfully breaks the rules of the road and harms you or a family member, it is normal to feel shocked and indignant. It is particularly unnerving when the reckless party declines to take responsibility for their actions and flees the scene of the in a hit and run accident. You may be asking yourself who is going to compensate you for the damages to your property and you or your family member's injuries. The devoted, seasoned and talented Concordia, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold thoughtless and intentionally irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you understand the situation and will fight by your side to maximize your recovery and put you on the path to recovery. Call us now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

In the United States in 2016, 2049 people died in hit and run crashes, which is 62 percent more than 2009. Of the fatalities, about 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately 20 percent of pedestrian deaths occur in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident transpires every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury caused by an auto crash can be traumatizing and create life-long changes or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases exacerbate that trauma as you may not get medical care right away, and you may be unsure of who to trust or how to collect just compensation for your injuries and damages. Our group of seasoned and skilled hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped individuals and families hurt in hit and run accidents in the Concordia, MO area get great recoveries and know 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 case.

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

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

If somebody acts irresponsibly and harms you in a hit and run accident, they are not only liable for your injuries, they are guilty of breaking the law. In Missouri, leaving the scene of an accident is a crime. When a driver causes or is involved in an accident, the law dictates that they must:

• Remain at the accident site
• Move their car if it may cause other drivers to crash, otherwise, wait until instructed by police
• Help anyone who is hurt
• Call the Concordia, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in bad weather
• Swap contact info and insurance information with everybody involved
• Stay at the crash site until a police officer tells them differently

Additionally, an accident report must be filed if damages exceed $500 or the accident results in 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 becomes a Class E Felony if any of these three conditions 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 was previously found guilty of leaving the scene of a hit and run accident.

A hit and run becomes a Class D Felony if the crash is fatal and results in somebody’s death. While it is reassuring that we have laws deterring hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the negligent driver will not get you the money you are entitled to. They may be found guilty in the Concordia, MO criminal court, but you need skilled and committed hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law who will insist that you get the best possible recovery you need to recover. When you hire us, we get started on your case at once and work tenaciously until we win. You do not owe us a dime until we win your case and we will fight tirelessly to make sure the at-fault party accepts full responsibility for their thoughtless behavior.

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

While being in any accident is frightening and can leave you feeling helpless, it can be especially stressful if the at fault person does not respect the rules and leaves the accident site. The rules were enacted for a reason, and it is discouraging and startling when someone breaks those rules and acts thoughtlessly and recklessly. The committed and talented Concordia, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold reckless drivers responsible and win you the compensation you are entitled to. 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 leave the scene yourself. You could think the damages are too small to want to deal with the nuisance, or you may be anxious that you are partially responsible. Leaving the scene of an accident will make it much harder for you to get compensation for your injuries, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical treatment. The health and safety of everyone involved should be your first worry. If you or somebody else is hurt, do your best to keep them in a stable condition and wait for Concordia, MO emergency services to get there and render aid.
• DO NOT wait to call the police. Missouri law requires you to call the police in any crash that leads to over $500 worth of damages or causes physical injury or a fatality. Even if you are not certain what the degree of the damages or injuries are right away, having a police report will go a long way in proving your case.
• DO NOT follow the driver. When you are hit by another vehicle in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are typical reactions. You may be motivated to follow the driver and find out who hit you. That is Concordia, MO law enforcement’s task. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at heightened risk, but it will impede you from being able to get necessary information and may even cause the police to suspect you.
• DO safely learn what you are able to about the reckless driver and vehicle. To do so, you can:
  • Take photographs. If you did not sustain a serious injury and can use your phone before the car is completely gone, take as many photographs as you are able to. Even if you cannot get an entire license plate number, a partial number and/or the make, model and color of the car will be incredibly useful in locating the driver. It also helps to take photographs of any tire marks or other damage to the area of the accident.
  • Speak to witnesses. Other people at the accident site may have had a better view than you, or will be able to verify your story. Be sure to get their contact information so a claims adjuster, police officer or Concordia, MO hit and run accident attorney will be able to get in touch with them at a later date.
  • Write it all down. If you did not have time or the ability to take photos, anything you could observe about the other car or driver will be easier to remember immediately after the crash, and those details will still be of great help to law enforcement and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Concordia, MO insurance company. If the driver is never located, you will need to make an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance company.
• DO call Burger Law at (314) 500-HURT at once. Our savvy and accomplished hit and run accident attorneys will help you collect evidence, including obtaining nearby surveillance video and contacting witnesses for full statements. We work alongside a network of Concordia, MO car accident experts who will be able to recreate the scene and show exactly how the liable party caused your injuries.

Below 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 track down the negligent driver that caused your damages and hold them accountable for their irresponsible driving. In those cases, the indefatigable and skilled Concordia, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make certain you get full compensation from the driver and their insurance company.

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Hit and Run Accidents

In Missouri, motorists need to have uninsured motorist insurance. If you cannot locate the aat-fault driver after a hit and run accident, you and your hit and run accident attorneys will need to use this part of your policy to pursue a recovery from your own insurance company. In Concordia, MO, there are four criteria that are required to be met so that you can make this claim:

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

In these cases, your own Concordia, MO insurance company takes the place of 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 convinced to pay. To have the best opportunity to receive the best possible compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need veteran and savvy Concordia, MO hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law to fight by your side. We have been pushing back against insurance companies and other bullies for decades, and will not back down until your own insurance company pays you back the money you have certainly been paying into their policies for years.

Whether the at fault driver is found or not, the hit and run accident attorneys at Burger law will ensure you get the maximum amount of compensation that you are owed. When you get injured because another driver did not respect the rules of the road, you deserve maximum compensation for all of damages you have experienced because of the accident, for instance: your medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life. No matter how severe your injuries, we demand that you are compensated for all the money you are owed. If you or a loved one in Concordia, MO has been harmed 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 any driver’s legal and ethical duty to remain at the scene of a crash. When someone flees the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they care more about the repercussions for themselves than any damage or harm their reckless actions caused. There are a lot of reasons the liable party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In Concordia, MO, not having proper insurance can result in you having 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 are also never removed from a Concordia, MO driver’s record.

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

  This also carries severe penalties and can be either a Class A misdemeanor or a Class E felony, based on whether you have been caught without a valid license before.

• A drunk driver or a driver otherwise impaired by drugs

  A DWI is a criminal charge that can also carry fines, jail time, and getting your license revoked.

• The driver may have a warrant out for their arrest

  It probably is not surprising that people who already fear an interaction with law enforcement would risk breaking the law again to run away from the scene of an accident.

• Distracted driving

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

• Lack of potential witnesses or low lighting

  A driver may leave 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 12AM and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the Concordia, MO roads or sidewalks.

• A panicked driver

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

While we cannot control how other people drive, 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 assume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best option.

No matter the reason a driver decides to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have presumed the benefits of running were greater than the cons. The Concordia, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will hold them accountable and make certain they know they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Concordia, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many varying scenarios. We demand full compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not give up until you receive the money you are owed to put you on the journey to healing. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free consultation and so we can begin working on your case right away.

The Concordia, 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 someone you care about experienced injuries in a Concordia, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, livid, and overwhelmed. Injuries and their related bills can upend your life. Burger Law is here to help you heal. When you hire our team of Concordia, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting for you at once. We insist that the liable parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we demand that you receive maximum compensation to aid you in your recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case review to take the first step in getting your life back on track.