Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Creve Coeur, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Creve Coeur, MO. How do you hold a driver responsible and receive the best possible compensation for your damages when you have been harmed in a hit and run crash? Call the Creve Coeur, MO hit and run accident attorneys of Burger Law immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online so that we can start working for you and winning you a great recovery for your Creve Coeur, MO hit and run accident.

When a careless driver purposefully breaks the rules of the road and injured you or a loved one, it is common to feel shocked and angry. It is especially unsettling when the at-fault party will not take responsibility for their behavior and drives away from 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 committed, accomplished and talented Creve Coeur, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold thoughtless and purposefully irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you grasp the situation and will fight for you to maximize your recovery and get you on the road to healing. 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 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 occurs every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury caused by an auto wreck can be traumatizing and create life-long consequence or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases amplify that trauma as you may not receive medical treatment immediately, and you may not be certain who to turn to or how to pursue equitable compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of accomplished and skilled hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped individuals and families harmed in hit and run accidents in the Creve Coeur, MO area get great recoveries and know how to maximize your compensation. When you reach out to 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 claim.

If you have been hurt in a hit and run accident, take a loot at 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 Creve Coeur, MO

If a driver drives recklessly and hurts you in a hit and run accident, they are not only culpable for your injuries, they are a lawbreaker. In Missouri, leaving the scene of an accident is against the law. When a driver causes or is involved in an accident, they are required by law to:

• Remain at the accident site
• Move their car if it dangerous to other drivers, otherwise, wait until instructed by police
• Attend to anyone who is hurt
• Call the Creve Coeur, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in poor weather
• Exchange contact info and insurance information with everybody involved
• Stay at the accident site until a police officer tells them differently

Furthermore, 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 type of misdemeanor and carries a maximum penalty of one year in a local jail and a fine of $2,000. However, leaving the scene becomes 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 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 accident becomes fatal and causes somebody’s death. While it is encouraging that we have laws deterring hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the irresponsible driver will not get you the compensation you are owed. They may be found guilty in the Creve Coeur, MO criminal court, but you need expert and dedicated hit and run accident attorneys like those at Burger Law who will fight by your side until you get the full recovery you need to heal. When you hire us, we get started on your case at once and do not give up. We do not charge any fees until we win your case and we will represent you aggressively to make sure the negligent party bears full responsibility for their harmful actions.

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

While being in any crash is frightening and can leave you feeling vulnerable, it can be particularly worrisome if the at fault individual disregards the law and leaves the accident site. The rules were enacted for a reason, and it is disappointing and startling when someone breaks those rules and acts thoughtlessly and dangerously. The committed and skilled Creve Coeur, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold reckless drivers accountable and win you the money you deserve. 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 minor to want to deal with the inconvenience, or you may be anxious that you are in some measure at fault. Leaving the scene of a crash will make it much more complicated for you to receive compensation for your injuries, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical care. The health and safety of everybody present should be your foremost concern. If you or somebody else is injured, focus on keeping them in a stable condition and wait for Creve Coeur, MO emergency services to get there and give aid.
• DO NOT wait 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 leads to bodily harm or a fatality. Even if you are unsure of the degree of the damages or injuries are at that moment, having a police report will help a lot in making your case.
• DO NOT pursue the driver. When you are hit by another driver in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are normal reactions. You may be tempted to follow the driver and find out who is responsible. That is Creve Coeur, MO law enforcement’s obligation. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at more risk, but it will hamper you from being able to get valuable information and may even cause the police to not believe you.
• DO safely find out what you are able to about the irresponsible 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 photos as you are able to. 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 incredibly helpful in discovering who the driver was. It also helps to take photographs of any tire marks or other damage to the crash site.
  • Speak to witnesses. Other people in the area might have been able to see more than you did, or will be able to validate your story. Make sure to get their contact information so a claims adjuster, police officer or Creve Coeur, MO hit and run accident attorney will be able to contact them later.
  • Write down everything you can. If you did not have time or the ability to take photographs, anything you noticed about the other car or driver will be fresher in your memory immediately after the accident, and those details will still be very useful to law enforcement and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Creve Coeur, MO insurance company. If the driver is never located, you will have to make an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance company.
• DO call Burger Law at (314) 500-HURT immediately. Our savvy and expert hit and run accident attorneys will help you collect evidence, including acquiring close by surveillance footage and getting in touch with witnesses for full statements. We work with a network of Creve Coeur, MO car accident experts who will be able to reconstruct the accident and prove exactly how the liable party caused your injuries.

Here are some helpful links and frequently asked questions for hit and runs and other kinds of car accidents:

Hit and Run Cases in Missouri

In the best case scenarios, police and/or your hit and run accident attorneys will be able to locate the negligent driver that caused your injuries and hold them accountable for their reckless behavior. In those cases, the tenacious and skilled Creve Coeur, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will ensure you win maximum compensation from the driver and their insurance company.

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Hit and Run Accidents

In Missouri, drivers are required to have uninsured motorist insurance. If you are unable to locate the aliable 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 Creve Coeur, MO, there are four specifications that must be met so that you can make this claim:

1. You received bodily injuries
2. The injuries occurred as a result of an uninsured motorist, or in the case a motorist you cannot 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 Creve Coeur, MO insurance company acts as a stand in for the negligent party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your injuries. However, like other insurance companies, they may still need convincing before they pay you. To have the best odds at receiving maximum compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need experienced and skilled Creve Coeur, MO hit and run accident attorneys like we have at Burger Law to fight on your behalf. We have been pushing back against insurance companies and other bullies for over 20 years, and will not back down until your own insurance company pays you back the money you have probably 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 make certain you get the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. When you are injured because somebody else did not respect the rules of the road, you deserve maximum compensation for all of damages you have sustained as a result of the accident, for example: your medical costs, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and reduced ability to enjoy life. No matter how severe your injuries, we demand that you are compensated for all the money you are entitled to. If you or a loved one in Creve Coeur, 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 any driver’s legal and moral duty to remain at an accident site. 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 thoughtless behavior caused. There are a variety of reasons the at-fault party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In Creve Coeur, MO, not having the appropriate 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 are also never removed from a Creve Coeur, 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 that was impaired by drugs

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

• The driver may have a warrant out for their arrest

  It likely is not surprising that people who have already committed a crime would risk breaking the law again to run away from the scene of an accident.

• Distracted driving

  Driving while not focusing on the road is careless and dangerous. People can become distracted if they are texting, eating, looking at directions, tired or just have their head in the clouds.

• Lack of potential witnesses or low lighting

  A driver may leave the scene of an accident simply because they think they can do so without any consequences. Hit and run accidents are 4.5 times more likely to happen between 12AM and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the Creve Coeur, 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 once 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 take for granted that leaving the scene of an accident is the best choice.

Whatever the reason a driver opts to flee the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have assumed the pros of running were greater than the cons. The Creve Coeur, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will make them pay and ensure they understand they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Creve Coeur, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many varying situations. We demand great compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not let up until you recover the money you deserve to put you on the journey to healing. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free case evaluation and so we can get started on your case right away.

The Creve Coeur, 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.

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

If you or a family member sustained injuries in a Creve Coeur, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, livid, and overwhelmed. Injuries and their related costs can uproot your life. Burger Law is here to help you heal. When you hire our team of Creve Coeur, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting for you straight away. We insist that the responsible parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we demand that you are awarded full compensation to help you in your recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case evaluation to take the first step in getting your life back on track.