Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Excelsior Springs, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Excelsior Springs, MO. How do you hold a driver accountable and collect full compensation for your damages when you have been injured in a hit and run crash? Call the Excelsior Springs, MO hit and run accident attorneys of Burger Law right away at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online so that we can start working for you and getting you a full recovery for your Excelsior Springs, MO hit and run accident.

When a thoughtless driver purposefully breaks the rules of the road and hurts you or a loved one, it is common to feel dismayed and furious. It is particularly unnerving when the liable party declines to take responsibility for their behavior and runs away from the scene of the in a hit and run accident. You may be wondering who is going to reimburse you for the damages to your property and you or your loved one’s injuries. The committed, accomplished and skilled Excelsior Springs, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold reckless and willfully irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you understand the situation and will fight for you to maximize your recovery and put you on the journey 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 died in hit and run crashes, which is 62 percent more than 2009. Of the fatalities, nearly 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately one in five pedestrian deaths transpire in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident occurs every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury caused by a car accident can be traumatizing and bring about life-long changes or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases magnify your wounds as you may not find medical care at once, and you may not be certain who to trust or how to seek fair compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of experienced and knowledgeable hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped individuals and families harmed in hit and run accidents in the Excelsior Springs, MO area get the best possible recoveries and understand how to maximize your compensation. When you reach out to us at (314) 500-HURT, we start working on your case straight away, and we do not collect any payment until we win your claim.

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

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

If a driver behaves irresponsibly and injures you in a hit and run accident, they are not only responsible for your injuries, they are guilty of a criminal act. In Missouri, fleeing the scene of an accident is against the law. When a motorist causes or is involved in an accident, the law dictates that they must:

• Remain at the scene
• Move their car if it dangerous to other drivers, otherwise, wait for directions from police
• Help anyone who is hurt
• Call the Excelsior Springs, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in inclement weather
• Exchange contact info and insurance information with anybody involved
• Remain at the scene until a police officer tells them they can leave

Additionally, an accident report needs to be filed if damages exceed $500 or the accident leads to injury or a fatality.

Missouri Statute 577.060 classifies “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 a local 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 crash becomes fatal and results in somebody’s death. While it is reassuring that we have laws discouraging hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the irresponsible driver will not get you the money you are owed. They may be found responsible in the Excelsior Springs, MO criminal court, but you need knowledgeable and committed hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law who will fight on your behalf until you get the maximum recovery you need to recover. When you hire us, we start working on your case immediately and do not let up. You do not owe us a dime until we win your case and we will represent you aggressively to ensure the at-fault party bears full responsibility for their dangerous actions.

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

While being in any accident is terrifying and can leave you feeling helpless, it can be especially nerve wracking if the at fault party does not respect the rules of the road and flees the scene. The rules are in place for a reason, and it is disappointing and alarming when someone breaks those rules and acts thoughtlessly and dangerously. The committed and talented Excelsior Springs, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold selfish drivers accountable and get 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 flee the crash site yourself. You might think the damages are too insignificant to want to deal with the inconvenience, or you may be anxious that you are in some measure responsible. Leaving the location of an accident will make it much harder for you to recover compensation for your injuries, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical treatment. Your first concern should be your health and safety and the health and safety of everybody else in your car or involved in the accident. If you or somebody else is harmed, try to keep them in a stable condition and wait for Excelsior Springs, MO emergency services to get there and give aid.
• DO NOT wait to call the police. Missouri law requires you to call the police in any accident that leads to over $500 worth of damages or leads to physical harm or a fatality. Even if you do not know the extent of the damages or injuries are at that moment, having a police report will go a long way in proving your case.
• DO NOT follow the driver. After being hit by another driver in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are typical reactions. You may want to follow the driver and find out who is responsible. That is Excelsior Springs, MO law enforcement’s responsibility. Chasing after the other person not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at heightened risk, but it will hamper you from being able to get important information and may even make the police suspicious of you.
• DO safely learn what you are able to about the negligent driver and vehicle. To do this, you can:
  • Take photos. If you are not badly injured and can use your phone before the car is completely gone, take as many pictures as you are able to. Even if you cannot get a full license plate number, a partial license plate and/or the make, model and color of the car will be incredibly helpful in locating the driver. 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 may have had a better view than you, or will be able to validate your story. Be sure to get their contact information so a claims adjuster, police officer or Excelsior Springs, MO hit and run accident attorney will be able to reach out to them later.
  • 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 recall immediately following the collision, and those details will still be of great help to the police and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Excelsior Springs, 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 right away. Our skilled and expert hit and run accident attorneys will help you gather evidence, including getting access to nearby surveillance video and contacting witnesses for full statements. We work with a network of Excelsior Springs, MO car accident experts who will be able to reconstruct the crash and demonstrate exactly how the at-fault party caused your injuries.

Below are some helpful links and frequently asked questions for hit and runs and other categories 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 discover the negligent driver that caused your damages and hold them accountable for their reckless driving. In those cases, the tenacious and knowledgeable Excelsior Springs, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will ensure you collect full 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 anegligent 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 seek compensation from your own insurance company. In Excelsior Springs, MO, there are four specifications that must be met so that you can make this claim:

1. You received 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 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 Excelsior Springs, MO insurance company acts as a stand in for the responsible party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your damages. However, like any insurance companies, they may still have to be convinced to pay. To have the best opportunity to receive great compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need veteran and savvy Excelsior Springs, MO hit and run accident attorneys like we have at Burger Law to fight on your behalf. We have been standing up to insurance companies and other bullies for over 20 years, and will not relent until your own insurance company pays you back the money you have likely been paying into their policies for years.

Whether the at fault driver is located or not, the hit and run accident attorneys at Burger law will make sure you get the maximum amount of compensation that you deserve. When you are hurt because somebody else disregarded the rules of the road, you are entitled to maximum compensation for all of damages you have received because of the accident, for example: your medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and reduced capacity to enjoy life. No matter how serious your injuries, we insist that you are compensated for all the money you are owed. If you or a someone you care about in Excelsior Springs, 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 social responsibility to remain at an accident site. When someone leaves the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they are more worried about the repercussions for themselves than any damage or harm their irresponsible actions caused. There are a variety of reasons the negligent party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In Excelsior Springs, 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 also remain on a Excelsior Springs, 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, depending on whether you have been caught 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 carry fines, jail time, and getting your license revoked.

• The driver may have a warrant out for their arrest

  It likely is not surprising that people who already fear an interaction with law enforcement would risk breaking the law again to leave an accident site.

• Distracted driving

  Driving while not paying full attention to the road is reckless and dangerous. People can become distracted if they are texting, eating, looking at directions, dozing off or just have their head in the clouds.

• 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 likely to occur between midnight and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the Excelsior Springs, 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. Occasionally, 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, never get distracted and never presume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best choice.

Whatever the reason a driver decides to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have assumed the benefits of running were greater than the cons. The Excelsior Springs, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will make them pay and make sure they see they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Excelsior Springs, 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 let up until you are awarded the money you deserve to put you on the journey to healing. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a complimentary consultation and so we can begin working on your case right away.

The Excelsior Springs, 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 Excelsior Springs, 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 Excelsior Springs, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting on your behalf straight away. We demand the responsible parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we demand that you recover 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.