Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Gasconade County, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Gasconade County, MO. How do you hold a driver responsible and get the best possible compensation for your damages when you have been injured in a hit and run accident? Call the Gasconade County, 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 the best possible recovery for your Gasconade County, MO hit and run accident.

When a dangerous driver knowingly breaks the rules of the road and harms you or someone you care about, it is typical to feel appalled and furious. It is particularly distressing when the at-fault party will not take responsibility for their negligent driving and flees 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 dedicated, accomplished and knowledgeable Gasconade County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold careless and willfully irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you grasp the situation and will fight by your side to maximize your recovery and put you on the road to recovery. Call us immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

In the United States in 2016, 2049 people were killed in hit and run accidents, which is 62 percent more than 2009. Of those killed, just about 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately one in five pedestrian deaths happen in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident occurs every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury resulting from an auto wreck can be traumatizing and bring about life-long consequence or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases magnify that trauma as you may not find medical attention at once, and you may not know who to turn to or how to secure equitable compensation for your injuries and damages. Our group of experienced and talented hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped those injured in hit and run accidents in the Gasconade County, 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 immediately, and we do not collect any payment until we win your case.

If you have been hurt 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 Gasconade County, MO

If a motorist drives carelessly and harms you in a hit and run accident, they are not only culpable for your injuries, they are a lawbreaker. In Missouri, driving away from the scene of an accident is against the law. When a driver causes or is involved in an accident, the law dictates that they must:

• Remain at the crash site
• Move their car if it dangerous to other drivers, otherwise, wait until directed by police
• Help anyone who is hurt
• Call the Gasconade County, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in inclement weather
• Trade contact info and insurance information with everybody involved
• Stay 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 death.

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 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 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 causes somebody’s death. While it is comforting that we have laws deterring hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the at-fault driver will not get you the recovery you are owed. They may be found culpable in the Gasconade County, MO criminal court, but you need accomplished and dedicated 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 start working on your case immediately and work tenaciously until we win. We do not charge any fees until we win your case and we will represent you aggressively to make certain the at-fault 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 helpless, it can be particularly worrisome if the at fault individual 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 startling when someone does not respect those rules and acts thoughtlessly and recklessly. The dedicated and skilled Gasconade County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold careless drivers accountable and win 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 leave the scene yourself. You could think the damages are too insignificant to want to deal with the hassle, or you may worry that you are in some measure at fault. Leaving the scene of a crash will make it much more difficult for you to recover compensation for your injuries, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical treatment. Your foremost 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 hurt, try to keep them in a stable condition and wait for Gasconade County, MO emergency services to get there and render aid.
• DO NOT hesitate to call the police. Missouri law requires you to call the police in any accident that causes over $500 worth of damages or leads to bodily harm or death. 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 making your case.
• DO NOT go after the driver. After being hit by another auto in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are normal reactions. You may be tempted to follow the driver and find out who caused your accident. That is Gasconade County, MO law enforcement’s obligation. 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 not believe you.
• DO safely learn what you are able to about the at-fault driver and vehicle. To do so, you can:
  • Take photos. If you are not badly injured and can use your phone before the car disappears from view, take as many pictures as you can. Even if you cannot get an entire license plate number, just part of the license plate and/or the make, model and color of the car will be incredibly useful in locating the driver. It also helps to take photos of any tire marks or other damage to the area of the accident.
  • Talk to witnesses. Other people at the accident site might have had a better view than you, or will be able to verify your story. Be sure to get their contact information so an insurance company, law enforcement officer or Gasconade County, MO hit and run accident lawyer will be able to get in touch with them later.
  • Write down everything you can. If you did not have time or the ability to take pictures, any knowledge you have of the other car or driver will be easier to remember immediately after the collision, and those details will still be of great help to law enforcement and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Gasconade 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 immediately. Our skilled and accomplished hit and run accident attorneys will assist in collecting evidence, including acquiring adjacent surveillance footage and contacting witnesses for full depositions. We work with a network of Gasconade County, MO car accident experts who will be able to recreate the scene and demonstrate exactly how the negligible 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

The ideal scenario is that police and/or your hit and run accident attorneys will be able to find the liable driver that caused your damages and hold them accountable for their dangerous behavior. In those cases, the tenacious and expert Gasconade County, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will ensure you win full 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 are unable to track down the aat-fault 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 compensation from your own insurance company. In Gasconade County, MO, there are four criteria that are required to 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 Gasconade County, MO insurance company takes the place of the responsible party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your injuries. However, like other insurance companies, they may still have to be persuaded to pay. To have the best opportunity to receive full compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need seasoned and skilled Gasconade County, MO hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law to fight for you. We have been challenging insurance companies and other bullies for over 20 years, and will not give in until your own insurance company reimburses you for the money you have certainly 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 sure you get the maximum amount of money that you are entitled to. When you are hurt because somebody else disregarded the rules of the road, you deserve maximum compensation for all of damages you have sustained because of the accident, for example: 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 insist that you are compensated for all the money you are entitled to. If you or a loved one in Gasconade County, MO has been injured 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 social obligation to remain at an accident site. When someone runs away from the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they are more worried about the consequences for themselves than any damage or injury their negligent actions 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 Gasconade County, MO, not having adequate 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 Gasconade County, 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 pulled over without a valid license before.

• A drunk driver or a driver that was under the influence of drugs

  A DWI is a criminal charge that can also lead to 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 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, fatigued 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 will not be caught. 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 Gasconade County, 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 want to get in trouble. often, 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 areas with bad lighting at night, and when you are behind the wheel, never lose focus and never assume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best decision.

No matter the reason a driver decides to flee the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have presumed the benefits of running were greater than the cons. The Gasconade 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 Gasconade County, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many different scenarios. We demand full compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not rest until you get the money you are owed to put you on the road to recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free consultation and so we can get started on your case right away.

The Gasconade 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.

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

If you or someone you care about experienced injuries in a Gasconade County, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, angry, and anxious. Injuries and their related expenses can upend your life. Burger Law is here to help make you whole again. When you hire our team of Gasconade County, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting on your behalf immediately. We demand the negligent parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we insist on getting you the best possible compensation to help 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.