Hit and Run Accident Attorneys House Springs, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in House Springs, MO. How do you hold a driver responsible and get great compensation for your damages when you have been hurt in a hit and run accident? Call the House Springs, MO hit and run accident attorneys of Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online so that we can begin fighting for you and winning you a great recovery for your House Springs, MO hit and run accident.

When a thoughtless driver knowingly breaks the rules of the road and harms you or a loved one, it is typical to feel shocked and angry. It is especially distressing when the reckless party will not take responsibility for their behavior and flees the scene of the in a hit and run accident. You may be wondering who is going to compensate you for the damages to your property and you or your loved one’s injuries. The dedicated, experienced and skilled House Springs, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold dangerous and knowingly irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you grasp the situation and will fight on your behalf to maximize your compensation and put you on the path to healing. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case review.

In the United States in 2016, 2049 people were killed in hit and run crashes, which is 62 percent more than 2009. Of those killed, nearly 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately one in five pedestrian deaths occur in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident occurs every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury arising from an auto wreck can be traumatizing and produce life-long repercussions or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases magnify that trauma as you may not receive medical care immediately, and you may be unsure of who to turn to or how to collect fair compensation for your injuries and damages. Our group of seasoned and knowledgeable hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped those injured in hit and run accidents in the House Springs, MO area get the best possible recoveries and understand how to maximize your compensation. When you call us at (314) 500-HURT, we start work on your case right away, and you do not owe us any fees until we win your case.

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

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

If someone else behaves irresponsibly and injures you in a hit and run accident, they are not only to blame for your injuries, they are guilty of a criminal act. In Missouri, driving away from the scene of an accident is a crime. When a driver causes or is involved in an accident, they are required by law to:

• Stay at the accident site
• Move their car if it may cause other drivers to crash, otherwise, wait until directed by police
• Supply aid to anyone who is hurt
• Call the House Springs, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in inclement weather
• Trade contact info and insurance information with anybody involved
• Stay at the accident site until a police officer tells them differently

Additionally, an accident report needs to be filed if damages exceed $500 or the accident causes 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 county jail and a fine of $2,000. However, leaving the scene becomes a Class E Felony if any of the three conditions below 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 turns into a Class D Felony if the crash is fatal and results in 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 recovery you deserve. They may be found responsible in the House Springs, MO criminal court, but you need accomplished and devoted hit and run accident attorneys like those at Burger Law who will insist that you get the full recovery you need to heal. When you hire us, we get started on your case at once 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 accepts complete responsibility for their dangerous behavior.

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

While being in any crash is terrifying and can leave you feeling unprotected, it can be especially worrisome if the at fault driver does not respect the rules and leaves the scene. The rules exist for a reason, and it is discouraging and startling when someone does not respect those rules and behaves carelessly and irresponsibly. The dedicated and skilled House Springs, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold careless drivers responsible and recover for you the money 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 scene yourself. You may think the damages are too insignificant to want to deal with the nuisance, or you may be anxious that you are in some measure at fault. Leaving the location of a crash will make it much more complicated for you to receive compensation for your damages, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical care. Your number-one worry 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, try to keep them in a stable condition and wait for House Springs, MO emergency services to arrive and give aid.
• DO NOT wait to call the police. Missouri law requires you to call the police in any crash that results in over $500 worth of damages or causes physical injury or death. Even if you are not certain what the extent of the damages or injuries are right away, having a police report will go a long way in winning your case.
• DO NOT go after the driver. When you are hit by another driver in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are normal reactions. You may want to follow the driver and find out who caused your accident. That is House Springs, MO law enforcement’s task. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at further risk, but it will impede you from being able to get important information and may even make the police suspicious of you.
• DO safely discern what you are able to about the at-fault driver and vehicle. To do so, you can:
  • Take photographs. If you are not badly injured and can use your phone before the car you cannot see the car anymore, take as many photos as possible. 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 useful in discovering who the driver was. It also helps to take photos of any tire marks or other damage to the accident 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 version of events. Make sure to get their contact information so an insurance company, law enforcement officer or House Springs, MO hit and run accident lawyer will be able to contact them later.
  • Write it all down. If you did not have time or the ability to take photographs, any knowledge you have of the other car or driver will be fresher in your memory immediately following the crash, and those details will still be of great help to the police and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your House Springs, 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 expert hit and run accident attorneys will help you collect evidence, including getting access to close by surveillance footage and reaching out to witnesses for complete statements. We work alongside a network of House Springs, MO car accident experts who will be able to recreate the crash and show exactly how the negligible 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

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 damages and hold them accountable for their thoughtless behavior. In those cases, the tenacious and knowledgeable House Springs, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make sure you are awarded maximum compensation from the driver and their insurance company.

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Hit and Run Accidents

In Missouri, drivers must have uninsured motorist insurance. If you cannot track down 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 make a claim against your own insurance company. In House Springs, MO, there are four standards that must be met in order for you to make this claim:

1. You received bodily injuries
2. You incurred the injuries 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 House Springs, MO insurance company takes the place of the liable party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your injuries. However, like many insurance companies, they may still need convincing before they pay you. To have the best odds at receiving the best possible compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need seasoned and savvy House Springs, 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 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 money that you deserve. When you sustain injuries because another driver broke the rules of the road, you are entitled to maximum compensation for all of damages you have sustained owing to the accident, including: your medical bills, 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 every nickel you are owed. If you or a someone you care about in House Springs, 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 the scene of a crash. When someone flees the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they are more concerned about the consequences for themselves than any damage or injury their thoughtless actions caused. There are many reasons the at-fault party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In House Springs, MO, not having 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 House Springs, 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 caught 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 revocation of a license.

• The driver may have a warrant out for their arrest

  It might not be 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 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 can do so without any consequences. Hit and run accidents are 4.5 times more frequent between midnight and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the House Springs, 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 after 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, stay alert at all times and never assume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best choice.

Regardless of the reason a driver decides to flee the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have assumed the benefits of fleeing were greater than the cons. The House Springs, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will hold them responsible and make certain they understand they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in House Springs, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many different circumstances. We insist on the best possible compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not give up until you recover the money you are owed to put you on the journey to being made whole again. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a complimentary case evaluation and so we can get started on your case right away.

The House 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.

• 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 House Springs, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, outraged, and vulnerable. Injuries and their related bills can upend your life. Burger Law is here to help make you whole again. When you hire our team of House Springs, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting by your side right away. We demand the responsible parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we demand that you collect 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 evaluation to take the first step in getting your life back on track.