Getting You The Compensation You Deserve

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Independence, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Independence, MO. How do you hold a driver responsible and recover full compensation for your damages when you have been injured in a hit and run crash? Call the Independence, MO hit and run accident attorneys of Burger Law now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online so that we can begin working for you and getting you the best possible recovery for your Independence, MO hit and run accident.

When a thoughtless driver intentionally breaks the rules of the road and injured you or a family member, it is typical to feel dismayed and angry. It is especially upsetting when the negligent party refuses to take responsibility for their behavior and runs away from the scene of the in a hit and run accident. You may be asking yourself who is going to reimburse you for the damages to your property and you or your loved one’s injuries. The committed, veteran and talented Independence, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold careless and consciously irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you understand the situation and will fight on your behalf to maximize your recovery and put you on the path to recovery. Call us right away 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 accidents, which is 62 percent more than 2009. Of the fatalities, almost 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 transpires every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury caused by a car wreck 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 immediately, and you may be unsure of who to turn to or how to collect fair compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of veteran and adept hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped those hurt in hit and run accidents in the Independence, MO area get full recoveries and know how to maximize your compensation. When you contact us at (314) 500-HURT, we begin work on your case straight away, and we do not collect any fees until we win your claim.

If you have been harmed in a hit and run accident, use 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 Independence, MO

If somebody acts recklessly 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 against the law. When a motorist causes or is involved in an accident, the law requires them to:

  • Stay at the scene
  • Move their car if it hazardous to other drivers, otherwise, wait for instructions from police
  • Help anyone who is hurt
  • Call the Independence, MO police
  • Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in bad weather
  • Exchange contact info and insurance information with everybody involved
  • Stay at the accident site until a police officer tells them they can leave

Additionally, an accident report must 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 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 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 comforting that we have laws discouraging hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the at-fault driver will not get you the money you are owed. They may be found guilty in the Independence, MO criminal court, but you need expert and dedicated hit and run accident attorneys like we have at Burger Law who will insist that you get the best possible recovery you need to heal. When you hire us, we get started on your case right away and are relentless until we win. We do not charge any fees until we win your case and we will fight tirelessly to make certain the negligent party accepts complete responsibility for their dangerous behavior.


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 particularly nerve wracking if the negligent person disregards the rules and flees the crash site. The rules exist for a reason, and it is disheartening and alarming when someone breaks those rules and behaves carelessly and dangerously. The dedicated and accomplished Independence, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold thoughtless drivers accountable and secure you the money 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 flee the scene yourself. You could think the damages are too minor to want to deal with the hassle, or you may be anxious that you are partly responsible. Leaving the scene of a crash will make it much more complicated for you to recover compensation for your damages, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
  • DO get medical care. Your principal worry 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, do your best to keep them in a stable condition and wait for Independence, MO emergency services to get there and render aid.
  • DO NOT hesitate to call the police. Missouri law dictates that you have to call the police in any accident that results in 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 at that moment, having a police report will help immeasurably in proving your case.
  • DO NOT go after the driver. After being hit by another car in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are natural reactions. You may want to follow the driver and find out who they are. That is Independence, MO law enforcement’s job. Chasing after the other motorist not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at heightened risk, but it will hold you back from being able to get valuable information and may even cause the police to suspect you.
  • DO safely learn what you can about the irresponsible driver and vehicle. To do this, you can:
    • Take photographs. If you did not sustain a serious injury and can take out your phone before the car vanishes from sight, take as many photographs 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 a great help in discovering who the driver was. It also helps to take photos of any tire marks or other damage to the crash site.
    • Speak to witnesses. Other people at the crash site might have been able to see more than you did, or will be able to validate your story. Be sure to get their contact information so an insurance company, police officer or Independence, MO hit and run accident attorney will be able to get in touch with them at a later date.
    • Write down everything you can. If you did not have time or the ability to take pictures, anything you noticed about the other car or driver will be easier to remember immediately following the collision, and those details will still be incredibly helpful to the police and your hit and run accident attorneys.
  • DO contact your Independence, 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 straight away. Our savvy and knowledgeable hit and run accident attorneys will help you gather evidence, including acquiring adjacent surveillance video and getting in touch with witnesses for full statements. We work with a network of Independence, MO car accident experts who will be able to reconstruct the accident and prove exactly how the at-fault party caused your injuries.

Listed here are some helpful links and frequently asked questions for hit and runs and other categories 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 at-fault driver that caused your damages and hold them responsible for their careless driving. In those cases, the indefatigable and knowledgeable Independence, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will ensure you are awarded 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 cannot locate 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 make a claim against your own insurance company. In Independence, MO, there are four specifications that are required to be met in order for you to make this claim:

  1. You received physical injuries
  2. The injuries happened as a result of 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 Independence, MO insurance company acts as a substitute for the responsible party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your damages. However, like other insurance companies, they may still have to be persuaded to pay. To have the best opportunity to receive great compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need experienced and savvy Independence, MO hit and run accident attorneys like those at Burger Law to fight on your behalf. We have been resisting insurance companies and other bullies for decades, and will not give up the fight until your own insurance company pays you back the money you have likely 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 ensure you get the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. When you sustain injuries because another driver did not respect the rules of the road, you are entitled to the best possible compensation for all of damages you have received as a result of the accident, such as: your medical costs, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life. No matter how serious your injuries, we insist that you are compensated for every penny you deserve. If you or a loved one in Independence, 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 moral responsibility to remain at the scene of a crash. When someone runs away from the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they care more about the consequences 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 Independence, MO, not having the right 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 Independence, 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 otherwise impaired by drugs

    A DWI is a criminal charge that can also lead to fines, jail time, and having 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 the scene of an accident.

  • 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, 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 can do so without any repercussions. 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 Independence, 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. Occasionally, these drivers turn themselves in after they have calmed down.

While we cannot control what other drivers do on the road, we can take some safety measures as both drivers and pedestrians. Try to avoid walking in areas with bad lighting at night, and when you are driving, stay alert at all times and never presume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best option.

Regardless of the reason a driver decides to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have presumed the benefits of running outweighed the cons. The Independence, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will hold them accountable and ensure they see they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Independence, 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 recover the money you deserve to put you on the journey to healing. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a complimentary case evaluation and so we can start working on your case right away.

The Independence, 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.


Hire Our Hit And Run Accident Attorneys Today

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys| Burger Law

If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a Independence, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, angry, and overwhelmed. 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 Independence, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting for you at once. We demand the responsible parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we insist on getting you the best possible compensation to aid you in your recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary consultation to take the first step in getting your life back on track.

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