Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Jackson County, MO

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

When a negligent driver willfully breaks the rules of the road and harms you or a family member, it is normal to feel shocked and furious. It is especially unnerving when the at-fault 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 puzzled about who is going to reimburse you for the damages to your property and you or your family member's injuries. The committed, accomplished and skilled Jackson County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold reckless and knowingly irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you make sense of the situation and will fight for you to maximize your compensation and put you on the journey to healing. Call us today 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 was a 62 percent increase from 2009. Of the fatalities, just 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 takes place 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 compound your wounds as you may not get medical care at once, and you may not know who to turn to or how to secure fair compensation for your injuries and damages. Our group of accomplished and adept hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped those injured in hit and run accidents in the Jackson County, MO area get full recoveries and understand how to maximize your compensation. When you contact us at (314) 500-HURT, we start working on your case immediately, and you do not owe us any fees 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 you may be able to be awarded in compensation.

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys: Understanding the Laws in Jackson County, MO

If someone else drives carelessly and harms 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 motorist causes or is involved in an accident, the law dictates that they must:

• Stay at the accident site
• Move their car if it hazardous to other drivers, otherwise, wait until instructed by police
• Render aid to anyone who is hurt
• Call the Jackson County, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in bad weather
• Exchange contact info and insurance information with anybody involved
• Stay at the crash site until a police officer tells them differently

Additionally, an accident report must be filed if damages exceed $500 or the accident results in injury or death.

Missouri Statute 577.060 classifies “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 turns into a Class E Felony if any of the following three conditions 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 accident is 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 deserve. They may be found culpable in front of the Jackson County, MO criminal court, but you need talented and dedicated hit and run accident attorneys like those at Burger Law who will demand that you get the best possible recovery you need to make you whole again. When you hire us, we start working on your case right away and do not let up. You do not owe us a dime until we win your case and we will fight tirelessly to make sure the at-fault party accepts full responsibility for their dangerous actions.

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

While being in any crash is terrifying and can leave you feeling vulnerable, it can be especially stressful if the liable party breaks the rules and flees the accident site. The rules were enacted for a reason, and it is disappointing and startling when someone breaks those rules and drives thoughtlessly and recklessly. The devoted and accomplished Jackson County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold careless drivers responsible and secure you the compensation 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 may think the damages are too small to want to deal with the hassle, or you may be afraid that you are partially responsible. Leaving the location of an accident will make it much harder for you to collect compensation for your injuries, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical treatment. The health and safety of everybody involved should be your chief worry. If you or somebody else is harmed, focus on keeping them in a stable condition and wait for Jackson County, MO emergency services to come and give aid.
• DO NOT hesitate to call the police. Missouri law requires you to call the police in any accident that leads to over $500 worth of damages or causes physical harm or death. Even if you do not know the extent of the damages or injuries are right away, having a police report will help immeasurably in making your case.
• DO NOT follow the driver. After being hit by another driver in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are common reactions. You may want to follow the driver and find out who hit you. That is Jackson County, MO law enforcement’s responsibility. Chasing after the other motorist not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at further risk, but it will hold you back 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 at-fault driver and vehicle. To do this, you can:
  • Take photographs. If you are not seriously injured and can get hold of your phone before the car is completely gone, take as many pictures as you are able to. Even if you cannot get complete license plate number, just part of the license plate and/or the make, model and color of the car will be incredibly helpful in determining who the driver was. It is also useful to take photographs of any tire marks or other damage to the accident site.
  • Talk to witnesses. Other people at the accident site might have been able to see more than you did, or will be able to corroborate your story. Make sure to get their contact information so a claims adjuster, law enforcement officer or Jackson County, MO hit and run accident lawyer will be able to get in touch with them later.
  • Write it all down. If you did not have time or the ability to take pictures, anything you could observe about the other car or driver will be easier to remember immediately following the crash, and those details will still be incredibly helpful to law enforcement and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Jackson County, 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 skilled and accomplished hit and run accident attorneys will assist in collecting evidence, including obtaining close by surveillance footage and contacting witnesses for full depositions. We work with a network of Jackson County, MO car accident experts who will be able to recreate the accident and prove exactly how the negligible party caused your injuries.

Below 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 damages and hold them responsible for their dangerous actions. In those cases, the indefatigable and talented Jackson County, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make sure you get maximum compensation from the driver and their insurance company.

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Hit and Run Accidents

In Missouri, motorists must have uninsured motorist insurance. If you are unable to find 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 make a claim against your own insurance company. In Jackson County, MO, there are four specifications that need to be met so that you can make this claim:

1. You received bodily injuries
2. You sustained the injuries 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 Jackson County, MO insurance company acts as a substitute for the negligent party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your injuries. However, like any insurance companies, they may still need convincing before they pay you. To have the best opportunity to receive great compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need experienced and savvy Jackson County, MO hit and run accident attorneys like those at Burger Law to fight by your side. We have been challenging insurance companies and other bullies for over 20 years, and will not relent until your own insurance company reimburses you for 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 certain you get the full compensation that you are owed. When you are harmed because another driver did not respect the rules of the road, you deserve maximum compensation for all of damages you have experienced owing to the accident, such as: your medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life. No matter how grave your injuries, we demand that you are compensated for every dollar you are owed. If you or a family member in Jackson County, 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 every driver’s legal and social duty to remain at an accident site. 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 injury their reckless 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 Jackson County, 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 Jackson County, 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 discovered 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 revocation of a license.

• The driver may have a warrant out for their arrest

  It might not be surprising that people who already fear an interaction with law enforcement would risk breaking the law again to flee the scene of an accident.

• Distracted driving

  Driving while not giving full attention to the road is reckless and dangerous. People can become distracted if they are texting, eating, looking at directions, drowsy 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 probable between midnight and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the Jackson 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 after 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 areas with bad lighting 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 option.

No matter the reason a driver opts to flee the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have presupposed the benefits of running were greater than the cons. The Jackson County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will make them pay and make sure they understand they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Jackson County, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many differing scenarios. 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 road to healing. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a complimentary consultation and so we can start working on your case right away.

The Jackson 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.

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

If you or someone you care about sustained injuries in a Jackson County, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, outraged, and anxious. Injuries and their related expenses can upend your life. Burger Law is here to help you recover. When you hire our team of Jackson County, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting on your behalf at once. We demand the liable parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we demand that you are awarded great compensation to aid you in your recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case review to take the first step in getting your life back on track.