Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Jefferson County, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Jefferson County, MO. How do you hold a driver responsible and recover maximum compensation for your damages when you have been hurt in a hit and run accident? Call the Jefferson 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 winning you a full recovery for your Jefferson County, MO hit and run accident.

When a reckless driver intentionally breaks the rules of the road and harms you or a loved one, it is typical to feel dismayed and angry. It is especially unsettling when the negligent party will not 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 compensate you for the damages to your property and you or your family member's injuries. The committed, veteran and talented Jefferson County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold reckless and purposefully 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 road to healing. Call us now 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 crashes, which was a 62 percent increase from 2009. Of those killed, just about 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 happens every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury stemming from a car wreck can be traumatizing and bring about life-long changes or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases exacerbate your wounds as you may not receive medical attention at once, and you may not know who to turn to or how to seek just compensation for your injuries and damages. Our group of veteran and skilled hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped those hurt in hit and run accidents in the Jefferson County, MO area get the best possible recoveries and know how to maximize your compensation. When you reach out to us at (314) 500-HURT, we start working on your case immediately, and we do not collect any payment until we win your suit.

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 be awarded in compensation.

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

If someone else behaves negligently and harms you in a hit and run accident, they are not only liable for your injuries, they are a lawbreaker. In Missouri, leaving the scene of an accident is a crime. When a driver causes or is involved in an accident, the law dictates that they must:

• Remain at the scene
• Move their car if it hazardous to other drivers, otherwise, wait until directed by police
• Supply aid to anyone who is hurt
• Call the Jefferson County, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in inclement weather
• Exchange contact info and insurance information with everybody involved
• Stay at the crash site until a police officer tells them they can leave

Additionally, an accident report has 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 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 accident becomes fatal and causes somebody’s death. While it is encouraging that we have laws discouraging hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the negligent driver will not get you the compensation you are entitled to. They may be found guilty in front of the Jefferson County, MO criminal court, but you need talented and committed hit and run accident attorneys like those at Burger Law who will insist that you get the maximum recovery you need to heal. When you hire us, we get started on your case straight away and are relentless until we win. 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 thoughtless actions.

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

While being in any accident is scary and can leave you feeling vulnerable, it can be particularly nerve wracking if the at fault party breaks the rules and flees the crash site. The rules are in place for a reason, and it is discouraging and frightening when someone breaks those rules and behaves thoughtlessly and irresponsibly. The committed and accomplished Jefferson County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold reckless drivers responsible and recover for you the money 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 flee the accident site yourself. You may think the damages are too insignificant to want to deal with the inconvenience, or you may be afraid that you are in some measure responsible. Leaving the location of an accident 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 attention. The health and safety of everybody involved should be your foremost worry. If you or somebody else is harmed, do your best to keep them in a stable condition and wait for Jefferson County, MO emergency services to come and give aid.
• DO NOT wait to call the police. Missouri law dictates that you have to call the police in any crash that leads to over $500 worth of damages or causes bodily harm or a fatality. Even if you are unsure of the degree of the damages or injuries are right away, having a police report will help a lot in making your case.
• DO NOT go after the driver. After being hit by another vehicle in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are common reactions. You may be motivated to follow the driver and find out who is responsible. That is Jefferson County, MO law enforcement’s responsibility. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at heightened risk, but it will hold you back from being able to get important information and may even cause the police to not believe you.
• DO safely find out what you are able to about the irresponsible driver and vehicle. To do so, you can:
  • Take pictures. 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 you can. Even if you cannot get a full license plate number, a partial number and/or the make, model and color of the car will be a great help in discovering who the driver was. It is also useful to take photos of any tire marks or other damage to the accident site.
  • Speak to witnesses. Other people at the scene might have been able to see more than you did, or will be able to verify your story. Be sure to get their contact information so an insurance company, police officer or Jefferson County, 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 photos, any knowledge you have of the other car or driver will be easier to remember 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 Jefferson County, 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 immediately. Our skilled and expert hit and run accident attorneys will assist in collecting evidence, including getting access to adjacent surveillance footage and contacting witnesses for complete depositions. We work alongside a network of Jefferson County, MO car accident experts who will be able to recreate the scene and prove exactly how the negligible party caused your injuries.

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

In the best case scenarios, police and/or your hit and run accident attorneys will be able to discover the at-fault driver that caused your damages and hold them accountable for their reckless actions. In those cases, the indefatigable and talented Jefferson County, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make sure you receive full 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 cannot find 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 Jefferson 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 happened due to an uninsured motorist, or in the case a motorist you cannot 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 Jefferson County, MO insurance company acts as a stand in for the negligent party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your damages. However, like any insurance companies, they may still have to be persuaded to pay. To have the best opportunity to receive the best possible compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need experienced and skilled Jefferson County, MO hit and run accident attorneys like we have at Burger Law to fight on your behalf. We have been challenging insurance companies and other bullies for decades, and will not give in until your own insurance company reimburses you for the money you have certainly been paying into their policies for years.

Whether the at fault driver is identified or not, the hit and run accident attorneys at Burger law will make sure you get the maximum amount of money that you deserve. When you are hurt because somebody else broke the rules of the road, you deserve maximum compensation for all of damages you have sustained owing to the accident, for example: your medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and reduced ability to enjoy life. No matter how serious your injuries, we insist that you are compensated for every dime you are entitled to. If you or a family member in Jefferson County, 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 stay at a crash site. When someone drives 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 reckless behavior caused. There are a wide array reasons the liable party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In Jefferson County, 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 also remain on a Jefferson County, MO driver’s record.

• The driver does not have a driver’s license, or has a suspended license

  This also carries stiff 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 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 might not be 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 giving full attention to the road is thoughtless and dangerous. People can become distracted if they are texting, eating, looking at directions, tired or are just daydreaming.

• Lack of potential witnesses or low lighting

  A driver may leave a crash site simply because they think they can do so without any repercussions. Hit and run accidents are 4.5 times more frequent between 12AM and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the Jefferson 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. Occasionally, these drivers turn themselves in once they have calmed down.

While we cannot control how other people drive, 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 take for granted that leaving the scene of an accident is the best decision.

Regardless of the reason a driver opts to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have assumed the pros of fleeing outweighed the cons. The Jefferson County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will hold them responsible and make certain they know they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Jefferson 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 let up until you get the money you are owed to put you on the path to being made whole again. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free case review and so we can start working on your case right away.

The Jefferson 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 sustained injuries in a Jefferson County, 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 Jefferson County, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting on your behalf immediately. We insist that the liable parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we demand that you are awarded 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.