Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Kansas City, MO

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

When a reckless driver consciously breaks the rules of the road and harms you or a loved one, it is normal to feel dismayed and angry. It is especially upsetting when the at-fault party refuses to take responsibility for their behavior and drives away from the scene of the in a hit and run accident. You may be pondering who is going to compensate you for the damages to your property and you or your loved one’s injuries. The dedicated, seasoned and knowledgeable Kansas City, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold reckless and knowingly irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you grasp the situation and will fight by your side to maximize your recovery and get you on the journey to recovery. Call us straight away at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.

In the United States in 2016, 2049 people died in hit and run crashes, which was a 62 percent increase from 2009. Of those killed, almost 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately 20 percent of pedestrian deaths happen in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident happens every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury stemming from an auto accident can be traumatizing and cause life-long consequence or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases magnify your wounds as you may not find medical treatment immediately, and you may be unsure of who to trust 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 people hurt in hit and run accidents in the Kansas City, MO area get great recoveries and understand how to maximize your compensation. When you call us at (314) 500-HURT, we begin working on your case straight away, and we do not collect any fees until we win your suit.

If you have been injured in a hit and run accident, check out our personal injury calculator to see how much you may be able to receive in compensation.

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys: Understanding the Laws in Kansas City, MO

If someone else behaves irresponsibly and hurts you in a hit and run accident, they are not only responsible 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 dictates that they must:

• Stay at the scene
• Move their car if it may cause other drivers to crash, otherwise, wait until directed by police
• Help anyone who is hurt
• Call the Kansas City, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in bad weather
• Swap contact info and insurance information with everybody involved
• Stay at the accident site until a police officer tells them differently

Furthermore, an accident report must be filed if damages exceed $500 or the accident causes injury or a fatality.

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 these 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 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 accident becomes fatal and results in somebody’s death. While it is reassuring that we have laws deterring 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 front of the Kansas City, MO criminal court, but you need knowledgeable 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 get started on your case at once and do not give up. You do not owe us a dime until we win your case and we will fight tirelessly to make certain the negligent party bears complete responsibility for their harmful 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 helpless, it can be particularly nerve wracking if the negligent individual disregards the rules of the road and flees the crash site. The rules exist for a reason, and it is disappointing and startling when someone breaks those rules and drives selfishly and irresponsibly. The devoted and knowledgeable Kansas City, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold reckless drivers responsible and win you the compensation 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 could think the damages are too insignificant to want to deal with the inconvenience, or you may be afraid that you are partly 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 treatment. The health and safety of everybody there should be your number-one worry. If you or somebody else is hurt, try to keep them in a stable condition and wait for Kansas City, MO emergency services to come and render aid.
• DO NOT hesitate to call the police. Missouri law requires you to call the police in any crash that causes over $500 worth of damages or results in bodily harm or death. Even if you are not certain what the scope of the damages or injuries are immediately, having a police report will go a long way 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 be motivated to follow the driver and find out who is responsible. That is Kansas City, MO law enforcement’s task. Chasing after the other motorist not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at increased risk, but it will hamper you from being able to get necessary information and may even make the police suspicious of you.
• DO safely note what you are able to about the reckless driver and vehicle. To do this, you can:
  • Take pictures. If you did not sustain a serious injury 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 a full license plate number, just part of the license plate and/or the make, model and color of the car will be incredibly useful in determining who the driver was. It is also useful to take photographs of any tire marks or other damage at the scene of the crash.
  • Talk to witnesses. Other people at the crash site might have had a better view than you, or will be able to validate your story. Be sure to get their contact information so a claims adjuster, police officer or Kansas City, MO hit and run accident attorney will be able to reach out to them later.
  • Write it all down. If you did not have time or the ability to take photos, 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 of great help to law enforcement and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Kansas City, MO insurance company. In the event that the driver cannot be located, you will need to make an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance company.
• DO call Burger Law at (314) 500-HURT right away. Our skilled and accomplished hit and run accident attorneys will help you collect evidence, including obtaining nearby surveillance footage and reaching out to witnesses for full depositions. We work with a network of Kansas City, MO car accident experts who will be able to recreate the scene and prove exactly how the liable 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 find the liable driver that caused your damages and hold them accountable for their thoughtless actions. In those cases, the tenacious and expert Kansas City, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make certain you receive full compensation from the driver and their insurance company.

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Hit and Run Accidents

In Missouri, motorists need to have uninsured motorist insurance. If you cannot find the anegligent 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 Kansas City, MO, there are four standards that are required to be met in order for you to make this claim:

1. You received physical injuries
2. The injuries happened because 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 Kansas City, MO insurance company takes the place of the liable party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your injuries. However, like other insurance companies, they may still have to be convinced to pay. To have the best opportunity to receive great compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need experienced and expert Kansas City, MO hit and run accident attorneys like those at Burger Law to fight on your behalf. We have been standing up to 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 certainly 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 ensure you get the full compensation that you are entitled to. When you sustain injuries because another driver disregarded the rules of the road, you deserve a full recovery for all of damages you have experienced because of the accident, for example: your medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and reduced ability to enjoy life. No matter how severe your injuries, we insist that you are compensated for all the money you are owed. If you or a family member in Kansas City, 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 ethical obligation to stay at a crash site. When someone runs away from the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they care more about the repercussions for themselves than any damage or harm their irresponsible 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 Kansas City, MO, not having the appropriate insurance can lead to 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 Kansas City, 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 that was under the influence of drugs

  A DWI is a criminal charge that can also result in fines, jail time, and having 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 paying full attention to the road is thoughtless 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 a crash site 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 Kansas City, 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. Sometimes, 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 poorly lit areas 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 choice.

No matter the reason a driver chooses to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have thought that the pros of running were greater than the cons. The Kansas City, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will hold them responsible and make sure they know they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Kansas City, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many varying scenarios. We demand full compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not give up until you get the money you are owed to put you on the road to being made whole again. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free consultation and so we can begin working on your case right away.

The Kansas City, 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 a loved one experienced injuries in a Kansas City, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, angry, and anxious. Injuries and their related expenses can disrupt your life. Burger Law is here to help you heal. When you hire our team of Kansas City, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting by your side at once. We demand the liable parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we insist on getting you full compensation to aid 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.