Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Lemay, MO

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

When a reckless driver willfully breaks the rules of the road and hurts you or a loved one, it is normal to feel shocked and angry. It is especially unnerving when the negligent party declines to take responsibility for their actions and flees the scene of the in a hit and run accident. You may be asking yourself who is going to compensate you for the damages to your property and you or your family member's injuries. The devoted, experienced and skilled Lemay, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold careless and knowingly irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you make sense of the situation and will fight on your behalf to maximize your compensation and put you on the journey to recovery. Call us now 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 accidents, which is 62 percent more than 2009. Of the fatalities, just about 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately one in five pedestrian deaths transpire in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident transpires every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury arising from a car accident can be traumatizing and produce life-long repercussions or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases aggravate that trauma as you may not find medical treatment at once, and you may not be certain who to turn to or how to secure fair compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of experienced and knowledgeable hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped those hurt in hit and run accidents in the Lemay, 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 begin work on your case immediately, and we do not collect any payment 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 Lemay, MO

If a driver behaves irresponsibly and harms you in a hit and run accident, they are not only to blame for your injuries, they are guilty of breaking the law. In Missouri, leaving the scene of an accident is a crime. When a motorist causes or is involved in an accident, they are required by law to:

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

Furthermore, an accident report needs 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 county jail and a fine of $2,000. However, leaving the scene turns into 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 crash becomes fatal and results in somebody’s death. While it is comforting that we have laws against hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the at-fault driver will not get you the recovery you are owed. They may be found guilty in front of the Lemay, MO criminal court, but you need knowledgeable and committed hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law who will demand that you get the maximum recovery you need to recover. When you hire us, we start working on your case straight away and work tenaciously until we win. We do not charge any fees until we win your case and we will represent you aggressively to ensure the negligent party bears complete responsibility for their dangerous actions.

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

While being in any crash is frightening and can leave you feeling vulnerable, it can be particularly stressful if the liable person disregards the rules of the road and flees the scene. The rules are in place for a reason, and it is disheartening and alarming when someone does not respect those rules and behaves selfishly and dangerously. The dedicated and knowledgeable Lemay, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold negligent 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 leave the scene yourself. You may think the damages are too minor to want to deal with the hassle, or you may be afraid that you are in some measure responsible. Leaving the scene 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 care. The health and safety of everybody there should be your primary concern. If you or somebody else is hurt, do your best to keep them in a stable condition and wait for Lemay, MO emergency services to arrive and render aid.
• DO NOT hesitate to call the police. Missouri law says that you have to call the police in any accident that causes over $500 worth of damages or causes bodily injury or death. Even if you are not sure what the scope of the damages or injuries are right away, having a police report will go a long way in proving your case.
• DO NOT follow the driver. When you are hit by another driver in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are common reactions. You may be tempted to follow the driver and find out who is responsible. That is Lemay, 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 important information and may even cause the police to suspect you.
• DO safely learn what you can about the negligent driver and vehicle. To do so, you can:
  • Take photos. If you are not seriously injured and can use your phone before the car is completely gone, take as many photographs as you can. Even if you cannot get an entire license plate number, a partial 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 pictures of any tire marks or other damage to the area of the crash.
  • Talk to witnesses. Other people in the area might have had a better view than you, or will be able to validate your version of events. Be sure to get their contact information so an insurance company, law enforcement officer or Lemay, MO hit and run accident attorney will be able to get in touch with them at a later date.
  • 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 recall immediately after the crash, and those details will still be incredibly useful to the police and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Lemay, 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 straight away. Our skilled and accomplished hit and run accident attorneys will help you collect evidence, including obtaining adjacent surveillance footage and getting in touch with witnesses for complete depositions. We work with a network of Lemay, MO car accident experts who will be able to reconstruct the scene and demonstrate exactly how the negligible party caused your injuries.

Here 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 find the liable driver that caused your damages and hold them accountable for their thoughtless actions. In those cases, the tenacious and talented Lemay, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make sure you win 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 cannot 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 seek a recovery from your own insurance company. In Lemay, MO, there are four criteria that need to be met so that you can make this claim:

1. You received bodily injuries
2. You received the injuries due to 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 Lemay, 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 chance at receiving the best possible compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need accomplished and knowledgeable Lemay, MO hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law to fight by your side. We have been pushing back against insurance companies and other bullies for decades, and will not give up the fight 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 tracked down 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 get hurt because somebody else disregarded the rules of the road, you are entitled to maximum compensation for all of damages you have experienced owing to the accident, such as: your medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and reduced capacity to enjoy life. No matter how severe your injuries, we demand that you are compensated for every dime you are entitled to. If you or a loved one in Lemay, 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 any driver’s legal and ethical obligation to remain at a crash site. When someone drives away from the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they are more concerned about the consequences for themselves than any damage or harm their reckless behavior 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 Lemay, 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 Lemay, 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 caught without a valid license before.

• A drunk driver or a driver that was 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 might not be surprising that people who have already committed a crime would risk breaking the law again to run away from an accident site.

• 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, fatigued or are just daydreaming.

• Lack of potential witnesses or low lighting

  A driver may flee a crash site simply because they think they will not be caught. 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 Lemay, 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 what other drivers do on the road, we can take some precautions 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 presume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best decision.

No matter the reason a driver opts to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have assumed the benefits of fleeing were greater than the cons. The Lemay, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will hold them responsible and ensure they see they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Lemay, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many varying circumstances. We demand great compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not rest until you are awarded 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 start working on your case right away.

The Lemay, 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 Lemay, 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 make you whole again. When you hire our team of Lemay, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting on your behalf straight away. We insist that the liable parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we demand that you get the best possible compensation to aid you in your recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case evaluation to take the first step in getting your life back on track.