Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Lincoln County, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Lincoln County, MO. How do you hold a driver to blame and collect the best possible compensation for your damages when you have been hurt in a hit and run accident? Call the Lincoln County, MO hit and run accident attorneys of Burger Law straight 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 Lincoln County, MO hit and run accident.

When a reckless driver purposefully breaks the rules of the road and hurts you or a family member, it is normal to feel shocked and angry. It is especially unnerving 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 asking yourself who is going to pay for the damages to your property and you or your family member's injuries. The committed, seasoned and talented Lincoln 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 recovery and get you on the journey 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 died 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 happen 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 bring about life-long consequence or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases intensify your wounds as you may not find medical attention at once, and you may not be certain who to trust or how to collect equitable compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of accomplished and skilled hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped people hurt in hit and run accidents in the Lincoln County, MO area get great recoveries and know how to maximize your compensation. When you reach out to us at (314) 500-HURT, we begin work on your case right away, and you do not owe us any fees until we win your claim.

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 Lincoln County, MO

If a motorist behaves carelessly 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, driving away from the scene of an accident is against the law. When a driver causes or is involved in an accident, the law dictates that they must:

• Stay at the scene
• Move their car if it hazardous to other drivers, otherwise, wait for instructions from police
• Attend to anyone who is hurt
• Call the Lincoln 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 others involved
• Remain at the scene until a police officer tells them differently

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

Missouri Statute 577.060 categorizes “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 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 becomes a Class D Felony if the crash becomes fatal and leads to somebody’s death. While it is encouraging that we have laws against hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the irresponsible driver will not get you the compensation you are owed. They may be found guilty before the Lincoln County, MO criminal court, but you need accomplished and dedicated hit and run accident attorneys like those at Burger Law who will insist that you get the best possible recovery you need to make you whole again. When you hire us, we get started on your case right away and do not give up. You do not owe us a dime until we win your case and we will represent you aggressively to make certain the negligent party bears full responsibility for their thoughtless behavior.

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 especially worrisome if the negligent individual disregards the rules of the road and flees the scene. The rules exist for a reason, and it is discouraging and alarming when someone does not respect those rules and acts thoughtlessly and irresponsibly. The devoted and skilled Lincoln County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold careless drivers responsible and win you the money 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 leave the scene yourself. You could think the damages are too insignificant to want to deal with the nuisance, or you may be nervous that you are partially responsible. Leaving the scene of an accident 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 attention. Your first 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, focus on keeping them in a stable condition and wait for Lincoln County, MO emergency services to get there 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 leads to bodily harm or death. Even if you are unsure of the extent of the damages or injuries are right away, having a police report will help a lot in winning your case.
• DO NOT follow the driver. When you are hit by another auto in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are common reactions. You may want to follow the driver and find out who they are. That is Lincoln County, MO law enforcement’s job. Chasing after the other driver not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at more risk, but it will hamper you from being able to get necessary information and may even cause the police to not believe you.
• DO safely discern what you can about the negligent driver and vehicle. To do so, you can:
  • Take pictures. If you are not badly injured and can get hold of your phone before the car is completely gone, take as many photos as you can. 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 locating the driver. It is also useful to take photographs of any tire marks or other damage to the crash site.
  • Talk to witnesses. Other people at the crash site may have had a better view than you, or will be able to corroborate your version of events. Be sure to get their contact information so an insurance company, law enforcement officer or Lincoln County, MO hit and run accident lawyer will be able to reach out to them at a later date.
  • Write it all down. If you did not have time or the ability to take photos, anything you noticed about the other car or driver will be fresher in your memory 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 Lincoln 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 accomplished hit and run accident attorneys will assist in collecting evidence, including getting access to nearby surveillance video and getting in touch with witnesses for full statements. We work alongside a network of Lincoln County, MO car accident experts who will be able to reconstruct the crash and demonstrate exactly how the negligible party caused your injuries.

Listed here 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 at-fault driver that caused your damages and hold them responsible for their careless driving. In those cases, the determined and knowledgeable Lincoln County, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make sure you get the best possible compensation from the driver and their insurance company.

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Hit and Run Accidents

In Missouri, drivers are required to 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 compensation from your own insurance company. In Lincoln County, MO, there are four standards that must be met in order for you to make this claim:

1. You sustained bodily injuries
2. The injuries happened because of an uninsured motorist, or in the case a motorist you cannot 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 Lincoln County, MO insurance company takes the place of the liable party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your damages. However, like many insurance companies, they may still need convincing before they pay you. To have the best odds at receiving the best possible compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need veteran and knowledgeable Lincoln County, MO hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law to fight by your side. We have been challenging insurance companies and other bullies for decades, and will not give in 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 make sure you get the maximum amount of compensation that you are owed. When you get hurt because somebody else did not respect the rules of the road, you are entitled to maximum compensation for all of damages you have received as a result of the accident, for instance: your medical expenses, 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 all the money you are entitled to. If you or a loved one in Lincoln County, 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 every driver’s legal and ethical duty to stay at the scene of a crash. When someone flees the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they care more about the repercussions for themselves than any damage or injury their negligent 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 Lincoln County, MO, not having the right 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 are also never removed from a Lincoln County, 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, depending on whether you have been pulled over 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 result in fines, jail time, and revocation of a license.

• The driver may have a warrant out for their arrest

  It probably is not surprising that people who have already committed a crime would risk breaking the law again to leave an accident site.

• Distracted driving

  Driving while not paying full attention to the road is careless and dangerous. People can become distracted if they are texting, eating, looking at directions, tired or just have their head in the clouds.

• Lack of potential witnesses or low lighting

  A driver may flee 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 12AM and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the Lincoln 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. Sometimes, 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 poorly lit areas at night, and when you are behind the wheel, never lose focus and never assume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best choice.

Regardless of the reason a driver chooses to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have presumed the benefits of fleeing outweighed the cons. The Lincoln County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will hold them accountable and make certain they see they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Lincoln County, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many varying situations. We insist on maximum compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not rest until you are awarded the money you deserve to put you on the path 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 Lincoln 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 a loved one sustained injuries in a Lincoln County, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, livid, and vulnerable. Injuries and their related costs can uproot your life. Burger Law is here to help make you whole again. When you hire our team of Lincoln County, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting on your behalf straight away. We insist that the responsible parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we insist on getting you maximum compensation to help you in your recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case review to take the first step in getting your life back on track.