Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Moberly, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Moberly, MO. How do you hold a driver accountable and collect maximum compensation for your damages when you have been hurt in a hit and run accident? Call the Moberly, MO hit and run accident attorneys of Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online so that we can start fighting for you and securing for you the best possible recovery for your Moberly, MO hit and run accident.

When a dangerous driver knowingly breaks the rules of the road and injured you or a loved one, it is common to feel shocked and indignant. It is particularly distressing when the reckless party declines to take responsibility for their actions and flees the scene of the in a hit and run accident. You may be wondering who is going to compensate you for the damages to your property and you or your family member's injuries. The committed, veteran and skilled Moberly, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold reckless and intentionally irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you comprehend the situation and will fight for you to maximize your compensation and get you on the road to healing. Call us right away 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 accidents, which was a 62 percent increase from 2009. Of those killed, 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 happens every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury stemming from an auto crash can be traumatizing and create life-long changes or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases aggravate your wounds as you may not receive medical care immediately, and you may be unsure of 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 Moberly, MO area get maximum recoveries and understand how to maximize your compensation. When you call us at (314) 500-HURT, we start working on your case right away, 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 your damages may be worth.

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

If someone else behaves negligently 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, leaving the scene of an accident is a crime. When a motorist causes or is involved in an accident, the law requires them to:

• Remain at the scene
• Move their car if it dangerous to other drivers, otherwise, wait until directed by police
• Attend to anyone who is hurt
• Call the Moberly, 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 accident site until a police officer tells them differently

Additionally, an accident report needs to 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 county jail and a fine of $2,000. However, leaving the scene becomes 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 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 accident becomes fatal and causes somebody’s death. While it is reassuring that we have laws against hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the reckless driver will not get you the compensation you deserve. They may be found culpable in the Moberly, MO criminal court, but you need knowledgeable and committed hit and run accident attorneys like we have 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 at once 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 sure the negligent party accepts full responsibility for their harmful behavior.

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

While being in any crash is frightening and can leave you feeling helpless, it can be particularly worrisome if the at fault driver breaks the rules and flees the scene. The rules were enacted for a reason, and it is disappointing and frightening when someone breaks those rules and drives selfishly and dangerously. The committed and talented Moberly, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold thoughtless drivers accountable and secure 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 minor to want to deal with the hassle, or you may be afraid that you are in some measure at fault. Leaving the location of an accident will make it much more complicated for you to receive compensation for your injuries, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical care. The health and safety of everybody present should be your chief thought. If you or somebody else is injured, try to keep them in a stable condition and wait for Moberly, MO emergency services to come and render aid.
• DO NOT wait to call the police. Missouri law requires you to call the police in any accident that causes over $500 worth of damages or leads to physical harm or a fatality. Even if you are not sure what the extent of the damages or injuries are at that moment, having a police report will go a long way in winning your case.
• DO NOT go after the driver. After being hit by another car in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are typical reactions. You may want to follow the driver and find out who is responsible. That is Moberly, MO law enforcement’s task. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at increased risk, but it will impede you from being able to get valuable information and may even cause the police to suspect you.
• DO safely note what you can about the negligent driver and vehicle. To do this, you can:
  • Take pictures. If you did not sustain a serious injury and can use your phone before the car vanishes from sight, take as many pictures as you can. Even if you cannot get complete license plate number, just part of the number and/or the make, model and color of the car will be incredibly useful in determining who the driver was. It also helps to take photos of any tire marks or other damage to the area of the accident.
  • Speak to witnesses. Other people in the area may have been able to see more than you did, or will be able to confirm your story. Make sure to get their contact information so an insurance company, police officer or Moberly, MO hit and run accident lawyer will be able to reach out to them later.
  • Write down everything you can. If you did not have time or the ability to take photographs, anything you could observe about the other car or driver will be fresher in your memory immediately after the accident, and those details will still be of great help to law enforcement and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Moberly, 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 at once. Our talented and veteran hit and run accident attorneys will assist in gathering evidence, including obtaining adjacent surveillance footage and contacting witnesses for full statements. We work with a network of Moberly, MO car accident experts who will be able to reconstruct the accident and show exactly how the negligible party caused your injuries.

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

The ideal scenario is that 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 tenacious and expert Moberly, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will ensure you get maximum compensation from the driver and their insurance company.

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Hit and Run Accidents

In Missouri, drivers must have uninsured motorist insurance. If you cannot track down 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 Moberly, MO, there are four specifications that must be met so that you can make this claim:

1. You received bodily 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 Moberly, MO insurance company acts as a substitute for the responsible 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 odds at receiving great compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need seasoned and skilled Moberly, MO hit and run accident attorneys like we have at Burger Law to fight for you. We have been resisting insurance companies and other bullies for decades, and will not relent 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 tracked down or not, the hit and run accident attorneys at Burger law will make sure you get the full recovery that you are owed. When you are injured because another driver did not respect the rules of the road, you are entitled to maximum compensation for all of damages you have experienced as a result of the accident, for example: your medical bills, 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 all the money you deserve. If you or a someone you care about in Moberly, 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 any driver’s legal and social responsibility to stay at a crash site. When someone flees 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 dangerous 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 Moberly, MO, not having adequate 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 Moberly, 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, based 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 lead to fines, jail time, and having your license revoked.

• The driver may have a warrant out for their arrest

  It likely is not 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 careless 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 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 midnight and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the Moberly, MO streets 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 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 behind the wheel, never get distracted and never presume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best option.

Whatever the reason a driver chooses to flee the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have thought that the benefits of fleeing outweighed the cons. The Moberly, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will hold them accountable and ensure they see they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Moberly, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many differing situations. We insist on great compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not stop fighting for you until you recover the money you deserve to put you on the road to being made whole again. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a complimentary case review and so we can begin working on your case right away.

The Moberly, 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 sustained injuries in a Moberly, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, outraged, and vulnerable. Injuries and their related costs can upend your life. Burger Law is here to help make you whole again. When you hire our team of Moberly, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting on your behalf immediately. We demand the responsible parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we insist on getting you full compensation to help 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.