Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Monett, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Monett, MO. How do you hold a driver to blame and collect maximum compensation for your damages when you have been hurt in a hit and run accident? Call the Monett, 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 the best possible recovery for your Monett, MO hit and run accident.

When a negligent driver knowingly breaks the rules of the road and harms you or a family member, it is common to feel dismayed and furious. It is particularly unnerving when the at-fault party declines to take responsibility for their actions and drives 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 dedicated, veteran and skilled Monett, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold careless and intentionally irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you understand the situation and will fight by your side to maximize your recovery and put you on the path to healing. Call us immediately 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 the fatalities, 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 occurs every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury resulting from an auto wreck 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 receive medical treatment right away, and you may not know who to turn to or how to collect fair compensation for your injuries and damages. Our group of experienced and adept hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped people harmed in hit and run accidents in the Monett, MO area get maximum recoveries and know how to maximize your compensation. When you reach out to us at (314) 500-HURT, we begin working on your case straight away, and we do not charge any payment 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 Monett, MO

If somebody behaves carelessly and hurts you in a hit and run accident, they are not only responsible for your injuries, they are a lawbreaker. In Missouri, driving away from the scene of an accident is against the law. When a motorist causes or is involved in an accident, the law requires them to:

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

Furthermore, an accident report needs to be filed if damages exceed $500 or the accident results in 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 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 turns into a Class D Felony if the accident is fatal and results in somebody’s death. While it is reassuring that we have laws discouraging hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the irresponsible driver will not get you the money you are entitled to. They may be found guilty before the Monett, MO criminal court, but you need accomplished and devoted hit and run accident attorneys like we have at Burger Law who will fight on your behalf until you get the full recovery you need to make you whole again. When you hire us, we start working on your case straight away and do not let 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 complete responsibility for their careless actions.

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

While being in any accident is terrifying and can leave you feeling helpless, it can be particularly worrisome if the liable individual disregards the rules of the road and leaves the crash site. The rules are in place for a reason, and it is disheartening and frightening when someone breaks those rules and drives carelessly and dangerously. The devoted and accomplished Monett, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold selfish drivers responsible and recover for 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 accident site yourself. You might think the damages are too minor to want to deal with the nuisance, or you may be anxious that you are in some measure responsible. Leaving the location of a crash will make it much more complicated for you to collect compensation for your damages, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical treatment. The health and safety of everyone involved should be your principal worry. If you or somebody else is hurt, focus on keeping them in a stable condition and wait for Monett, MO emergency services to arrive and provide aid.
• DO NOT hesitate to call the police. Missouri law requires you to call the police in any accident that leads to over $500 worth of damages or results in physical harm or a fatality. Even if you do not know the extent of the damages or injuries are immediately, having a police report will go a long way in making 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 be tempted to follow the driver and find out who hit you. That is Monett, MO law enforcement’s task. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at more risk, but it will hold you back from being able to get valuable information and may even make the police suspicious of you.
• DO safely find out what you can about the negligent driver and vehicle. To do this, you can:
  • Take photos. If you are not seriously injured and can get hold of your phone before the car vanishes from sight, take as many photos as possible. 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 useful in determining who the driver was. It also helps to take pictures of any tire marks or other damage to the accident site.
  • Talk to witnesses. Other people at the crash site might have had a better view than you, or will be able to confirm your story. Be sure to get their contact information so a claims adjuster, police officer or Monett, MO hit and run accident lawyer will be able to contact 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 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 Monett, 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 immediately. Our skilled and accomplished hit and run accident attorneys will assist in gathering evidence, including getting access to close by surveillance video and reaching out to witnesses for full depositions. We work alongside a network of Monett, MO car accident experts who will be able to reconstruct the accident and demonstrate exactly how the liable 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

The ideal scenario is that police and/or your hit and run accident attorneys will be able to locate the negligent driver that caused your injuries and hold them accountable for their careless actions. In those cases, the tenacious and talented Monett, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make certain you receive the best possible compensation from the driver and their insurance company.

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Hit and Run Accidents

In Missouri, drivers need to have uninsured motorist insurance. If you cannot track down 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 pursue a recovery from your own insurance company. In Monett, MO, there are four criteria that must be met in order for you to make this claim:

1. You sustained physical injuries
2. The injuries occurred because of 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 Monett, MO insurance company acts as a substitute for the liable party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your damages. However, like other insurance companies, they may still need convincing before they pay you. To have the best opportunity to receive full compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need accomplished and skilled Monett, MO hit and run accident attorneys like we have at Burger Law to fight on your behalf. We have been resisting insurance companies and other bullies for decades, and will not give in 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 make certain you get the full compensation that you are entitled to. When you are injured because somebody else broke the rules of the road, you deserve maximum compensation for all of damages you have experienced because of the accident, including: your medical expenses, 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 every nickel you are entitled to. If you or a loved one in Monett, 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 social responsibility to remain at the scene of an accident. When someone leaves the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they are more worried about the repercussions for themselves than any damage or injury their negligent actions caused. There are many reasons the liable party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In Monett, MO, not having the appropriate 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 Monett, 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 that was impaired by drugs

  A DWI is a criminal charge that can also lead to 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 flee the scene of an accident.

• Distracted driving

  Driving while not focusing on the road is thoughtless and dangerous. People can become distracted if they are texting, eating, looking at directions, drowsy or are just thinking about something else.

• Lack of potential witnesses or low lighting

  A driver may leave the scene of an accident simply because they think they can do so without any repercussions. 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 Monett, 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 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 assume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best option.

Regardless of the reason a driver decides to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have presumed the pros of running were greater than the cons. The Monett, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will hold them responsible and make sure they see they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Monett, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many differing situations. We insist on the best possible compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not give up until you receive the money you are owed to put you on the path to recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a complimentary consultation and so we can begin working on your case right away.

The Monett, 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 family member sustained injuries in a Monett, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, livid, and vulnerable. Injuries and their related costs can disrupt your life. Burger Law is here to help you heal. When you hire our team of Monett, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting for you at once. We insist that the liable parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we demand that you recover the best possible compensation to help you in your recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case review to take the first step in getting your life back on track.