Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Odessa, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Odessa, MO. How do you hold a driver to blame and recover full compensation for your damages when you have been harmed in a hit and run crash? Call the Odessa, MO hit and run accident attorneys of Burger Law immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online so that we can start fighting for you and winning you the best possible recovery for your Odessa, MO hit and run accident.

When a careless driver knowingly breaks the rules of the road and harms you or a family member, it is normal to feel shocked and furious. It is particularly unnerving when the reckless party will not take responsibility for their behavior and runs away from the scene of the in a hit and run accident. You may be pondering who is going to pay for the damages to your property and you or your family member's injuries. The dedicated, seasoned and talented Odessa, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold dangerous and consciously irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you comprehend the situation and will fight on your behalf to maximize your recovery and get you on the road to recovery. 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 is 62 percent more than 2009. Of those killed, nearly 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately one in five pedestrian deaths occur in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident happens every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury resulting from a car wreck can be traumatizing and bring about life-long repercussions or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases aggravate your wounds as you may not find medical attention right away, and you may be unsure of who to turn to or how to collect fair compensation for your injuries and damages. Our group of seasoned and talented hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped people injured in hit and run accidents in the Odessa, MO area get the best possible recoveries and understand 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 collect any payment until we win your suit.

If you have been hurt 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 Odessa, MO

If a motorist behaves negligently and hurts you in a hit and run accident, they are not only culpable for your injuries, they are guilty of a criminal act. 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:

• Stay at the accident site
• Move their car if it dangerous to other drivers, otherwise, wait until instructed by police
• Attend to anyone who is hurt
• Call the Odessa, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in poor weather
• Exchange contact info and insurance information with anybody involved
• Stay at the crash site until a police officer tells them they can leave

Additionally, an accident report must be filed if damages exceed $500 or the accident leads to injury or death.

Missouri Statute 577.060 categorizes “leaving the scene of an accident" as a Class A Misdemeanor, which is the most serious type of misdemeanor 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 below 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 has previously left the scene of a hit and run accident.

A hit and run turns into a Class D Felony if the accident is fatal and causes somebody’s death. While it is comforting that we have laws deterring hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the irresponsible driver will not get you the money you are owed. They may be found guilty in the Odessa, 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 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 fight tirelessly to make certain the negligent party accepts full responsibility for their reckless 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 vulnerable, it can be particularly worrisome if the liable person breaks the rules and leaves the scene. The rules exist for a reason, and it is discouraging and alarming when someone disregards those rules and behaves selfishly and dangerously. The dedicated and knowledgeable Odessa, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold negligent drivers accountable and win you the money you are owed. 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 accident site yourself. You may think the damages are too minor to want to deal with the hassle, or you may worry that you are partially responsible. Leaving the scene of an accident will make it much more difficult for you to collect compensation for your injuries, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical treatment. Your number-one concern 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 harmed, focus on keeping them in a stable condition and wait for Odessa, MO emergency services to get there and render aid.
• DO NOT wait to call the police. Missouri law dictates that you have to call the police in any accident that causes over $500 worth of damages or leads to physical harm or death. Even if you are not certain what the extent of the damages or injuries are right away, having a police report will go a long way in making your case.
• DO NOT pursue the driver. When you are hit by another vehicle in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are natural reactions. You may be tempted to follow the driver and find out who caused your accident. That is Odessa, MO law enforcement’s job. 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 important information and may even make the police suspicious of you.
• DO safely note what you can about the negligent driver and vehicle. To do so, you can:
  • Take photos. If you did not sustain a serious injury and can take out your phone before the car vanishes from sight, take as many pictures as you can. Even if you cannot get complete license plate number, a partial license plate and/or the make, model and color of the car will be incredibly helpful in discovering who the driver was. It is also useful to take photos of any tire marks or other damage to the crash site.
  • Speak to witnesses. Other people at the scene might have had a better view than you, or will be able to validate your version of events. Make sure to get their contact information so a claims adjuster, law enforcement officer or Odessa, 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 photographs, any knowledge you have of 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 Odessa, 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 savvy and experienced hit and run accident attorneys will help you gather evidence, including getting access to close by surveillance video and reaching out to witnesses for complete depositions. We work alongside a network of Odessa, MO car accident experts who will be able to recreate the crash and demonstrate exactly how the negligible party caused your injuries.

Below are some helpful links and frequently asked questions for hit and runs and other categories 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 track down the negligent driver that caused your injuries and hold them responsible for their dangerous behavior. In those cases, the indefatigable and skilled Odessa, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will ensure you win the best possible compensation from the driver and their insurance company.

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Hit and Run Accidents

In Missouri, motorists are required to have uninsured motorist insurance. If you are unable to find 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 seek damages from your own insurance company. In Odessa, MO, there are four criteria that must be met so that you can make this claim:

1. You sustained physical injuries
2. You incurred the injuries due to 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 Odessa, MO insurance company acts as a stand in for the at-fault party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your damages. However, like any insurance companies, they may still have to be persuaded to pay. To have the best odds at receiving great compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need experienced and expert Odessa, MO hit and run accident attorneys like we have 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 pays you back the money you have likely been paying into their policies for years.

Whether the at fault driver is identified or not, the hit and run accident attorneys at Burger law will ensure you get the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. When you get injured because somebody else did not respect the rules of the road, you are entitled to maximum compensation for all of damages you have sustained because of the accident, for instance: your medical costs, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and reduced ability to enjoy life. No matter how grave your injuries, we demand that you are compensated for every dollar you are entitled to. If you or a family member in Odessa, 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 stay at the scene of an accident. When someone runs away from the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they are more concerned about the repercussions for themselves than any damage or injury their careless actions 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 Odessa, MO, not having proper 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 Odessa, MO driver’s record.

• The driver does not have a driver’s license, or has a suspended license

  This also carries crushing 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 under the influence of drugs

  A DWI is a criminal charge that can also carry fines, jail time, and revocation of a license.

• 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 giving full attention to the road is reckless 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 leave an accident site simply because they think they can do so without any consequences. 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 Odessa, 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 precautions as both drivers and pedestrians. Try to avoid walking in areas with bad lighting at night, and when you are behind the wheel, never lose focus and never take for granted that leaving the scene of an accident is the best decision.

No matter the reason a driver decides to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have presupposed the benefits of fleeing outweighed the cons. The Odessa, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will make them pay and make certain they understand they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Odessa, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many differing situations. We demand full compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not let up until you get the money you are owed to put you on the journey to healing. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free case evaluation and so we can get started on your case right away.

The Odessa, 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 Odessa, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, livid, and overwhelmed. Injuries and their related bills can disrupt your life. Burger Law is here to help make you whole again. When you hire our team of Odessa, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting for you immediately. We demand the negligent parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we demand that you get the best possible 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.