Hit and Run Accident Attorneys O'Fallon, MO

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

When a dangerous driver consciously breaks the rules of the road and hurts you or a family member, it is normal to feel shocked and outraged. It is particularly distressing when the negligent party refuses to take responsibility for their behavior and flees 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 loved one’s injuries. The committed, seasoned and knowledgeable O'Fallon, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold dangerous and intentionally irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you make sense of the situation and will fight on your behalf to maximize your recovery and get you on the path to recovery. Call us immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.

In the United States in 2016, 2049 people were killed in hit and run accidents, which is 62 percent more than 2009. Of those killed, just about 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately 20 percent of pedestrian deaths happen in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident transpires every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury caused by an auto crash can be traumatizing and create life-long repercussions or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases intensify that trauma as you may not receive medical care immediately, and you may not be certain who to turn to or how to pursue equitable compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of seasoned and knowledgeable hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped individuals and families harmed in hit and run accidents in the O'Fallon, MO area get great recoveries and understand how to maximize your compensation. When you call us at (314) 500-HURT, we start working on your case immediately, and we do not collect any fees until we win your claim.

If you have been injured 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 O'Fallon, MO

If somebody behaves recklessly and injures you in a hit and run accident, they are not only liable for your injuries, they are guilty of breaking the law. In Missouri, fleeing the scene of an accident is against the law. When a driver causes or is involved in an accident, the law requires them to:

• Remain at the scene
• Move their car if it hazardous to other drivers, otherwise, wait for directions from police
• Help anyone who is hurt
• Call the O'Fallon, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in inclement weather
• Exchange contact info and insurance information with other people involved
• Stay at the scene until a police officer tells them they can leave

Additionally, 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 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 has previously left the scene of a hit and run accident.

A hit and run turns into a Class D Felony if the crash is fatal and leads to somebody’s death. While it is encouraging that we have laws against hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the reckless driver will not get you the recovery you are owed. They may be found responsible in front of the O'Fallon, MO criminal court, but you need talented and devoted 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 start working on your case right away and are relentless 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 full responsibility for their reckless behavior.

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

While being in any accident is terrifying and can leave you feeling unprotected, it can be particularly stressful if the responsible individual disregards the rules of the road and flees the scene. The rules were enacted for a reason, and it is disheartening and frightening when someone breaks those rules and acts selfishly and irresponsibly. The devoted and accomplished O'Fallon, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold careless drivers accountable and get 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 might think the damages are too small 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 complicated for you to be awarded compensation for your damages, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical attention. Your primary 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 harmed, try to keep them in a stable condition and wait for O'Fallon, MO emergency services to come and provide 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 results in physical harm or a fatality. Even if you are not certain what the degree of the damages or injuries are at that moment, having a police report will help immeasurably in winning your case.
• DO NOT follow 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 they are. That is O'Fallon, MO law enforcement’s responsibility. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at heightened risk, but it will impede you from being able to get important information and may even cause the police to suspect you.
• DO safely discern what you are able to about the irresponsible driver and vehicle. To do this, you can:
  • Take photographs. If you did not sustain a serious injury and can take out your phone before the car you cannot see the car anymore, take as many photos as you are able to. Even if you cannot get an entire license plate number, a partial number and/or the make, model and color of the car will be a great help in locating the driver. It also helps to take photos of any tire marks or other damage to the accident site.
  • Talk to witnesses. Other people at the crash site may have been able to see more than you did, or will be able to confirm your version of events. Be sure to get their contact information so a claims adjuster, law enforcement officer or O'Fallon, MO hit and run accident lawyer will be able to reach out to them at a later date.
  • Write down everything you can. If you did not have time or the ability to take photos, any knowledge you have of 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 the police and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your O'Fallon, 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 right away. Our savvy and veteran hit and run accident attorneys will assist in gathering evidence, including getting access to nearby surveillance video and reaching out to witnesses for full statements. We work alongside a network of O'Fallon, MO car accident experts who will be able to recreate the scene and demonstrate exactly how the at-fault 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 discover the negligent driver that caused your damages and hold them responsible for their reckless driving. In those cases, the tenacious and talented O'Fallon, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will ensure you receive maximum 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 find the aat-fault 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 make a claim against your own insurance company. In O'Fallon, MO, there are four specifications that must be met so that you can make this claim:

1. You received bodily injuries
2. You incurred the injuries due to an uninsured motorist, or in the case a motorist you are unable to 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 O'Fallon, MO insurance company takes the place of the liable party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your damages. However, like any insurance companies, they may still have to be convinced to pay. To have the best chance at receiving the best possible compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need experienced and knowledgeable O'Fallon, 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 over 20 years, and will not back down 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 tracked down or not, the hit and run accident attorneys at Burger law will make certain you get the full compensation that you deserve. When you are hurt because another driver broke the rules of the road, you deserve the best possible 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 reduced capacity to enjoy life. No matter how severe your injuries, we demand that you are compensated for all the money you are owed. If you or a someone you care about in O'Fallon, 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 obligation to remain at the scene of a crash. When someone leaves the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they are more concerned about the repercussions for themselves than any damage or harm their reckless actions caused. There are a wide array reasons the liable party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In O'Fallon, 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 also remain on a O'Fallon, 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 impaired by 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 likely is not surprising that people who already fear an interaction with law enforcement would risk breaking the law again to leave an accident site.

• 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, drowsy or just have their head in the clouds.

• Lack of potential witnesses or low lighting

  A driver may flee an accident site simply because they think they will not be caught. 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 O'Fallon, 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 know what to do. Occasionally, 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, stay alert at all times and never assume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best option.

No matter the reason a driver opts to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have presupposed the benefits of running outweighed the cons. The O'Fallon, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will hold them accountable and make sure they understand they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in O'Fallon, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many differing scenarios. We insist on the best possible compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not rest until you receive the money you deserve to put you on the journey to healing. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a complimentary case review and so we can start working on your case right away.

The O'Fallon, 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 family member sustained injuries in a O'Fallon, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, angry, and vulnerable. Injuries and their related bills can upend your life. Burger Law is here to help you heal. When you hire our team of O'Fallon, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting for you immediately. We insist that the negligent parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we insist on getting you the best possible compensation to aid you in your recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation to take the first step in getting your life back on track.