Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Platte County, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Platte County, MO. How do you hold a driver accountable and collect maximum compensation for your damages when you have been harmed in a hit and run accident? Call the Platte County, MO hit and run accident attorneys of Burger Law now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online so that we can begin fighting for you and getting you a full recovery for your Platte County, MO hit and run accident.

When a thoughtless driver consciously breaks the rules of the road and injured you or a family member, it is common to feel shocked and angry. It is especially unsettling when the liable party refuses to take responsibility for their reckless driving and flees the scene of the in a hit and run accident. You may be wondering who is going to reimburse you for the damages to your property and you or your loved one’s injuries. The committed, experienced and skilled Platte County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold careless and willfully irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you understand the situation and will fight for you to maximize your compensation and get you on the journey to healing. Call us today 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 is 62 percent more than 2009. Of the fatalities, 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 takes place every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury stemming from an auto crash can be traumatizing and bring about life-long changes or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases aggravate that trauma as you may not receive medical care at once, 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 adept hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped individuals and families harmed in hit and run accidents in the Platte County, MO area get full recoveries and understand how to maximize your compensation. When you call us at (314) 500-HURT, we begin working on your case straight away, and we do not charge any fees until we win your case.

If you have been hurt in a hit and run accident, check out our personal injury calculator to see how much you may be able to recover in compensation.

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

If a motorist drives carelessly and harms you in a hit and run accident, they are not only liable for your injuries, they are a lawbreaker. In Missouri, leaving the scene of an accident is against the law. When a motorist 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 Platte County, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in bad weather
• Trade contact info and insurance information with everybody involved
• Stay at the scene until a police officer tells them they can leave

Furthermore, 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 type of misdemeanor and carries a maximum penalty of one year in a local jail and a fine of $2,000. However, leaving the scene turns into 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 causes somebody’s death. While it is comforting that we have laws discouraging hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the negligent driver will not get you the money you are owed. They may be found responsible in front of the Platte County, MO criminal court, but you need skilled and dedicated hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law who will fight on your behalf until you get the maximum recovery you need to heal. When you hire us, we start working on your case immediately and do not let up. We do not charge any fees until we win your case and we will fight tirelessly to make sure the at-fault party accepts full responsibility for their thoughtless actions.

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

While being in any accident is frightening and can leave you feeling unprotected, it can be especially worrisome if the negligent driver does not respect the rules and flees the crash site. The rules are in place for a reason, and it is disappointing and startling when someone breaks those rules and drives selfishly and recklessly. The devoted and skilled Platte County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold careless drivers accountable and secure 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 flee the scene yourself. You may think the damages are too insignificant to want to deal with the inconvenience, or you may be nervous that you are partially responsible. Leaving the scene of a crash will make it much more difficult for you to get compensation for your damages, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical treatment. Your chief thought should be your health and safety and the health and safety of anyone else in your car or involved in the accident. If you or somebody else is injured, focus on keeping them in a stable condition and wait for Platte County, MO emergency services to get there and render aid.
• DO NOT wait 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 are not sure what the extent of the damages or injuries are right away, having a police report will go a long way in winning your case.
• DO NOT go after the driver. After being hit by another auto in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are normal reactions. You may want to follow the driver and find out who they are. That is Platte County, MO law enforcement’s job. Chasing after the other motorist not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at more risk, but it will impede you from being able to get valuable 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 so, you can:
  • Take photos. If you did not sustain a serious injury and can use your phone before the car vanishes from sight, 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 useful in discovering who the driver was. It also helps to take pictures of any tire marks or other damage to the crash site.
  • Speak to witnesses. Other people in the area might have been able to see more than you did, or will be able to validate your story. Make sure to get their contact information so an insurance company, police officer or Platte County, MO hit and run accident lawyer will be able to get in touch with them at a later date.
  • Write it all down. If you did not have time or the ability to take photographs, anything you could observe about the other car or driver will be easier to recall immediately after the collision, and those details will still be of great help to law enforcement and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Platte County, MO insurance company. If the driver is never located, you will have to make an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance company.
• DO call Burger Law at (314) 500-HURT at once. Our skilled and expert hit and run accident attorneys will assist in collecting evidence, including getting access to nearby surveillance video and contacting witnesses for full statements. We work with a network of Platte County, MO car accident experts who will be able to recreate the accident and show exactly how the liable party caused your injuries.

Below are some helpful links and frequently asked questions for hit and runs and other types 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 negligent driver that caused your damages and hold them responsible for their careless driving. In those cases, the indefatigable and skilled Platte County, 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 need to have uninsured motorist insurance. If you are unable to find the aliable 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 pursue a recovery from your own insurance company. In Platte County, MO, there are four criteria that are required to 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 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 Platte County, MO insurance company takes the place of the responsible party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your damages. However, like any 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 veteran and knowledgeable Platte County, 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 over 20 years, and will not give in until your own insurance company reimburses you for 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 ensure you get the full recovery that you deserve. When you are injured because somebody else broke the rules of the road, you are entitled to the best possible compensation for all of damages you have experienced because 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 insist that you are compensated for every dollar you are owed. If you or a loved one in Platte County, MO has been hurt 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 ethical responsibility to stay at a crash site. 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 injury their careless behavior caused. There are a lot of reasons the at-fault party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In Platte County, 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 are also never removed from a Platte 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, based on whether you have been caught 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 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 a crash site.

• Distracted driving

  Driving while not paying full attention to the road is thoughtless and dangerous. People can become distracted if they are texting, eating, looking at directions, dozing off 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 will not be caught. Hit and run accidents are 4.5 times more probable between midnight and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the Platte 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 know what to do. often, 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 driving, stay alert at all times and never presume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best choice.

Whatever the reason a driver opts to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have assumed the benefits of running outweighed the cons. The Platte County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will hold them responsible and make certain they see they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Platte County, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many varying circumstances. We demand full compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not give up until you collect the money you are owed to put you on the path to being made whole again. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a complimentary consultation and so we can begin working on your case right away.

The Platte 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.

• Truck Crash Lawyers in Missouri
• Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Missouri

If you or someone you care about sustained injuries in a Platte County, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, livid, and vulnerable. Injuries and their related bills can upend your life. Burger Law is here to help make you whole again. When you hire our team of Platte County, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting on your behalf right away. We demand the negligent 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.