Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Rolla, MO

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

When a negligent driver willfully breaks the rules of the road and hurts you or a family member, it is common to feel dismayed and furious. It is particularly upsetting when the reckless party will not take responsibility for their behavior and flees the scene of the in a hit and run accident. You may be puzzled about who is going to pay for the damages to your property and you or your family member's injuries. The committed, experienced and skilled Rolla, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold thoughtless and knowingly irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you grasp the situation and will fight for you to maximize your recovery and get you on the road to healing. Call us now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case review.

In the United States in 2016, 2049 people were killed in hit and run crashes, which was a 62 percent increase from 2009. Of those who died, just about 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately 20 percent of pedestrian deaths occur in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident takes place 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 exacerbate that trauma as you may not receive medical treatment right away, and you may be unsure of who to trust or how to collect fair compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of seasoned and knowledgeable hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped those injured in hit and run accidents in the Rolla, MO area get full recoveries and understand how to maximize your compensation. When you reach out to us at (314) 500-HURT, we start working on your case at once, and you do not owe us any payment until we win your case.

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

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

If someone else behaves carelessly and injures you in a hit and run accident, they are not only responsible for your injuries, they are a lawbreaker. In Missouri, fleeing the scene of an accident is a crime. When a driver 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 Rolla, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in inclement weather
• Trade contact info and insurance information with other people involved
• Remain at the scene until a police officer tells them differently

Additionally, an accident report needs to be filed if damages exceed $500 or the accident leads to 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 becomes a Class E Felony if any of the three conditions listed 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 crash becomes fatal and causes somebody’s death. While it is comforting that we have laws deterring hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the reckless driver will not get you the money you deserve. They may be found guilty in front of the Rolla, MO criminal court, but you need skilled and dedicated hit and run accident attorneys like those at Burger Law who will fight by your side until you get the maximum recovery you need to recover. When you hire us, we start working on your case straight away 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 certain the negligent party bears complete responsibility for their reckless actions.

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

While being in any crash is terrifying and can leave you feeling helpless, it can be particularly worrisome if the liable person disregards the rules of the road and flees the scene. The rules were enacted for a reason, and it is disheartening and alarming when someone disregards those rules and behaves thoughtlessly and irresponsibly. The dedicated and skilled Rolla, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold careless drivers accountable and get you the compensation 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 crash site yourself. You might think the damages are too small to want to deal with the nuisance, or you may be anxious that you are partially at fault. Leaving the scene 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 care. Your chief 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 hurt, focus on keeping them in a stable condition and wait for Rolla, MO emergency services to arrive and give aid.
• DO NOT hesitate to call the police. Missouri law dictates that you have to call the police in any crash that causes over $500 worth of damages or results in bodily harm or death. Even if you are unsure of the extent of the damages or injuries are at that moment, having a police report will go a long way in making your case.
• DO NOT follow the driver. When you are hit by another driver in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are natural reactions. You may want to follow the driver and find out who is responsible. That is Rolla, MO law enforcement’s task. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at further risk, but it will impede you from being able to get necessary information and may even make the police suspicious of you.
• DO safely find out what you can about the reckless 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 you cannot see the car anymore, take as many pictures 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 incredibly useful in determining 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 at the crash site might have had a better view than you, or will be able to confirm your story. Make sure to get their contact information so an insurance company, law enforcement officer or Rolla, MO hit and run accident attorney will be able to contact them at a later date.
  • Write down everything you can. If you did not have time or the ability to take photographs, any knowledge you have of the other car or driver will be easier to recall immediately after the crash, and those details will still be of great help to law enforcement and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Rolla, 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 straight away. Our skilled and expert hit and run accident attorneys will help you gather evidence, including getting access to adjacent surveillance footage and reaching out to witnesses for complete statements. We work alongside a network of Rolla, MO car accident experts who will be able to recreate the scene and demonstrate exactly how the at-fault 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 find the liable driver that caused your damages and hold them accountable for their reckless behavior. In those cases, the indefatigable and talented Rolla, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will ensure you receive full compensation from the driver and their insurance company.

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Hit and Run Accidents

In Missouri, drivers are required 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 compensation from your own insurance company. In Rolla, MO, there are four standards that need to be met in order for you to make this claim:

1. You sustained physical injuries
2. The injuries occurred 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 Rolla, MO insurance company takes the place of the liable 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 opportunity to receive maximum compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need accomplished and expert Rolla, MO hit and run accident attorneys like we have at Burger Law to fight on your behalf. We have been challenging insurance companies and other bullies for decades, and will not give up the fight until your own insurance company reimburses you for the money you have probably 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 money that you are entitled to. When you are hurt because somebody else broke the rules of the road, you are entitled to a full compensation for all of damages you have sustained as a result of the accident, including: your medical costs, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life. No matter how severe your injuries, we demand that you are compensated for all the money you deserve. If you or a family member in Rolla, 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 moral responsibility to remain at the scene of an accident. When someone leaves the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they care more about the consequences for themselves than any damage or harm their careless 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 Rolla, MO, not having the appropriate 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 are also never removed from a Rolla, 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 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 carry 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 a crash site.

• Distracted driving

  Driving while not giving full attention to the road is thoughtless and dangerous. People can become distracted if they are texting, eating, looking at directions, fatigued or just have their head in the clouds.

• Lack of potential witnesses or low lighting

  A driver may leave the scene of an accident simply because they think they will not be caught. Hit and run accidents are 4.5 times more likely to occur between midnight and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the Rolla, 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. often, these drivers turn themselves in after they have calmed down.

While we cannot control what other drivers do behind the wheel, 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 presume 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 benefits of fleeing outweighed the cons. The Rolla, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will hold them responsible and ensure they see they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Rolla, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many different situations. We demand full compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not stop fighting for you until you receive the money you are owed to put you on the journey to healing. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a complimentary case evaluation and so we can begin working on your case right away.

The Rolla, 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 Rolla, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, outraged, and vulnerable. Injuries and their related expenses can disrupt your life. Burger Law is here to help make you whole again. When you hire our team of Rolla, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting by your side immediately. We insist that the liable parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we demand that you collect full compensation to help you in your recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case evaluation to take the first step in getting your life back on track.