Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Shaw, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Shaw, MO. How do you hold a driver responsible and receive great compensation for your damages when you have been injured in a hit and run crash? Call the Shaw, MO hit and run accident attorneys of Burger Law straight away at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online so that we can begin working for you and securing for you a full recovery for your Shaw, MO hit and run accident.

When a dangerous driver intentionally breaks the rules of the road and hurts you or a loved one, it is normal to feel shocked and furious. It is particularly upsetting 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 puzzled about who is going to pay for the damages to your property and you or your loved one’s injuries. The devoted, veteran and talented Shaw, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold careless and intentionally irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you grasp 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 consultation.

In the United States in 2016, 2049 people died in hit and run crashes, which was a 62 percent increase from 2009. Of those who died, nearly 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 caused by a car wreck can be traumatizing and create life-long repercussions or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases amplify that trauma as you may not receive medical attention immediately, and you may not be certain who to trust or how to collect just compensation for your injuries and damages. Our group of experienced and adept hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped people hurt in hit and run accidents in the Shaw, MO area get great recoveries and understand how to maximize your compensation. When you contact us at (314) 500-HURT, we start work on your case at once, and you do not owe us any fees until we win your suit.

If you have been injured in a hit and run accident, use 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 Shaw, MO

If a driver behaves recklessly and hurts you in a hit and run accident, they are not only culpable for your injuries, they are a lawbreaker. In Missouri, driving away from the scene of an accident is against the law. When a driver causes or is involved in an accident, they are required by law to:

• Remain at the scene
• Move their car if it hazardous to other drivers, otherwise, wait until directed by police
• Supply aid to anyone who is hurt
• Call the Shaw, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in poor weather
• Swap contact info and insurance information with everybody 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 county jail and a fine of $2,000. However, leaving the scene turns into 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 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 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 recovery you are owed. They may be found responsible in the Shaw, MO criminal court, but you need expert and dedicated hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law who will fight by your side until you get the full recovery you need to heal. When you hire us, we get started on your case right 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 sure the at-fault party bears full responsibility for their harmful behavior.

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

While being in any accident is frightening and can leave you feeling vulnerable, it can be particularly nerve wracking if the responsible person breaks the law and leaves the accident site. The rules exist for a reason, and it is disheartening and frightening when someone disregards those rules and drives thoughtlessly and dangerously. The committed and skilled Shaw, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold selfish drivers responsible 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 flee the accident site yourself. You may think the damages are too insignificant to want to deal with the hassle, or you may be anxious that you are partially responsible. Leaving the scene of a crash 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 care. Your foremost concern 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 harmed, try to keep them in a stable condition and wait for Shaw, 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 crash that results in over $500 worth of damages or leads to physical injury or a fatality. Even if you are not sure what the degree of the damages or injuries are right away, having a police report will go a long way in proving your case.
• DO NOT pursue the driver. After being hit by another car in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are normal reactions. You may be tempted to follow the driver and find out who caused your accident. That is Shaw, MO law enforcement’s job. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at increased risk, but it will hamper you from being able to get necessary information and may even cause the police to not believe you.
• DO safely note what you can about the negligent driver and vehicle. To do this, you can:
  • Take photographs. If you did not sustain a serious injury and can get hold of your phone before the car disappears from view, take as many photographs as possible. 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 locating the driver. It also helps to take pictures of any tire marks or other damage to the accident site.
  • Speak to witnesses. Other people at the scene may have had a better view than you, or will be able to validate your story. Be sure to get their contact information so an insurance company, police officer or Shaw, MO hit and run accident lawyer will be able to get in touch with 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 easier to recall immediately after the crash, and those details will still be very useful to the police and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Shaw, MO insurance company. In the event that the driver cannot be located, you will have to make an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance company.
• DO call Burger Law at (314) 500-HURT straight away. Our savvy and accomplished hit and run accident attorneys will assist in collecting evidence, including getting access to nearby surveillance video and reaching out to witnesses for complete depositions. We work with a network of Shaw, MO car accident experts who will be able to recreate the scene and prove exactly how the liable 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

In the best case scenarios, 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 irresponsible actions. In those cases, the determined and skilled Shaw, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make certain you recover full 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 Shaw, MO, there are four specifications that must be met in order for you to make this claim:

1. You sustained physical injuries
2. The injuries occurred as a result 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 Shaw, MO insurance company takes the place of the negligent 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 the best possible compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need experienced and talented Shaw, MO hit and run accident attorneys like those at Burger Law to fight by your side. We have been challenging insurance companies and other bullies for over 20 years, and will not relent until your own insurance company reimburses you for the money you have probably been paying into their policies for a long time.

Whether the at fault driver is located or not, the hit and run accident attorneys at Burger law will ensure you get the maximum amount of money that you are owed. When you sustain injuries because another driver disregarded the rules of the road, you are entitled to maximum compensation for all of damages you have received because of the accident, such as: your medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life. No matter how severe your injuries, we insist that you are compensated for all the money you are entitled to. If you or a family member in Shaw, 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 any driver’s legal and social duty 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 repercussions for themselves than any damage or injury their dangerous behavior caused. There are a wide array reasons the negligent party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In Shaw, MO, not having 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 also remain on a Shaw, 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 impaired by drugs

  A DWI is a criminal charge that can also result in 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 have already committed a crime would risk breaking the law again to leave an accident site.

• Distracted driving

  Driving while not focusing on the road is careless and dangerous. People can become distracted if they are texting, eating, looking at directions, tired or just have their head in the clouds.

• Lack of potential witnesses or low lighting

  A driver may flee the scene of an accident simply because they think they will not be caught. Hit and run accidents are 4.5 times more frequent between 12AM and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the Shaw, 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. Sometimes, these drivers turn themselves in once they have calmed down.

While we cannot control what other drivers do behind the wheel, 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 take for granted that leaving the scene of an accident is the best choice.

No matter the reason a driver opts to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have thought that the pros of running were greater than the cons. The Shaw, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will make them pay and ensure they see they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Shaw, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many differing situations. We insist on great 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 path to recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a complimentary case review and so we can begin working on your case right away.

The Shaw, 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 Shaw, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, livid, and vulnerable. Injuries and their related expenses can uproot your life. Burger Law is here to help you heal. When you hire our team of Shaw, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting by your side at once. We demand the at-fault 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.