Hit and Run Accident Attorneys St. Francois County, MO

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

When a reckless driver intentionally 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 negligent party will not take responsibility for their behavior 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 family member's injuries. The dedicated, accomplished and knowledgeable St. Francois County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold careless and knowingly irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you comprehend the situation and will fight on your behalf to maximize your recovery and put you on the road to healing. Call us straight away 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 accidents, 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 occur in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident happens every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury caused by an auto wreck can be traumatizing and produce life-long repercussions or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases magnify that trauma as you may not find medical care immediately, and you may not know who to turn to or how to secure just compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of veteran and knowledgeable hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped people harmed in hit and run accidents in the St. Francois County, MO area get the best possible recoveries and know how to maximize your compensation. When you reach out to us at (314) 500-HURT, we begin work on your case immediately, and we do not collect any fees until we win your case.

If you have been harmed 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 St. Francois County, MO

If somebody acts irresponsibly and harms you in a hit and run accident, they are not only culpable for your injuries, they are a lawbreaker. In Missouri, leaving the scene of an accident is a crime. When a motorist 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
• Render aid to anyone who is hurt
• Call the St. Francois County, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in bad weather
• Exchange contact info and insurance information with anybody involved
• Remain at the scene until a police officer tells them they can leave

Furthermore, an accident report must be filed if damages exceed $500 or the accident results in 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 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 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 accident becomes fatal and results in somebody’s death. While it is comforting that we have laws against hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the reckless driver will not get you the money you deserve. They may be found responsible in front of the St. Francois County, MO criminal court, but you need knowledgeable and devoted hit and run accident attorneys like those at Burger Law who will demand that you get the best possible recovery you need to make you whole again. When you hire us, we get started on your case immediately and do not give up. You do not owe us a dime until we win your case and we will fight tirelessly to ensure the negligent party accepts complete responsibility for their thoughtless actions.

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

While being in any crash is frightening and can leave you feeling helpless, it can be especially nerve wracking if the at fault person disregards the rules and flees the scene. The rules are in place for a reason, and it is discouraging and frightening when someone does not respect those rules and drives carelessly and irresponsibly. The dedicated and skilled St. Francois County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold selfish drivers responsible and get you the money you are entitled to. 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 could think the damages are too minor to want to deal with the hassle, or you may be afraid that you are in some measure at fault. Leaving the location of a crash will make it much harder for you to collect compensation for your damages, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical treatment. Your foremost 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 harmed, try to keep them in a stable condition and wait for St. Francois County, 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 leads to over $500 worth of damages or causes physical harm or death. Even if you are not certain what the scope of the damages or injuries are immediately, having a police report will help a lot in winning your case.
• DO NOT go after the driver. When you are hit by another car in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are typical reactions. You may want to follow the driver and find out who they are. That is St. Francois County, MO law enforcement’s obligation. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at further risk, but it will hamper you from being able to get necessary information and may even cause the police to suspect you.
• DO safely discern what you are able to about the reckless driver and vehicle. To do so, you can:
  • Take photos. If you are not seriously injured and can get hold of 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 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 finding the driver. It is also useful to take pictures of any tire marks or other damage to the area of the accident.
  • Speak to witnesses. Other people at the crash site may have been able to see more than you did, or will be able to corroborate your version of events. Be sure to get their contact information so a claims adjuster, police officer or St. Francois County, MO hit and run accident attorney will be able to reach out to them later.
  • Write down everything you can. If you did not have time or the ability to take pictures, anything you could observe about the other car or driver will be fresher in your memory immediately following the accident, and those details will still be very useful to the police and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your St. Francois 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 right away. Our talented and knowledgeable hit and run accident attorneys will help you gather evidence, including getting access to close by surveillance video and reaching out to witnesses for full depositions. We work with a network of St. Francois County, MO car accident experts who will be able to recreate the scene and prove exactly how the at-fault 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

In the best case scenarios, police and/or your hit and run accident attorneys will be able to locate the at-fault driver that caused your damages and hold them accountable for their dangerous actions. In those cases, the aggressive and expert St. Francois County, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make certain you recover maximum 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 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 St. Francois County, MO, there are four standards that need to be met in order for you to make this claim:

1. You sustained bodily 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 entitled to collect from the at-fault driver
4. All other limits of applicable policies have been exhausted by payment or settlement

In these cases, your own St. Francois 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 the best possible compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need seasoned and savvy St. Francois County, 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 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 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 hurt because somebody else broke the rules of the road, you are entitled to a full recovery for all of damages you have experienced owing to the accident, for instance: your medical costs, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life. No matter how serious your injuries, we insist that you are compensated for all the money you are owed. If you or a family member in St. Francois County, 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 ethical obligation to stay at an accident site. When someone drives away from the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they care more about the consequences for themselves than any damage or injury their irresponsible 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 St. Francois County, MO, not having the right insurance can result in you 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 St. Francois 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, depending 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 lead to 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 have already committed a crime would risk breaking the law again to flee 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, tired 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 can do so without any repercussions. 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 St. Francois County, 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 once 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 areas with bad lighting at night, and when you are behind the wheel, never get distracted and never assume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best choice.

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 running were greater than the cons. The St. Francois County, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will make them pay and ensure they understand they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in St. Francois County, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many varying circumstances. We insist on maximum compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not rest until you are awarded the money you are owed to put you on the journey to recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a complimentary case review and so we can get started on your case right away.

The St. Francois 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.

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

If you or a family member experienced injuries in a St. Francois County, 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 St. Francois County, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting by your side straight away. We insist that the at-fault parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we demand that you recover maximum compensation to aid 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.