Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Ste. Genevieve, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Ste. Genevieve, MO. How do you hold a driver responsible and get full compensation for your damages when you have been injured in a hit and run accident? Call the Ste. Genevieve, 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 securing for you the best possible recovery for your Ste. Genevieve, MO hit and run accident.

When a careless driver knowingly breaks the rules of the road and injured you or a loved one, it is normal to feel appalled and indignant. It is especially distressing when the at-fault party refuses to take responsibility for their actions 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 committed, seasoned and talented Ste. Genevieve, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold reckless and consciously irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you grasp the situation and will fight on your behalf to maximize your compensation and get you on the road 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 accidents, which is 62 percent more than 2009. Of the fatalities, almost 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 stemming from a car crash can be traumatizing and produce life-long repercussions or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases amplify that trauma as you may not get medical care immediately, and you may not know who to turn to or how to collect just compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of accomplished and adept hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped individuals and families harmed in hit and run accidents in the Ste. Genevieve, 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 immediately, and you do not owe us any fees until we win your suit.

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

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys: Understanding the Laws in Ste. Genevieve, MO

If someone else acts irresponsibly and hurts you in a hit and run accident, they are not only culpable for your injuries, they are a lawbreaker. In Missouri, fleeing 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:

• Remain at the scene
• Move their car if it dangerous to other drivers, otherwise, wait until directed by police
• Supply aid to anyone who is hurt
• Call the Ste. Genevieve, 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
• Stay at the accident site 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 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 becomes 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 has previously left 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 encouraging that we have laws against hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the negligent driver will not get you the recovery you are entitled to. They may be found guilty before the Ste. Genevieve, MO criminal court, but you need accomplished and dedicated hit and run accident attorneys like those at Burger Law who will demand that you get the best possible recovery you need to recover. When you hire us, we get started on your case right away and do not give up. You do not owe us a dime until we win your case and we will fight tirelessly to make sure the at-fault party bears full responsibility for their dangerous behavior.

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

While being in any crash is terrifying and can leave you feeling unprotected, it can be particularly nerve wracking if the at fault person does not respect the law and leaves the crash site. The rules are in place for a reason, and it is disheartening and frightening when someone breaks those rules and acts thoughtlessly and irresponsibly. The dedicated and skilled Ste. Genevieve, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold thoughtless drivers responsible and secure 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 scene yourself. You might think the damages are too small to want to deal with the hassle, or you may be afraid that you are partially responsible. Leaving the scene of a crash will make it much more difficult for you to recover compensation for your damages, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical treatment. The health and safety of everyone present should be your first thought. If you or somebody else is harmed, focus on keeping them in a stable condition and wait for Ste. Genevieve, MO emergency services to get there and render aid.
• DO NOT hesitate to call the police. Missouri law requires you to call the police in any accident that causes over $500 worth of damages or causes physical injury or a fatality. Even if you do not know the extent of the damages or injuries are right away, having a police report will go a long way in proving your case.
• DO NOT go after the driver. After being hit by another driver in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are normal reactions. You may want to follow the driver and find out who hit you. That is Ste. Genevieve, MO law enforcement’s responsibility. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at more risk, but it will impede 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 irresponsible 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 vanishes from sight, take as many photographs as you are able to. Even if you cannot get an entire license plate number, just part of the number and/or the make, model and color of the car will be a great help in determining who the driver was. It also helps to take pictures of any tire marks or other damage at the scene of the crash.
  • Talk to witnesses. Other people at the scene may have been able to see more than you did, or will be able to verify your version of events. Be sure to get their contact information so a claims adjuster, police officer or Ste. Genevieve, MO hit and run accident lawyer will be able to reach out to them at a later date.
  • Write it all down. If you did not have time or the ability to take photos, anything you could observe about the other car or driver will be easier to remember 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 Ste. Genevieve, 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 savvy and knowledgeable hit and run accident attorneys will help you gather evidence, including obtaining adjacent surveillance video and reaching out to witnesses for complete statements. We work with a network of Ste. Genevieve, MO car accident experts who will be able to reconstruct the crash and demonstrate exactly how the at-fault party caused your injuries.

Below 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 at-fault driver that caused your damages and hold them responsible for their reckless driving. In those cases, the determined and knowledgeable Ste. Genevieve, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will ensure you win 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 locate the aliable 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 Ste. Genevieve, MO, there are four standards that must be met in order for you to make this claim:

1. You received physical injuries
2. The injuries occurred due to an uninsured motorist, or in the case a motorist you cannot 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 Ste. Genevieve, 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 have to be persuaded to pay. To have the best chance at receiving the best possible compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need experienced and expert Ste. Genevieve, 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 decades, 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 identified or not, the hit and run accident attorneys at Burger law will make sure you get the maximum amount of compensation that you are owed. When you get hurt because another driver broke the rules of the road, you are entitled to maximum compensation for all of damages you have experienced owing to the accident, including: your medical costs, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and reduced capacity to enjoy life. No matter how grave your injuries, we demand that you are compensated for all the money you deserve. If you or a loved one in Ste. Genevieve, 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 obligation to stay at an accident site. When someone flees the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they care more about the repercussions for themselves than any damage or harm their negligent behavior caused. There are a variety of reasons the negligent party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In Ste. Genevieve, 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 are also never removed from a Ste. Genevieve, MO driver’s record.

• The driver does not have a driver’s license, or has a suspended license

  This also carries crushing 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 lead to fines, jail time, and having your license revoked.

• The driver may have a warrant out for their arrest

  It probably is not surprising that people who already fear an interaction with law enforcement would risk breaking the law again to flee the scene of an accident.

• Distracted driving

  Driving while not paying full attention to the road is careless and dangerous. People can become distracted if they are texting, eating, looking at directions, fatigued or are just thinking about something else.

• Lack of potential witnesses or low lighting

  A driver may leave 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 Ste. Genevieve, 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. Occasionally, these drivers turn themselves in after they have calmed down.

While we cannot control how other people drive, 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 choice.

Regardless of the reason a driver opts to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have thought that the benefits of fleeing outweighed the cons. The Ste. Genevieve, 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 Ste. Genevieve, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many different circumstances. We insist on great compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not let up until you receive the money you are owed to put you on the journey to recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a complimentary case evaluation and so we can begin working on your case right away.

The Ste. Genevieve, 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 loved one sustained injuries in a Ste. Genevieve, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, livid, and overwhelmed. Injuries and their related bills can upend your life. Burger Law is here to help you heal. When you hire our team of Ste. Genevieve, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting for you immediately. We demand the at-fault parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we insist on getting you great compensation to aid you in your recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary consultation to take the first step in getting your life back on track.