Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Troy, MO

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

When a negligent driver purposefully breaks the rules of the road and hurts you or someone you care about, it is typical to feel shocked and outraged. It is especially upsetting when the at-fault party will not take responsibility for their actions and drives away from the scene of the in a hit and run accident. You may be pondering who is going to pay for the damages to your property and you or your loved one’s injuries. The devoted, veteran and skilled Troy, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold careless and consciously 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 road to recovery. Call us right away 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 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 occurs every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury stemming from an auto crash can be traumatizing and create life-long repercussions or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases magnify your wounds as you may not get medical attention right away, and you may be unsure of who to trust or how to secure just compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of accomplished and adept hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped those harmed in hit and run accidents in the Troy, MO area get full recoveries and understand how to maximize your compensation. When you reach out to us at (314) 500-HURT, we start work on your case right away, and we do not collect 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 Troy, MO

If a driver acts negligently and injures you in a hit and run accident, they are not only liable for your injuries, they are guilty of breaking the law. 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 may cause other drivers to crash, otherwise, wait until directed by police
• Help anyone who is hurt
• Call the Troy, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in inclement weather
• Exchange contact info and insurance information with others involved
• Remain 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 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 three conditions below 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 crash becomes fatal and results in somebody’s death. While it is encouraging that we have laws deterring hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the irresponsible driver will not get you the money you deserve. They may be found guilty in front of the Troy, MO criminal court, but you need expert and devoted hit and run accident attorneys like those at Burger Law who will insist that you get the full recovery you need to recover. When you hire us, we start working on your case right away and work tenaciously until we win. We do not charge any fees until we win your case and we will fight tirelessly to make sure the at-fault party bears complete responsibility for their careless 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 particularly nerve wracking if the negligent individual breaks the rules of the road and leaves the accident site. The rules exist for a reason, and it is disappointing and startling when someone breaks those rules and behaves thoughtlessly and dangerously. The devoted and knowledgeable Troy, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold thoughtless drivers accountable and win 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 scene yourself. You may think the damages are too small to want to deal with the hassle, or you may be nervous that you are partly at fault. Leaving the location of an accident will make it much more difficult for you to receive compensation for your damages, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical treatment. Your chief 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 Troy, MO emergency services to come and give aid.
• DO NOT wait to call the police. Missouri law requires you to call the police in any accident that results in over $500 worth of damages or causes physical harm or death. Even if you are unsure of the degree of the damages or injuries are at that moment, having a police report will help a lot 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 be motivated to follow the driver and find out who hit you. That is Troy, MO law enforcement’s responsibility. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at increased risk, but it will hold you back from being able to get valuable information and may even cause the police to suspect you.
• DO safely note what you can about the reckless driver and vehicle. To do so, you can:
  • Take photos. If you are not badly injured and can get hold of your phone before the car you cannot see the car anymore, take as many photographs as you can. 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 is also useful to take photographs of any tire marks or other damage to the crash site.
  • Speak to witnesses. Other people at the scene might have had a better view than you, or will be able to verify your version of events. Be sure to get their contact information so an insurance company, police officer or Troy, 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 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 Troy, 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 at once. Our talented and experienced hit and run accident attorneys will help you collect evidence, including getting access to adjacent surveillance video and contacting witnesses for full depositions. We work with a network of Troy, MO car accident experts who will be able to recreate the scene and show exactly how the liable party caused your injuries.

Here are some helpful links and frequently asked questions for hit and runs and other types 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 track down the negligent driver that caused your damages and hold them responsible for their dangerous behavior. In those cases, the indefatigable and skilled Troy, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make sure you win the best possible 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 cannot 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 make a claim against your own insurance company. In Troy, 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 happened as a result of 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 Troy, MO insurance company acts as a stand in for the negligent party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your injuries. However, like other insurance companies, they may still need convincing before they pay you. To have the best chance at receiving full compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need seasoned and skilled Troy, MO hit and run accident attorneys like we have at Burger Law to fight by your side. We have been challenging 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 certainly 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 make certain you get the maximum amount of money that you are entitled to. When you are harmed because another driver broke the rules of the road, you are entitled to maximum compensation for all of damages you have experienced because of the accident, for instance: your medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and reduced capacity to enjoy life. No matter how serious your injuries, we demand that you are compensated for all the money you deserve. If you or a loved one in Troy, 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 social duty to remain at the scene of a crash. When someone flees 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 behavior 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 Troy, 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 Troy, 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 pulled over 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 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 run away from 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, dozing off or are just daydreaming.

• Lack of potential witnesses or low lighting

  A driver may leave the scene of an accident simply because they think they can do so without any consequences. 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 Troy, 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 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, never lose focus and never presume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best option.

No matter the reason a driver decides to flee the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have thought that the benefits of running were greater than the cons. The Troy, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will hold them responsible and make sure they understand they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Troy, 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 recover 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 case evaluation and so we can get started on your case right away.

The Troy, 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 experienced injuries in a Troy, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, livid, and overwhelmed. Injuries and their related expenses can upend your life. Burger Law is here to help make you whole again. When you hire our team of Troy, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting for you straight away. We demand the negligent parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we demand that you recover great compensation to help you in your recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation to take the first step in getting your life back on track.