Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Webster Groves, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Webster Groves, MO. How do you hold a driver to blame and recover full compensation for your damages when you have been harmed in a hit and run crash? Call the Webster Groves, MO hit and run accident attorneys of Burger Law right 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 Webster Groves, MO hit and run accident.

When a thoughtless driver willfully breaks the rules of the road and harms you or a family member, it is typical to feel appalled and outraged. It is particularly unnerving when the liable 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 asking yourself who is going to pay for the damages to your property and you or your loved one’s injuries. The committed, veteran and talented Webster Groves, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold careless and consciously irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you comprehend the situation and will fight by your side to maximize your recovery and get you on the path to recovery. 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 died in hit and run accidents, which was a 62 percent increase from 2009. Of those who died, about 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately 20 percent of pedestrian deaths take place 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 accident can be traumatizing and produce life-long consequence or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases magnify your wounds as you may not get medical attention at once, and you may not be certain who to trust or how to seek equitable compensation for your injuries and damages. Our group of seasoned and adept hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped those injured in hit and run accidents in the Webster Groves, MO area get full recoveries and understand how to maximize your compensation. When you contact us at (314) 500-HURT, we start work on your case straight away, and we do not collect any payment until we win your suit.

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 receive in compensation.

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

If somebody behaves carelessly and hurts you in a hit and run accident, they are not only culpable for your injuries, they are guilty of a criminal act. In Missouri, fleeing the scene of an accident is against the law. When a motorist causes or is involved in an accident, the law requires them to:

• Remain at the scene
• Move their car if it dangerous to other drivers, otherwise, wait for directions from police
• Help anyone who is hurt
• Call the Webster Groves, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in poor weather
• Exchange contact info and insurance information with anybody involved
• Remain at the scene until a police officer tells them differently

Additionally, an accident report must be filed if damages exceed $500 or the accident results in injury or death.

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 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 turns into a Class D Felony if the crash is fatal and causes somebody’s death. While it is reassuring that we have laws deterring hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the at-fault driver will not get you the compensation you are entitled to. They may be found responsible in the Webster Groves, MO criminal court, but you need knowledgeable and devoted hit and run accident attorneys like we have at Burger Law who will insist that you get the maximum recovery you need to heal. When you hire us, we start working on your case straight away and work tenaciously until we win. We do not charge any fees until we win your case and we will represent you aggressively to make certain the at-fault party accepts complete responsibility for their harmful 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 vulnerable, it can be especially stressful if the negligent driver does not respect the rules of the road and flees the accident site. The rules were enacted for a reason, and it is disheartening and alarming when someone breaks those rules and behaves carelessly and dangerously. The dedicated and accomplished Webster Groves, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold reckless drivers responsible and secure 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 leave the scene yourself. You might think the damages are too minor to want to deal with the hassle, or you may be afraid that you are in some measure responsible. Leaving the location of an accident will make it much more complicated for you to recover compensation for your injuries, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical attention. Your first worry 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 injured, do your best to keep them in a stable condition and wait for Webster Groves, MO emergency services to get there and render aid.
• DO NOT hesitate to call the police. Missouri law dictates that you have to call the police in any accident that results in over $500 worth of damages or results in physical injury or death. Even if you are unsure of the scope of the damages or injuries are right away, having a police report will go a long way in making your case.
• DO NOT follow the driver. When you are hit by another auto in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are typical reactions. You may be motivated to follow the driver and find out who hit you. That is Webster Groves, MO law enforcement’s job. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at heightened risk, but it will hold you back from being able to get important information and may even make the police suspicious of you.
• DO safely find out what you are able to about the at-fault driver and vehicle. To do so, you can:
  • Take pictures. If you did not sustain a serious injury and can use your phone before the car you cannot see the car anymore, take as many photos as possible. Even if you cannot get complete license plate number, a partial license plate and/or the make, model and color of the car will be a great help in locating the driver. It also helps to take photos of any tire marks or other damage to the accident site.
  • Talk to witnesses. Other people at the scene might have had a better view than you, or will be able to confirm your story. Make sure to get their contact information so a claims adjuster, law enforcement officer or Webster Groves, 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, anything you noticed about the other car or driver will be easier to recall immediately after the collision, and those details will still be of great help to the police and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Webster Groves, 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 assist in collecting evidence, including acquiring nearby surveillance video and reaching out to witnesses for full statements. We work with a network of Webster Groves, MO car accident experts who will be able to recreate the accident and demonstrate 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

In the best case scenarios, police and/or your hit and run accident attorneys will be able to locate the negligent driver that caused your damages and hold them accountable for their dangerous actions. In those cases, the aggressive and expert Webster Groves, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make certain you receive the best possible 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 locate the anegligent 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 seek a recovery from your own insurance company. In Webster Groves, MO, there are four standards that are required to be met in order for you to make this claim:

1. You sustained bodily injuries
2. You incurred the injuries 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 Webster Groves, MO insurance company takes the place of the liable 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 Webster Groves, MO hit and run accident attorneys like those at Burger Law to fight on your behalf. We have been resisting insurance companies and other bullies for over 20 years, and will not relent until your own insurance company pays you back the money you have probably been paying into their policies for years.

Whether the at fault driver is located or not, the hit and run accident attorneys at Burger law will make certain you get the full recovery that you deserve. When you are harmed because somebody else disregarded the rules of the road, you deserve a full compensation for all of damages you have sustained as a result 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 grave your injuries, we insist that you are compensated for every penny you are entitled to. If you or a family member in Webster Groves, 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 moral obligation to stay at an accident site. When someone drives away from the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they are more worried about the consequences for themselves than any damage or harm their irresponsible behavior caused. There are many reasons the at-fault party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In Webster Groves, MO, not having the right 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 Webster Groves, 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, based on whether you have been caught 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 result in fines, jail time, and revocation of a license.

• The driver may have a warrant out for their arrest

  It probably is not surprising that people who have already committed a crime would risk breaking the law again to flee the scene of an accident.

• Distracted driving

  Driving while not focusing on the road is reckless 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 a crash site simply because they think they can do so without any repercussions. 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 Webster Groves, 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 once they have calmed down.

While we cannot control how other people drive, we can take some safety measures as both drivers and pedestrians. Try to avoid walking in areas with bad lighting at night, and when you are behind the wheel, stay alert at all times and never assume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best decision.

Regardless of the reason a driver opts to flee the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have presumed the pros of fleeing were greater than the cons. The Webster Groves, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will make them pay and make certain they see they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Webster Groves, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many differing situations. We demand maximum compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not stop fighting for you until you recover the money you deserve to put you on the road to being made whole again. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free case evaluation and so we can get started on your case right away.

The Webster Groves, 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 someone you care about sustained injuries in a Webster Groves, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, livid, and anxious. Injuries and their related costs can uproot your life. Burger Law is here to help make you whole again. When you hire our team of Webster Groves, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting by your side immediately. We demand the liable parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we demand that you collect full 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.