St. Louis Hit and Run Accident Lawyer

Burger Law is a St Louis personal injury law firm that specializes in a full range of car accidents, including hit-and-runs. Being involved in a hit-and-run accident is not only incredibly scary but may also lead to severe injuries. The St. Louis hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law are dedicated to assisting injury victims in St Louis and the surrounding areas get equitable compensation for the damages that were caused by the unsafe acts of another person. Burger Law has represented many people who have fallen victim to hit-and-run accidents, and we have been able to provide financial recovery while protecting the future of our clients. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.

If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident in St. Louis, or anywhere in Missouri, see how much your claim may be worth by using our free personal injury calculator.

Hit-and-Run Laws in Missouri

If another driver injures you and then drives off, they are not just leaving you out to dry for your injuries; they are breaking the law. Under Missouri Revised Statute §577.060, leaving the scene of an accident is a class A misdemeanor, or a class E felony if the accident resulted in an injury or over $1,000 in property damage.

If the negligent driver is later caught by police, the state will take care of the criminal proceedings. But you still need an experienced and aggressive hit-and-run lawyer to hold the negligent driver accountable for your injuries and get you maximum compensation. Burger Law knows how to handle these types of cases and will make sure you do not have to pay for the negligence of another.

How Common Are Hit-and-Run Accidents in St. Louis and Missouri?

According to one study, hit-and-run fatalities increased 44 percent between 2010 and 2019. Missouri was 17th in the nation in that period with 283 fatal crashes.

According to the AAA Foundation, in 2015 there were 737,100 hit-and-run crashes nationwide, making up 11.7 percent of all crashes. With 138,500 injuries it 1,819 fatalities, those crashes caused 5.0 percent of all injuries and 5.1 of all traffic-related deaths. Sixty-five percent of those killed were pedestrians or bicyclists. Hit-and-run accidents are 4.4 times more likely to occur between 12 AM and 4 AM compared to 8 AM to 11:59 AM.

Why Do Hit-and-Run Accidents Happen in St. Louis, MO?

In a perfect world, everyone would take responsibility for their actions and do what they can to rectify the damage they caused. Unfortunately, that is not the case, and many people who break the rules of the road are not averse to breaking other rules. Some reasons that someone might hit you and drive off include:

• The driver did not have insurance, which is a crime in both Missouri, and can lead to jail time, fines and a suspended license.
• The driver did not have a valid driver’s license, or had a suspended license, which also carries a criminal sentence.
• You were hit by a drunk driver or a driver under the influence of drugs who does not want to be arrested.
• The driver had a warrant out for their arrest and did not want to wait for police to show up at the scene.
• The vehicle is stolen, or the driver does not otherwise have permission to use it.
• The driver has illegal goods in the car.
• There was low visibility or a lack of witnesses at the scene, and the driver thought they could get away without getting caught.

In some cases, a driver just panics when they realize they have caused an accident, and flees the scene because they do not know what to do. Often, those drivers will come back to the scene or turn themselves in once they have had a chance to calm down.

What to Do If You Were Injured in a Hit-and-Run Accident in St. Louis

While it is aggravating, to say the least, if someone injures you and drives off, it is important to keep a cool head, as it is after any auto accident. If another driver hits you and you notice them speeding away, you should:

• Remain at the scene — It may be tempting to try and track down the other driver yourself, but doing so will open you up to criminal liability, hurt your chances of gathering valuable evidence and possibly lead to other people being injured if the other driver becomes reckless. Move your vehicle to a safe spot on the side of the road.
• Document everything you can — If possible, take pictures of the other car before it is out of view. If not, try to get a good look at it so you can at least notice the color and type of car, and if not, the exact make and model. That information, along with even a partial license plate you are able to remember, can be key in eventually finding the driver of the vehicle. You should also take pictures of your car and the surrounding area. See if there are any eyewitnesses who saw what happened and details about the vehicle or the person driving it.
• Call the police — Not only will a police report be helpful when filing an insurance claim, but law enforcement will want to know that someone broke the law, and will want whatever information you can provide to help track them down. If someone was severely injured, calling 911 should be the first thing you do.
• Get medical treatment — Even if you do not think your injuries are severe, it is still a good idea to get checked out in an emergency room, at urgent care or with your primary care physician. In the event your injuries are worse than you believed, you will need to have documentation to get compensation for them.
• Notify your insurance company — You should do this the same day you have the accident, if you can. If police are not able to locate the fleeing driver, you will have to go through your own insurance company for a financial recovery. You usually only have 30 days from the date of the accident to file a claim.

Once you have gotten medical attention and notified your insurance company, it is always a good idea to reach out to a personal injury lawyer in St. Louis. Burger Law has gotten great results for our clients in hit-and-run accident cases before, and we are more than happy to discuss your case with you for free. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT.

How Do I Get Compensation After a Hit-and-Run Accident in St. Louis?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Traffic Safety Facts, 94 percent of motor vehicle accidents are caused by driver error. So, most car accident claims are settled by making a claim against the other driver. If police or your St. Louis hit-and-run lawyer find the driver who left the scene, or they turn themselves in, you would seek compensation from the other driver’s insurance company. The issue in a hit-and-run accident is that sometimes the other driver cannot be found. In those cases, you can make an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance company.

The Missouri financial responsibility guidelines require uninsured motorist coverage as part of your auto insurance. Typically, it is meant to cover you in case a driver without insurance causes an accident and cannot pay for your damages. However, you can also use it to recover compensation when you cannot identify the at-fault driver after a hit-and-run.

Filing an Uninsured Motorist Claim in St. Louis, Missouri

In order to file an uninsured motorist claim, the following four criteria must be met:

1. You received bodily injuries
2. The injuries occurred as a result of an uninsured motorist, or in this 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

While it would be nice to think that an insurance company that you have been paying into for years would have your back when you finally need them to, that is not always the case. All insurance adjusters use tricks to try and devalue your claim or avoid paying, even if the claimant is their own policyholder. Because hit-and-run accidents have another layer of complexity, hiring an attorney is often the only way to recover full compensation for your injuries. Burger Law knows how to stand up to bullies like resistant insurance adjusters and people who do not want to take responsibility for their actions; we do it every day with great results. That is what great car accident lawyers do.

In some cases, there may be a third party, such as a car manufacturer, that we can hold liable for your injuries and seek compensation from.

Can a Lawyer Help With My Hit-and-Run Accident in St. Louis?

Absolutely. In some minor claims you may be able to get fair compensation without an attorney, but most of the time it is worth it to get a lawyer for a car accident. That is especially true when there are added complications, like not being able to identify and locate the at-fault driver.

As your hit-and-run lawyers in St. Louis, Burger Law will:

• Investigate your accident, including identifying all witnesses, security footage or other information to identify the at-fault driver
• Ensure you get the full medical treatment you need to recover
• Pursue every legal avenue to get you the financial recovery you deserve
• Always make sure you know what is going on with your case
• Handle all documentation, negotiation and litigation
• Offer sound legal counsel based on experience and expertise, while always allowing you to make your own decisions for you and your St. Louis family
• Fight back against the insurance company when they refuse to be fair
• Stand by your side when it seems everyone else is against you
• Take your case to trial if we cannot secure a fair settlement offer in negotiations
• Do whatever it takes to get you full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses and the pain and suffering you have incurred because of your injuries

You can hear about some of the great recoveries we have secured for our clients on our results page or by checking out our client testimonials.

Call Burger Law Our St. Louis Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer Today

Gary Burger and his associates work on a contingency-fee basis, and you do not to pay any expenses until we win your hit-and-run injury case. If you or a loved one have been involved in a hit-and-run accident and are in need of a professional law firm in St. Louis, allow Burger Law to help you recover. It is bad enough that somebody injured you because they were careless; we know how infuriating it is when they try to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. We will do everything possible to hold the at-fault driver accountable. But, if we cannot find them, we will still ensure you get maximum compensation. For your free case evaluation, contact Burger Law by calling (314) 500-HURT or completing our online contact form. We look forward to providing you with the highest quality of advice, support, and litigation abilities.

Our St. Louis hit-and-run accident lawyers are dedicated to providing the victims of hit-and-run crashes with expert legal advice and counseling. If you’ve been in a hit-and-run accident and believe that your accident may fall under another category, call Burger Law now at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form.

• Fatal Accidents
• Carpool Accidents
• Drunk Driving Accidents
• Texting and Driving Accidents
• Head-on Accidents
• Rear-end Accidents
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Distracted Driving
• Speeding Accidents
• Intersection Accidents
• Road Construction Accidents
• Backup Accident
• Whiplash Injury
• Uninsured Motorist Claims
• Phantom Motorist Claims

Client Reviews

What our clients are saying about us

Juanita Matthews

Year of 2023

This law firm is absolutely amazing. They took on my case, when nobody else would! They fought hard for me when it seemed there was no hope. They kept me informed and always asked for my input before making decisions on my case. Gary puts himself into every case unlike most law firm owners. Gary and his team really care about every one of their clients, and fights hard to get you a fair settlement. They actually won my case out of court, and then reduced my fees to make sure I could get my car fixed and be able to get back to some normality. I would recommend Burger Law over and above any other firm! If you go somewhere else you aren’t getting the best!

Shaunda S.

7 months ago

I am very happy with the staff at Burger Law. I mostly worked with Michael Sheldon, and he did an amazing job. I trusted him completely with my case, and he did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend this team if your ever in need of good attorneys.

Emelia M.

3 months ago

Burger Law Firm is fantastic. Laura and Genevieve were so amazing and helpful throughout the entire process. They helped me with my personal injury case every step of the way and succeeded at getting me the results I desired.

Helen L.

a year ago

We had a great experience with Burger Law for representing us after a serious car accident. Truly impressed by how professional and supportive the entire team is. And, many thanks to Genavieve and Laura – you are amazing!

Judy M.

a year ago

They did an amazing job on my case! Communication with them was great!!! Kept me informed and in the loop with everything that was going on!!! Will definitely be the 1st ones I’ll call if ever I’m in another accident!!! Thank you very much!!!

Chelsea C.

5 months ago

Let me tell you something about Burger Law.. they are so attentive and kind. Jennifer is my savior!! I love the whole team!!! They are truly a miracle team!! I appreciate their business and would recommend it to others.

David D.

2 months ago

Absolutely the best law firm in the St. Louis area. No matter the size of your case you are treated as if you are the only client on the roster. Will explain anything thoroughly and they work around your availability. Very impressed and appreciative of the service.

Lisa B.

11 months ago

Gary and Casey took great care of me for 2.5 years as my lawsuit was finally settled. I feel he helped me achieve justice for me and my 4 children after their father died from medical malpractice and neglect. Thanks to Gary, my kids now have a great start to their college and adult lives. Thank you Gary and Casey, for fighting for us so hard at our most trying and difficult time in our lives thus far. Love and God bless from my family to yours!

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