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(314) 500-HURTBurger 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 hit-and-run 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 or Illinois, see how much your claim may be worth by using our free personal injury calculator.
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. In Illinois, 625 ILCS 5/11-402 and 625 ILCS 5/11-403 also stipulate that you must stop for an accident that causes any property damage, injury or death.
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, and Illinois was fifth with 680.
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 12AM and 4AM compared to 8AM to 11:59AM.
Why Do Hit-and-Run Accidents Happen?
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:
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:
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.
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.
Both Missouri financial responsibility guidelines and the Illinois mandatory vehicle insurance 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:
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.
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:
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 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.
Client Reviews
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!
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