Hit and Run Car Accident in St. Louis, MO

Hit and Run Victims

Victims of St. Louis car accidents have the right to pursue financial compensation from the driver responsible for their injuries. When the at-fault driver flees the scene of the crash, it can make getting fair compensation a lot more complicated. The police make every effort to track down and arrest hit-and-run drivers, but they are not always successful. This is why victims of hit-and-run crashes need to understand all their legal options.

Hit-and-run victims are often saddled with the financial burden of recovering after the accident. They also often suffer emotionally from not knowing who caused their injuries. At Page Law, we understand the challenges hit-and-run victims and their families go through. We help accident victims fight for the money they need to get through the challenging times.

Missouri Hit-and-Run Law

Hit-and-run laws in Missouri are clear. Drivers must remain at the scene of an accident when someone has been injured or killed. Missouri Revised Statute 577.060.1 states, a driver is guilty of leaving the scene of an accident if they are “involved in an accident resulting in injury or death or damage to property of another person” and leave the crash site without stopping and providing pertinent information such as driver’s license, vehicle registration and contact.

What Steps Can You Take?

If you have been injured in an accident and the at-fault driver left the scene, there are a number of steps you can take to protect your rights:

• Stay where you are and call the police.
• Write down everything you remember about the vehicle including the make and model, color and any numbers you may remember from the license plate.
• Collect contact information from anyone who may have witnessed the accident.
• Take photos of the skid marks and any broken pieces from the car left on the roadway.
• Take photos of your vehicle that show where the other vehicle impacted yours.
• Look around to see if there are any nearby security cameras that may have recorded the incident.
• Seek out medical attention promptly to document your injuries and to get the treatment you need to recover.
• Keep records of your medical expenses, property loss, lost wages and other damages.
• Write a journal documenting your physical pain, emotional suffering and other consequences you and your family have had to endure as a result of this injury.
• Retain the services of an experienced St. Louis personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled hit-and-run cases.

Seeking Compensation for Your Losses and Damages in Missouri

If the police find the at-fault driver, he or she will likely face criminal charges. The result of that court case could bolster your claim, but the criminal conviction will not automatically result in financial compensation for your injuries. You have to pursue a Missouri injury claim to recover for your injuries and damages.

If the at-fault driver is not found, you can pursue compensation for your losses through your own Uninsured Motorist coverage. This is why all drivers in Missouri should buy as much Uninsured Motorist coverage as they can afford. This type of protection will cover your losses if a hit-and-run driver injures you or a loved one. For more information about pursuing a hit and run claim in Missouri, call a Missouri hit & run car accident attorney at Page Law at (314)322-8515.

Additional Information

• Hit and Run Accident Blogs
• Seeking Compensation for Hit-and-Run Crashes in Missouri