State traffic laws require drivers involved in any type of motor vehicle accident to follow certain procedures. Typically, a driver must stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so and exchange information with any other driver involved in the accident or alert the property owner as to what happened in the case of a collision with an unattended vehicle or stationary property. A driver also must call for assistance for any injured persons and report the accident to local law enforcement. A driver who fails to take such steps following an accident may receive anything from a traffic ticket to a felony charge of “hit and run” when an accident results in injury or death to another.

One of the most frequent types of “hit and run” accidents are parking lot collisions, where a moving vehicle hits a parked car.  The driver of the moving vehicle should leave their information for the parked car, but many do not, leaving the owners of the damaged car frustrated.  More serious incidents involve drivers who flee the scene of personal injury accidents, which can leave the victim in serious harm.

Difficulty Recovering Damages

Damages may be difficult to recover for two reasons. First, the hit and run driver may not be identifiable after the accident. Second, the driver may have no insurance coverage or assets to satisfy any damages that are awarded. Often the victim of a hit and run recovers damages from his or her own auto insurance.

Where opposing insurance companies become involved in recovering damages for the victim of a hit and run, the Law Offices of Kevin J. Dolley has experience and trial success in obtaining the highest possible settlements.

Missouri Law

Missouri Revised Statute § 577.060 makes it a crime for a driver to leave the scene of a motor vehicle accident when he or she knows that injury has been caused to a person or damage caused to property without giving his information to the injured party or law enforcement. Violation of this Missouri statute constitutes a class A misdemeanor or a class D felony if the accident results in physical injury to another, property damage exceeding $1,000, or the driver previously violated or pled guilty of violating the statute.

A hit and run accident undoubtedly leaves the victim feeling frustrated by the fact that recovery seems impossible, especially where the hit and run driver’s identity is unobtainable. However, in many cases the driver is eventually arrested as a result of police investigation. At this point, legal assistance for dealing with a criminal driver may allow the victim to claim not only actual damages, but also punitive damages if the criminal driver was drunk at the time of the accident. The Law Offices of Kevin J. Dolley are here to help you navigate through all the possible claims and damages resulting from your accident.

Free Consultation

To set up a free consultation with Attorney Kevin J. Dolley regarding your hit and run accident injury, please call (314) 645-4100 or email kevin@dolleylaw.com. All legal consultations are held strictly confidential.