The consequences of a hit-and-run accident in Kansas City, MO, can be absolutely devastating, often leaving victims with injuries, medical bills, property damage, and unanswered questions. For over 20 years, our firm has helped injury victims secure the justice and compensation they deserve for their hit-and-run accidents.
Our firm offers a free consultation to prospective clients in the Kansas City area, including Lee Summit, St. Louis, Johnson County, and Wyandotte County. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking the link below.
What to Do After a Hit and Run Accident in Kansas City, Missouri?
If you've been injured in a hit-and-run accident, you can take a few steps immediately. Call 911 if law enforcement hasn't already been notified and if you're physically able. Gather evidence, so take photos of the area of the accident and gather witness names if you can.
Finally, if you are injured or if first responders suggest it, seek medical attention. If an investigating officer provides accident report information, take that down and, if possible, take a photo of the accident exchange sheet. Both the Kansas City Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol can provide accident exchange information at the scene of the accident.
Write down as much information as possible at the accident scene. The police typically talk to as many witnesses as possible but don't always contact everybody. Write their names and phone numbers down. While the crash is still fresh in your memory, write the best description of the hit-and-run driver and their vehicle that you can.
Talk to witnesses and see what information they have about the unidentified driver.
Common Causes of Hit and Run Accidents
We see all kinds of hit-and-run accidents, but there are usually several types that we see the most.
The first is intoxicated or drunk drivers. We see it all the time. Oftentimes, drunk drivers know that they're over the limit and that they shouldn't be on the road, and when they get involved in an accident because of their negligence, their natural tendency is to run from the scene.
We also see this with uninsured and distracted drivers. Essentially, they know that they violated the law and don't want to get caught, so their natural instinct is to run. These accidents are often very common in high-profile and heavily trafficked areas, like Crown Center, Union Station, Main Street, Cleveland Avenue, and 37th Street.
This means that there are many local businesses and some residences in the area. That could mean that there's actually video of the unidentified driver. Make sure that law enforcement understands that if anybody has video, they need to obtain it.
Request that they obtain and secure the information; feel free to talk to business owners to see if anybody has any cameras that might be facing the accident scene.
Understanding Hit and Run Laws in Missouri
In Missouri, all drivers are required to carry uninsured motorist coverage.
Uninsured motorist coverage is in place to protect accident victims from uninsured drivers who can never be identified. We call them phantom vehicles. Suppose there's evidence of crash injuries that resulted from the crash, but the other driver can't be identified. In that case, a claim can be made with your uninsured motorist carrier on your policy.
Oftentimes, after an accident, the driver who flees the scene of an accident is located by the police based on their investigation. This can lead to serious criminal charges, including felony, hit and run, and battery, and often jail time is the consequence. With or without criminal charges against the at-fault drivers, you still have a civil claim with your insurance company.
Of course, if the other driver is found, there's a claim against the other driver's insurance company. Many times, somebody will cause an accident, stop after the accident, not run away, talk to witnesses, and then actually leave later. This is also illegal, and similar penalties are provided by law against those drivers.
Legal Options for Victims of a Hit and Run
If you're the victim of a hit-and-run accident and the driver cannot be identified, you can make a claim with your uninsured motorist carrier on your auto policy. You can seek damages for medical expenses that you've incurred for the treatment when you make the claim and for anticipated future medical expenses.
If you have comprehensive coverage on your policy, you can make a claim for the property damage, the towing expense, the storage expense, and a rental vehicle to replace your vehicle while the property damage is being adjusted. There's also a bodily injury claim on the uninsured portion of your policy. That claim is similar to the claim you can make with another driver's policy if you identify the policy. You can ask for the same types of damages, medical expenses, loss of wages, pain, suffering, and mental anguish.
If there's any injury or death, whether it be a serious injury case, a traumatic brain injury case, or a wrongful death case where a family member is lost because of the fault of an unidentified driver, there is a claim against the uninsured portion of the driver's policy. If the at-fault driver is found, they can be held legally responsible, not just criminally, but also for a civil court claim. The civil claim starts with an insurance claim against the at-fault driver's insurance policy for all of those items of damages, medical expenses, loss of wages, and then pain, suffering, and mental anguish.
If you've been involved in a hit-and-run accident, it's crucial you get legal guidance from an experienced personal injury attorney who has handled uninsured motorists' claims before. The lawyer will thoroughly investigate the case, guide you regarding any necessary medical care, and help answer any questions you have about the legal process. Part of the investigation also includes looking for surveillance footage, speaking to first responders, and talking to any potential witnesses from the scene of the accident to see if we can find the at-fault driver.
We also help with insurance coverage disputes. If we cannot find the negligent driver or their insurance policy, when we make the claim with your uninsured motorist policy, oftentimes, there are various types of benefits that can lead to insurance coverage disputes. The insurance process can be very complicated, with various types of different provisions in the insurance policy and claims on the policy.
We represent the client from the beginning of the process, including investigation, access to police reports, claims identification, coverage interpretation, making a demand to the insurance company, and, if necessary, a jury trial and appeal.
Insurance Coverage and Hit and Run Accidents
Uninsured motorist coverage is designed to protect you if you're involved in an accident where the other driver is not identified because they leave the scene.
Uninsured coverage is also available when you're involved in an accident with another driver that can be identified, but they don't have any insurance coverage. It's vital that you have a personal injury lawyer review your policy to navigate the various portions of the policy to maximize your recovery. Often, there are many different types of coverage on your policy, and if you don't make the claims for the type of coverage, there's a good chance the insurance company will not just offer it.
Why Choose Our Kansas City Personal Injury Law Firm?
Our law firm has extensive experience with Kansas City hit-and-run cases, uninsured motorist claims, vehicle accidents, and motorcycle accident cases. We've represented many victims in different types of auto accidents.
If you've been injured in an accident, see if we can help. We provide a free case evaluation to get the details of your case, discuss your legal rights, and hear your story. Our Kansas City personal injury lawyers will get you going in the right direction.
Before you sign up with any car accident attorney, make sure to review their website, Google reviews, and other online testimonials to see from clients who have had actual experiences with the law firm. Although no individual case is a guarantee of success in any other case, we've had a number of notable case wins in court and have a reputation for trying cases that needed to be tried before a jury.