St. Louis Hit & Run Accident Lawyer
The Midwest's Most Effective Injury Law Firm
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
- Last Modified:
- November 19, 2024
Victims of hit-and-run accidents can experience painful physical injuries, and sky-high costs. Our St. Louis hit-and-run accident lawyers can help you seek maximum compensation from your uninsured motorist coverage, liable third parties, and even the hit-and-run driver if they are found.
Get started with your claim by calling (314) 501-9510 or request a free consultation online. Our lawyers can help you determine if you’re eligible to recover financial compensation, and help you build a winning case.
- Why Should I Hire A St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer After A Hit-And-Run Accident?
- Why Do Hit-And-Run Accidents Happen?
- Hit-And-Run Car Accidents Can Cause Serious, Life-Changing Injuries
- Recent Hit and Run Accidents in the St. Louis Area
- How Can I Recover Compensation After A Hit-And-Run Car Accident In St. Louis?
- What Is The Average Settlement In Hit-And-Run Car Accident Cases?
- Contact An Experienced St. Louis Hit-And-Run Accident Lawyer For A Free Consultation
Did you recently get hurt in a hit-and-run car accident in St. Louis, Missouri? You may still have the right to recover compensation, even if the at-fault driver fled the scene of the crash. Contact Brown & Crouppen, and discover how our St. Louis hit-and-run accident lawyers can help you fight to get the financial justice you deserve.
For more than four decades, our award-winning St. Louis trial attorneys have been passionate advocates for crash victims, and grieving families. When we take a case, we strive to not only win but make a genuine difference in our client’s life. Our top results speak for themselves—our law firm has achieved over $1 billion in settlements, and jury awards.
Don’t let the hit-and-run driver off the hook. Demand accountability from the insurance company, and other liable parties. Let Brown & Crouppen lead your fight for maximum compensation. We offer a free case evaluation, and free consultation, so reach out to our St. Louis, Missouri, law office to get sound legal advice today.
Use our legal checklist to learn what to do after an accident and understand key legal considerations for recovering financial compensation.
Why Should I Hire a St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer After a Hit-and-Run Accident?
Even though everyone involved in a car accident is required to remain at the scene of a car accident in Missouri, that doesn’t always happen. When a driver flees the scene of a crash, it can make the path to financial recovery quite difficult for injury victims like you.
Fortunately, you don’t have to deal with the aftermath of your hit-and-run car accident alone. You can turn to our trusted St. Louis personal injury lawyers, and know that we will do everything in our power to win your case and secure every cent you deserve.
You will have the time, and opportunity to focus on recovering from the physical, and emotional trauma of your auto accident while our law firm:
- Launches a thorough investigation into your hit-and-run car accident
- Works to find the hit-and-run motorist responsible for your injuries
- Evaluates police reports, accident reports, medical records, physical evidence from the scene, witness statements, and other evidence that can help recover compensation on your behalf
- Determines who, other than the hit-and-run driver, might be financially responsible for your injuries
- Identifies all potential options for financial recovery
- Prepares and submits claims to insurance on your behalf
- Handles settlement negotiations with the insurer, and other parties
- Files a civil personal injury lawsuit with the local court if you are not offered a fair deal
Our goal is to help you achieve the best possible outcome as soon as possible. However, we don’t shy away from a fight or sacrifice the quality of your legal representation to make a quick deal. We will do everything in our power—exhaust all resources, and avenues—to get you maximum compensation for your hit-and-run accident injuries.
Why Do Hit-and-Run Accidents Happen?
Under Missouri law, everyone involved in a traffic accident that causes significant property damage, injury, or death is legally required to stop, and remain at the scene. Sometimes drivers ignore this responsibility, and drive away, leaving victims to deal with the consequences on their own. But why do drivers decide to leave the scene?
1. Drunk Driving
Drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol might leave the scene because they:
- Don’t realize they have been in an accident
- Are afraid of being arrested, and facing criminal DUI charges
By fleeing the scene of a DWI/DUI accident, impaired drivers hope that they can escape the consequences of their decision to drive while under the influence.
2. Distracted Driving
Texting and driving, having a conversation with a passenger, or simply daydreaming behind the wheel can divert a motorist’s focus from the road. When this happens, a driver might not realize they have hit a pedestrian or another vehicle.
While the legal penalties for distracted driving aren’t as tough as those for drunk driving, a motorist might want to avoid a hefty fine or points on their license if they get caught using their phone behind the wheel.
3. Uninsured Drivers
Missouri has minimum car insurance requirements, but not every car (or driver) is properly insured. In fact, in 2019, about 16.4 percent of Missouri drivers were believed to be uninsured. When a driver doesn’t have insurance, and gets into an an uninsured motorist accident, they might leave because they know they lack the financial ability to pay for the resulting costs, and damages.
4. Driver Facing Criminal Charges
If you get into a car accident with a driver who has outstanding warrants or is facing criminal charges, they might leave to avoid being detected by the police.
5. Panic
Finally, a driver might leave the scene of an accident because they get overwhelmed, and panic. They might worry about the consequences, and get scared of the civil, and criminal repercussions—especially if someone is catastrophically injured or killed in the wreck.
Hit-and-Run Car Accidents Can Cause Serious, Life-Changing Injuries
At-fault drivers sometimes flee accident scenes illegally to avoid the consequences of their actions. Between early 2021 and late 2023, 42,810 motor vehicle crashes occurred in St. Louis. Of those crashes, 16,740 were hit and runs (39.1 percent). Each left an irreversible mark on the lives of victims. Common hit and run injuries include:
- Whiplash
- Neck injury
- Back injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Paralysis
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injury
- Nerve damage
- Amputation
- Burns
- Wrongful death
In addition to causing serious long-term injuries, many hit and run car accidents are fatal. Get to your nearest St. Louis hospital after you are involved in a hit and run collision. Once your condition is stable, you should reach out to a member of our legal team to arrange a time to discuss your legal options for financial recovery.
Recent Hit and Run Accidents in the St. Louis Area
Statistics show that hit and run accidents are on the rise, with deaths from these collisions increasing by 11 percent from 2020–2021 nationwide. As a result, several fatal hit and run cases have recently made headlines in St. Louis.
In October 2022, a man died shortly after an early-morning crash with an unidentified driver near the intersection of St. Charles Rock Road and Normandy Drive. A similar incident occurred in November 2023, when a 43-year-old woman died after being struck by a car on Interstate 55 near the Lindbergh Boulevard interchange. The at-fault driver fled the scene of the fatal collision.
In December 2023, a 38-year-old pedestrian lost his life after a St. Louis court clerk struck him with her vehicle and left the scene of the crash. The collision occurred at the intersection of Gravois Avenue and Nebraska Avenue, where nearby security cameras captured portions of the incident and allowed police to identify the suspect.
A hit-and-run crash that overturned a school bus also made headlines in February 2024. No children were on the bus, but two adults suffered serious injuries. The incident occurred on Interstate 44 before the Grand Boulevard overpass. An erratic driver clipped the front of the bus before driving away, causing it to overturn. Police identified and arrested the suspect after finding her vehicle abandoned about a mile from the crash.
How Can I Recover Compensation After a Hit-and-Run Car Accident in St. Louis?
Insurance is the primary source of compensation for damages related to a car or truck accident caused by a hit-and-run driver in St. Louis. However, Missouri follows a fault-based system, which means damages are sought from the at-fault party’s insurance company.
So, what can you do when the driver who caused your accident flees the scene? Who’s liable for your hit-and-run accident injuries? What are your options?
Uninsured Motorist Coverages
When you purchased car insurance, you were given the opportunity to add Uninsured Motorist Coverage to your policy. If you have this additional coverage, you can seek benefits from your policy after a crash with a hit-and-run driver. However, you will only be able to recover up to your uninsured motorist coverage policy limits.
Seek Damages from a Liable Third Party (or Their Insurance Company)
Under Missouri state law, liability is shared by anyone who contributes to your hit-and-run crash. This might include:
- Other motorists
- Truck drivers
- Motorcyclists
- Bicyclists
- Pedestrians
- Government agencies
- Vehicle manufacturers
- Employers
You can submit a claim to any at-fault party’s insurance carrier and/or file a lawsuit against them to seek compensation. They can be liable up to the degree they share fault for the crash.
File a Lawsuit Against the Hit-and-Run Driver (If They Are Found)
If the hit-and-run driver is found, you can submit a claim with their insurance company or file a lawsuit against them directly.
Get started with a free consultation with one of our skilled Personal Injury Lawyers today.
What Is the Average Settlement in Hit-and-Run Car Accident Cases?
In truth, hit and run accident cases have no average settlement. The details of every scenario are unique, which makes the value of every car accident lawsuit different.
All the following are relevant when determining how much money you might receive from a hit and run accident case:
- The types of injuries you have suffered
- Insurance policy limits
- Whether the hit and run driver is identified
- How the trauma of the hit and run crash affects your life
- Whether the accident aggravated any pre-existing medical issues
- Your age and earning capacity
- Whether you share responsibility for the car accident
You can increase the chances of maximizing your financial recovery by enlisting the help of a qualified and experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer near you. Our full-service personal injury law firm has recovered numerous high-value settlements and verdicts for clients injured in St. Louis hit and runs, including:
- $500,000 for a client who suffered spinal injuries after being rear-ended at high speed on an interstate.
- $250,000 for a client who suffered rib fractures and other injuries after a collision with a driver who fled the scene and was likely intoxicated at the time of the accident.
- $250,000 for a client who sustained a herniated disc in his lower back after another vehicle merged into his lane, forcing him to swerve into the median.
Contact our law office to learn more about your case and how our hit and run accident lawyers can support your fight for damages.
Contact an Experienced St. Louis Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
You could be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, out-of-pocket expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages after a hit and run car accident in St. Louis. Don’t let the fact that the driver fled the scene stand between you and the financial award you deserve. Remember, you only have a limited amount of time to file a Missouri car accident claim.
Call (314) 501-9510 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation with our experienced St. Louis hit and run accident attorneys. We are dedicated to serving our community by helping accident victims defend their right to full and fair compensation. We are ready to help you fight to make things right.
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Address: 4900 Daggett Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110
Phone: (314) 501-9510
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