Many people who get into collisions show genuine care for others involved. They’ll call 911 and make sure the other person is okay, and they’ll provide insurance and contact information while cooperating with authorities. Unfortunately, there are also motorists who flee the scene of a crash, dodging accountability for what happened. This is an intentional act and not an accident.
If you or a loved one got injured in a hit-and-run collision, our Kansas City car wreck attorneys are here to help. The team at CPY Law will act quickly to secure evidence and help identify the driver and/or their vehicle. Even when the driver cannot be found, our lawyers will support you in seeking compensation.
Don’t feel alone or overwhelmed. Let us lead the fight. For a free consultation with our hit-and-run crash lawyers, contact our Kansas City, MO law firm today.
What Is a Hit-and-Run Crash?
A hit-and-run crash occurs whenever a vehicle hits a car, bicyclist, or pedestrian and then leaves the site of the incident. When a hit-and-run happens, the fleeing driver provides no insurance or contact information and does not administer any help to people affected by the incident.
What Drivers Are Supposed to Do After a Collision
According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, drivers must do the following after they’ve been involved in a collision:
- Stop your vehicle and remain at the scene of the crash
- Call 911 to notify local authorities
- Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights to warn/alert other motorists of the crash
- Exchange contact information with any drivers or witnesses at the scene of the crash
- Do not leave the scene of the crash until you are allowed to do so by law enforcement
Leaving the scene of a car wreck prematurely is a criminal offense in the state of Missouri, with the nature of the charges outlined in RSMo § 577.060.
Why Drivers Flee the Scene of a Crash
Even though Missouri law requires drivers to remain at the scene of a collision, there are many reasons why motorists may flee the site of the hit-and-run incident:
- They want to avoid liability for causing property damage or injuries
- They are driving without a driver’s license or with a suspended driver’s license
- They are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and do not want to get caught
- They are driving without auto insurance or they are underinsured
If you’ve been in a hit-and-run crash in Kansas City, our lawyers will investigate the incident and determine your best options for securing compensation.
How Our Lawyers Investigate a Hit-and-Run Injury
When people come to our Kansas City law firm with a hit-and-run claim, our lawyers will do whatever we can to investigate the incident and try to track down the driver who fled the scene. This will often involve:
- Getting the person’s account of what happened during the hit-and-run, where it happened, and when it occurred
- Reviewing the police report of the incident and any photos, videos, and medical records
- Contacting any witnesses to the crash to ask what they saw
- Securing any surveillance footage at or near the hit-and-run crash site (e.g., traffic cameras, doorbell cams, dash cam footage, security videos from nearby businesses)
- Identifying the make, model, and color of the vehicle to narrow the search
What Happens When a Hit-and-Run Driver Is Identified?
In collision cases in which the hit-and-run driver can be identified, we can help you file a claim against their liability insurance. This will help you cover any medical bills or financial losses related to the hit-and-run crash.
The hit-and-run driver may be arrested or cited for failing to remain at the scene of the collision.
What Happens If a Hit-and-Run Driver Cannot Be Located?
There are many hit-and-run cases in which the driver or vehicle cannot be identified. In these cases, you can still secure compensation for your injuries, repair bills, and other losses.
When these situations occur, our Kansas City hit-and-run injury attorneys can review your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which can help cover your losses. CPY Law can also help you explore other options for compensation that may be available based on what occurred.
No-Contact Collisions: Legal Options in Miss-and-Run Collisions
In some situations, people swerve out of the way of a reckless driver to avoid a crash. These incidents are not hit-and-runs per se, but you can still seek compensation when a negligent driver causes a no-contact incident.
Crashes in which the vehicles make no physical contact are also known as miss-and-runs. The vehicles that make no contact but cause the incident are called phantom vehicles.
Our Lawyers Can Help with Near-Miss Crash Cases
If you were in a no-contact crash involving a phantom vehicle, our Kansas City injury attorneys can help investigate the incident and hold the negligent driver accountable.
When we can track down the driver of the phantom vehicle, we can help seek compensation through the driver’s liability insurance. When the driver of the phantom vehicle cannot be found, our law firm can help you understand your best options for compensation through uninsured motorist coverage and other avenues.
Compensation in Hit-and-Run Crash Claims
Compensation for a hit-and-run crash includes economic damages (measurable financial losses) and non-economic damages (subjective and intangible losses).
- Medical Expenses and Future Care: This includes any stabilizing care, hospitalization, follow-up visits, surgery, and ongoing needs such as physical rehabilitation, occupational therapy, and visits with medical specialists.
- Vehicle and Property Damage: This includes repair or replacement of a vehicle in a hit-and-run or miss-and-run as well as any belongings that were damaged in the collision.
- Lost Wages and Future Earnings: This includes loss of earnings due to medical leave from work. This also covers loss of future earning potential for injuries that result in long-term or permanent disability.
- Pain and Suffering: This includes emotional distress, chronic pain from lingering injuries, and ongoing changes in your sleep patterns or mental state.
- Lower Quality of Life: This includes a reduced sense of well-being or contentment, loss of enjoyment in your favorite hobbies, and any difficulties in your relationships after the crash.
- Loss of a Loved One in a Fatal Crash: If you lose a loved one, we can help seek compensation for funeral expenses, grief counseling, the loss of benefits and financial support, and the loss of companionship.
At CPY Law, we’ll review what happened and help you understand the true value of your hit-and-run claim.
How Shared Fault in a Hit-and-Run Affects Compensation in Missouri
Missouri follows a pure comparative fault rule (RSMo § 537.765). This means you can still seek compensation if you were partly or mostly at fault in a hit-and-run or miss-and-run incident.
For example, say that you were run off the road on Linwood Boulevard and receive $100,000 in compensation. However, you were found 20% liable for the miss-and-run incident. Because of pure comparative fault, you’d still receive $80,000 in compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Hit-and-Run Claim in Kansas City, MO?
The statute of limitations for hit-and-run wrecks in Missouri can vary depending on what happened.
- For hit-and-runs that cause injuries, you typically have five years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury lawsuit (RSMo § 516.120)
- For fatal hit-and-run crashes, you typically have three years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit (RSMo § 537.100)
There are exceptions to these statutes of limitations. If the hit-and-run or miss-and-run involved a government entity, for example, you need to file a formal notice of claim within 90 days of the incident.
It’s best to contact our Kansas City hit-and-run lawyers as soon as possible. CPY Law can secure key evidence, help locate the reckless driver, identify all potential sources of compensation, and communicate with the insurance company on your behalf.
Why Choose CPY Law for Your Hit-and-Run Crash Claim
After a hit-and-run incident in Kansas City, our injury attorneys can fight for you. Our clients always come first, and our team is built for the fight ahead even if the driver cannot be identified.
Here’s why KCMO can trust CPY Law after a bad hit-and-run or miss-and-run collision.
- Reliability and Legal Excellence: Many families and individuals come to us after a major injury or disruption to their daily lives. Our goal is to provide clear communication and thoughtful legal representation throughout the process.
- We Hold Ourselves and Others Accountable: CPY Law seeks accountability from others. We also demand the same from ourselves. When you hire us after a hit-and-run, we will own the problem and lead the fight forward. We do what we say, and we ask the same of our staff and colleagues.
- Free and Confidential Consultations: At CPY Law, you pay nothing upfront to speak with a hit-and-run attorney. Consultations are free, no obligation, and completely confidential. Our lawyers just want to hear what happened and give you our honest assessment about your case.
- Clients Pay Nothing Unless We Win: You owe us nothing unless and until we win. Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid after your hit-and-run case is successfully resolved. If we don’t win, you pay nothing.
Contact Our Kansas City Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys Near You
If you’ve suffered because of a reckless driver, you are not alone. CPY Law is here for you after a hit-and-run or a miss-and-run. Let us handle the fight while you focus on healing. For a free consultation with our hit-and-run injury lawyers in Kansas City, contact our law firm today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hit-and-Run Crashes in Kansas City
Below are some of the most common questions we’ve heard from clients who’ve been hurt in hit-and-run incidents in the Kansas City area.
What should I do if I’m in a hit-and-run collision?
If you are ever hurt in a hit-and-run crash, take these steps to ensure your health and safety and to help as you file a claim.
- Call 911: Alert local authorities about what happened. This ensures there’s an official police report created and first responders can provide aid.
- Get Information from Witnesses: If there are any witnesses who saw you get hit or run off the road by the other vehicle, get their contact information.
- Document the Site of the Incident: Take photos and videos of the scene of the crash, your injuries, collision debris in the road, your vehicle or other belongings, and all of your surroundings. Take a mix of closeups, medium shots, and long shots.
- Seek Medical Attention: Even if you seem fine after the incident, go get checked out by a doctor to establish a connection between potential injuries and the crash. If you are offered an ambulance ride, take it.
- Speak with a Hit-and-Run Injury Lawyer: Make sure to speak with a hit-and-run attorney as soon as possible so you can secure as much compensation as possible.
Can I still recover compensation if the hit-and-run driver is never found?
Yes. If the hit-and-run or miss-and-run driver can’t be identified, you can still seek compensation for vehicle damage or your injuries. This will often involve your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and other applicable insurance.
Our Kansas City motor vehicle accident attorneys can help you weigh your options and determine the best option available to cover your medical bills and other losses.
What if I was a passenger injured in a hit-and-run crash? Do I have legal options?
Yes. You do not have to be behind the wheel of a vehicle that was hit or run off the road to seek compensation. Like motorists or cyclists hit by drivers, compensation may be sought through your uninsured motorist coverage and other applicable benefits.
What happens if the hit-and-run driver is from Kansas rather than Missouri?
If the driver in a hit-and-run crash in Kansas City, MO is from Kansas, Missouri law will still apply. Conversely, if you were in a hit-and-run collision in Kansas, the laws of Kansas would apply.
Regardless of where the crash occurred, it’s a good idea to reach out to CPY Law for a free consultation. Our hit-and-run lawyers can answer your questions and help you figure out the best steps to take next to seek compensation.
What are my legal options when the hit-and-run driver is younger than 18 years old?
Even if the driver of a vehicle in a hit-and-run is younger than 18, you can still seek compensation for your injuries and vehicle damage. The teenager or the parents of the teenager in the crash can be held liable, and compensation can be sought under the proper insurance policy.
If you know the teenager who caused the hit-and-run or their parents, this can make matters complicated. The injury attorneys at CPY Law can help you navigate these challenges while making sure you receive full and fair compensation for what happened.
