Last August, a Brandsville man’s homemade pickup-bed trailer came loose from his truck and hit a 42 year-old man’s jeep head on near Dawt Mill in Ozark County, Missouri.
The man in the jeep was killed, and the woman who was his passenger was critically injured. After the accident, the Brandsville man drove home. He turned himself into authorities six days later and now faces felony charges for leaving the scene of an accident.
Criminal and Civil Hit-and-Run Cases
Leaving the scene of a Missouri motor vehicle accident resulting in injury or property damage is a crime if the culpable driver does not give the other party or police their name, address and drivers license information. While committing a hit-and-run will result in criminal charges, as in the Ozark County case, it can lead to a civil lawsuit as well.
The government brings criminal cases seeking punishment, while a private party brings a civil lawsuit requesting monetary damages. For personal injuries, a civil suit can request compensation for the following types of damages:
- Hospital bills
- Medications and medical equipment
- Physical therapy and chiropractic treatment
- Nursing home and home health care
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages and projected lost earnings
- Lost enjoyment from a permanent disability
- Punitive damages (for gross negligence)
Wrongful Death
When an accident results in death, a different set of civil claims can be made:
- Medical bills prior to death
- Pain and suffering of a deceased person (if death was not immediate)
- Funeral costs
- Loss of spousal companionship
- Anticipated income
Though no monetary award can replace a loved one, the law provides a means to compensate those who must continue to bear the loss.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a hit-and-run accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your situation and your options.
The legal team at Dempsey Kingsland Osteen works to ensure that the injured are fully compensated for their lasting injuries from medical malpractice or other negligence. We push for comprehensive damages that anticipate the long-term needs of our clients, rather than taking a quick settlement out of convenience.
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