Following a fatal hit and run accident last year, a new Missouri legislative bill has passed the state Senate and is on its way to the House.
The bill was brought by Rep. Bill Reiboldt, after 19 year old Matthew Stevens, of Neosho died after being hit by a vehicle on September 12 along Missouri Highway 59 near Malcolm Mosby Drive in south Neosho. Oren Rae Rinehart of Neosho is charged with leaving the scene in the deadly accident.
The reason for the bill is that Stacey Stevens, Matthew’s mother, was left with funeral bills which were more than the court could to fine the driver as the current law for the class E felony is up to four years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.
The bill would enhance penalties for anyone leaving the scene of an accident when a person is killed and would ensures that drivers who leave the scene of a fatal accident would face tougher consequences by making hit and run fatalities a class D felony in 2016, and a class C felony in 2017 both with longer jail terms and higher fines.
To learn more about your rights and potential compensation after an accident, please call the Jefferson City defective vehicle accident attorneys of Protzman Law Firm, at 816-421-5100 or contact us online right away to schedule your free consultation.
