A 15-year-old boy suffered critical injuries in a San Diego car accident after he was struck while walking across a street in Vista the night of December 28, 2009. According to a 10news report, the boy was walking with his skateboard across East Vista Way at Arcadia Avenue when a dark-colored SUV hit him. The teen was thrown on to the hood of the SUV before rolling off and falling on the roadway. The boy sustained major head injuries and possible internal bleeding. He was airlifted to a local hospital in critical condition. The driver of the SUV made no attempt to stop and was last seen going south on East Vista Way.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of this child, who has apparently been catastrophically injured in the hit-and-run pedestrian accident. I hope and pray that he makes it through these critical injuries and has a complete recovery. This teenager and his family will certainly be in my prayers.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), one fatality and 27 injuries occurred in Vista involving pedestrian accidents. In San Diego County as a whole, 51 deaths and 1,068 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2007.

Hit-and-Run Laws and Liability Issues

I trust police will soon find this hit-and-run driver, who struck the boy at the street intersection and left him injured on the roadway. That was truly, a despicable act on the part of the driver! Not only is fleeing the scene of an injury accident immoral and inhumane, but it is also against the law. According to California Vehicle Code section 20001: "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident." Motorists are required to stop at the scene of the accident, whether or not the accident is their fault.

In this particular case, the young victim's family would be well-advised to contact a skilled San Diego personal injury attorney, who has an excellent track record of holding negligent drivers accountable. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer should advise victims about how their own car insurance policy applies to a hit-and-run accident or an incident involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.

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