A 5-year-old boy sustained major injuries in a San Diego car accident the evening of July 13, 2010 after he was hit by a vehicle that was backing up. According to a San Diego 6 news report, the injury collision occurred in the 2100 block of Alpine Glen Place, when a man who was looking at a home to rent backed up and pinned the boy against a wall. The driver got out of the car and fled the scene, leaving the boy with major injuries. The suspect is described only as a male, white adult. Authorities are looking for this driver. The boy is expected to survive.

My heart goes out to this young boy and his family for what they are going through at this time. I truly hope this child has not sustained any catastrophic injury and pray that he recovers quickly and completely.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 13 fatalities and 80 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in the unincorporated areas of San Diego. Countywide, 63 people died and 998 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year.

Hit-and-Run

If the details of this news report are accurate, it appears that the driver of the vehicle struck the boy as he was backing up. I trust officials are looking into whether the boy ran into the path of the car or if the driver was negligent at the time. Whatever the case, it was the driver's duty and responsibility to stop and remain at the scene of an accident. Motorists are required to remain at the scene of the accident, wait for authorities to arrive and assist the injured. In this case, the driver did not stop, not even to assist an injured child.

Leaving the scene of an accident or hit-and-run is a serious crime under California law. California Vehicle Code 20001 (a) states: "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." I trust authorities will soon locate this individual and bring him to justice.

Protecting Victims' Rights

In such cases injured victims or their families would be well-advised to consult with an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the investigation and make sure that their legal rights and best interests are preserved. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also advise victims about how their own car insurance policy applies to a hit-and-run case or to an incident where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.

Have you witnessed a hit-and-run collision? We would like to hear about your views on how to curb this serious problem in our society.

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.

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