A young boy was seriously injured in a Ventura car accident the morning of May 21, 2010 after a neighbor backed a car into him. According to a news report in the Ventura County Star, the boy was playing in the front yard of a house in a Fillmore neighborhood, with his mother watching. The boy then, apparently ran onto the street chasing after his ball. A neighbor, who was backing his car at that instant, did not see the child and struck him, police officials said. The boy seemed to be awake and alert immediately after the collision, but officials decided to airlift him to an area hospital in case he had suffered head injuries or other internal injuries.

My heart goes out to this injured child and his family. I sincerely hope he has not sustained any major injuries. He will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but four injuries reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in Fillmore. In Ventura County as a whole, eight deaths and 224 injuries occurred due to pedestrian accidents in 2008.

What Caused this Accident?

Based on this news report, the child ran out into the street and got struck by the neighbor's vehicle. This incident is a reminder to all parents, grandparents and caregivers that accidents can happen in a split second. In this case, the mother was watching the child play in the front yard. This happened right before her eyes!

However, it is important to establish whether any negligence or wrongdoing was involved here. Was the neighbor impaired, distracted or otherwise negligent at the time of the collision? Or was he simply in a hurry to leave home and did not check properly to see who was behind the vehicle? I trust officials are examining these and other issues in order to determine exactly what occurred here.

Claim for Compensation

If the driver is found to have been at fault in this case, he could be held liable for the accident and injuries caused. Victims would be well-advised to seek the counsel of a reputed California personal injury lawyer to find out more information about their legal rights and options. In such cases, the victim's auto insurance policy might be able to provide compensation for medical expenses if the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured. Please remember that children, whether they are named or not named in their parents' car insurance policy, are still covered.

What precautions do your teach your children to follow when they are out playing in the front yard?

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.