A Pittsburgh area boy was taken to a hospital earlier this month after a vehicle struck him as he was walking. Following the collision the vehicle that struck the boy left the scene. The driver of that vehicle was later found and arrested. The incident occurred shortly after 8:30 p.m. in Wilkins Township.

It is not clear what caused the vehicle to hit the 13-year-old or why the driver decided to leave the scene after the accident occurred. While there are often extenuating circumstances that cause a driver to accidentally strike a pedestrian, such as not seeing a pedestrian in the dark, or a pedestrian suddenly darting in front of a vehicle, there is really no good excuse for a hit-and-run crash.

As a result of leaving the accident scene the driver of the vehicle is facing criminal charges. In addition to being involved in, and leaving the scene of an accident involving an injury, he was also charged with driving without a driver's license. Though not confirmed, the latter charge likely had something to do with why he fled the scene.

The boy who was hit was lucky. His injuries did not threaten his life and after receiving medical treatment he was allowed to go home. Though the injuries he suffered are not known they may prompt a personal injury lawsuit. Should the boy's parents decide to take that course of action on his behalf, it is best to contact a lawyer who handles such cases sooner rather than later. Doing so could make a big difference in the outcome of the case.

Source: KDKA, "Hit-And-Run Leaves 13-Year-Old Injured," May 14, 2013