One person is dead and two people are injured after a 21-year-old suspected drunk driver without her lights on plowed into a family leaving a dinner in Lakeside on Sept. 25. The accident happened around 8:17 p.m. on Woodside Avenue. A man, his girlfriend, and his parents had just left dinner at La Palapa Mexican Restaurant when a Toyota Yaris plowed into them. According to witnesses, the driver of the Toyota did not have her light on and was driving exceptionally fast.

The two parents and the DUI suspect were all taken to the UC San Diego Trauma Center where they received treatment for their injuries. The father sustained major injuries, and it was confirmed that the mother passed away from her injuries after the collision. The driver was released after a day in the hospital and was charged with felony DUI and murder. She is currently detained at Las Colinas Detention Facility.

Forty-two-year-old Hollywood actress Tori Spelling filed a lawsuit against the popular restaurant chain, Benihana Inc., in the first week of September in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging that she suffered burn injuries from one of the restaurant’s hibachi grills on last Easter Sunday.

Spelling, who is most popular for her role as Donna Martin on the 1990 television show Beverly Hills, 90210, is asking for damages of over $25,000.

According to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by the Daily News, plaintiff Victoria Davey Spelling “slipped and fell at Benihana Restaurant [in] Encino, California, and sustained deep second and third degree burn injuries requiring hospitalization and surgery”.

Our attorneys at Ritter & Associates in San Diego handle personal injury accidents that have occurred in San Diego or other areas in California – such as premises liability, product liability, automobile and other motor vehicle accidents, above ground pool accidents, among others. Call our offices today at (619) 296-0123 to see how we can help with your legal case.

A tragic rollover accident at Marine base Camp Pendleton has left one dead and another six soldiers critically injured.  The accident occurred in the afternoon of Thursday, September 10 after the 7-ton truck in which the marines were riding flipped over while the group was returning from a training exercise. The crash injured 18 and left one marine dead.

The Marine Corps issued an update that the injured marines are being treated at San Diego hospitals, with four having already been released from the hospital.  Officials are investigating the details of the accident, including the model of the truck, the cause of the accident, and any possible malfunctions that may have occurred during the accident. It is still unclear to investigators whether speed was a factor, or if the vehicle hit an object in the road.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident. Investigators say the details of the accident may take months to release.

Paul Briley, one of the five people who were injured during a shooting at R&B singer Chris Brown’s concert at the Fiesta nightclub in San Jose, California in January 2015, filed a lawsuit against Brown recently in a California Superior Court, claiming that the singer and his management failed to provide adequate measures to ensure the safety of concertgoers.

During the event, an unidentified gunman started shooting, causing panic in the crowd. Brown was immediately rushed to safety.

In legal documents obtained by TheWrap.com, the plaintiff, Briley, alleges that it was the event organizer’s duty to increase security at the event due to Brown’s past violent run-ins. Briley adds that state officials should have beefed up security to protect patrons “from the foreseeable risk of injury, violence, fights, riots, and/or shootings that have previously been linked to Brown’s appearances and concerts, and which were reasonably foreseeable at the bash”.

A personal injury accident, especially if caused by the irresponsibility of other people, can be traumatic to its victims. Should you have the misfortune of experiencing a personal injury accident in San Diego, do not hesitate to contact our attorneys at Ritter & Associates by calling our offices today at 619-296-0123 for legal advice.

A fatal accident in Bay Park on August 22 left two passengers dead. The crash was caused due to an intoxicated driver that failed to properly maneuver the S-curves on Friars Road. The vehicle swerved and hit a boulder before bursting into flames. The fire spread to the surrounding area and was responsible for the death of a dog close to the accident.

The two women in the car, whose identities will not be released, were pronounced dead at the scene and their families were contacted. The driver sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment. He is expected to be arrested upon his release from the hospital.

Drunk drivers cause thousands of deaths every year due to their reckless and dangerous behavior. While nothing can alleviate the pain of losing someone you care for, there are legal options available for you to seek justice. If your loved one was injured or fell victim to a fatal accident caused by a drunk driver, contact the car accident attorneys at Ritter & Associates by calling (619) 296-0123 today.

An out of control Volvo careened into a number of people down University Avenue on Aug. 7. The accident happened at about 2 p.m. when the driver of a white Volvo told officers that she was rear-ended. The other driver fled the scene before any information was gathered.

The initial impact caused the Volvo’s brakes to stop working as the vehicle kept its trajectory down University Ave. She told officers that she lost control of her vehicle at this point and was unable to stop the car.

The Volvo hit a Hyundai Accent before the driver deliberately maneuvered the Volvo into a wall. While attempting to stop the car by forcing it into the wall, the driver also hit an SUV and the two pedestrians.

The driver of the Volvo, a passenger in the car, and the two pedestrians reported some injuries and were transported to the hospital. Upwards of 20 police cars blocked the scene while the full damage of the accident was assessed.

If you were injured in an accident that was caused by a negligent or dangerous driver, contact the auto accident attorneys at Ritter & Associates. Our team of experienced San Diego lawyers are prepared to help you fight for the compensation you need while you recover from your injuries. Call 619-296-0123 today for more information.

Three people involved in a car accident on Interstate 805 on July 26 sustained life-threatening injuries, according to NBC San Diego. The accident partially shut down the freeway due four overturned vehicles and extensive injury to the passengers of the vehicles.

Reports indicate the accident occurred just before 4 a.m. near the La Jolla Village Drive exit. California Highway Patrol shut down three lanes of the freeway while clearing the wreckage and providing medical attention to the victims of the crash. This stalled morning traffic for several hours.

One driver was trapped inside of a vehicle at one point and required emergency responders to assist in his release.

The three passengers in critical condition were taken to nearby Scripps La Jolla for medical treatment. There is no word on the status of the patients or the cause of the initial accident.

Reckless driving can result in serious injuries to a driver and other patrons of the road. If you or someone you know was injured due to the dangerous driving habits of another person, contact the auto accident attorneys at Ritter & Associates. Call us today at (619) 296-0123 to begin taking action against those responsible.

Alameda County Superior Court judge Robert Freedman issued a tentative ruling against a personal injury claim for 13-year-old Oakland, California resident Jahi McMath last Wednesday, July 29. The girl’s family is fighting to prove that McMath is still alive while she remains on organ-support machines after a botched tonsil surgery in December 2013. The judge noted that earlier court decisions and a death certificate indicate the girl is dead – a decision that could potentially cost McMath’s family millions of dollars.

If McMath is considered alive, her family could file a personal injury lawsuit against her surgeon and potentially claim millions of dollars in damages. If she is dead, however, her family can only file for a medical malpractice wrongful death lawsuit – a suit capped at $250,000 in California.

Jahi was once a happy, thriving child. Her family is not experiencing the pain of losing a child, but having to fight for their legal rights. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a personal injury accident in the San Diego area, do not hesitate to get in touch with our attorneys at Ritter & Associates by calling our offices today at 619-296-0123.

Members of the Assembly business and professions committee voted down a bill that would have implemented stricter oversight rules on California contractors, according to SF Gate on July 15.

The bill was drafted by Senators Jerry Hill and Loni Hancock in response to the terrible balcony collapse that happened in Berkeley last month and killed six people. The senators have said they will not give up on SB465 or legislation like it. The bill would have required contractors to disclose any past litigation, convictions, or accusations of defects, negligence, or fraud to the Contractors State License Board.

Lobbyist Nick Cammarota, who represents the interests of the California Building Industry Association, argued against using previous settlements as a measurement for negligent or inadequate construction companies. According to Cammarota, settlements between construction companies and victims do not name individuals responsible for the faulty work that caused the accident.

Proponents of the bill counter Cammarota’s thoughts by arguing that State Boards responsible for crediting and endorsing construction companies should be aware of those companies’ complete histories.

Representatives from Senator Hill’s office have said a special hearing of the committee might be called if one more vote for the bill can be secured. If the current vote stands, the bill will be taken up again in January.

The San Diego attorneys of Ritter & Associates represent those who have been injured on another’s property due to inherently unsafe conditions, possibly including, in some cases, a balcony that has not been properly maintained. Call us at (619) 296-0123 today to discuss your case.

At present, there is no federal law that protects consumers from renting cars under recall from rental companies, according to NBC San Diego reported on July 14.

Lawmakers are planning to change that. The Senate Transportation Committee approved an amendment to a bill introduced by Senator John Randolph Thune (Republican of South Dakota) that sought to require rental companies to disclose knowledge of safety recalls when cars are rented. Going a step further, the committee proposed a ban altogether on renting out cars under any safety recall.

Some large rental companies have voluntarily taken out recalled cars from their roster of vehicles ever since Japanese automotive parts maker Takata Corp. issued a recall of 57 million defective airbags worldwide, 34 million of which were in the United States.

At Ritter & Associates, we are dedicated to representing those who have been injured in car accidents through the fault of negligent auto manufacturers. Call our offices in San Diego at (619) 296-0123 today to begin taking action against those responsible.