Six individuals died while seven others were seriously injured after the fifth-floor balcony of a stucco apartment building collapsed during a 21^st birthday party on June 16, according to WANE.

Five of the deceased party-goers were 21-year-old Ireland nationals who were visiting the United States on J-1 visas, which make it possible for young individuals to work and travel in the country over the summer. The sixth person was a California native, local authorities said.

Federal regulators will investigate whether the balcony was built following building standards, whether it was overloaded at the time of the crash, or if weather weakened the stability of the balcony, said Structural Engineers Association of California structural standards committee chairman Kevin Moore. According to Moore, weather may play a factor because balconies can experience deterioration due to rain. City inspectors have told residents not to use the balconies in the wake of the fatal balcony collapse until they are fully inspected for safety.

The Academy Award-winning composer of “Titanic,” James Horner, fell victim to a fatal plane accident in Southern California. He was operating the vehicle north of Santa Barbara when the S312 Tucano MK1 crashed due to unknown circumstances. The statement from Horner’s agency described him as “an avid and experienced pilot.”

The Federal Aviation Administration located the plane near Los Padres National Forest. Horner was declared missing Monday June 22 and presumed dead. This was later confirmed by his assistant. Reports indicate the aircraft’s impact caused an explosion, catching the plane and surrounding vegetation on fire.

Single engine planes are known for their high accident rates and fatality rates. Due to the nature and size of plane, single engine plane accidents have a fatality rate 19 times as high as car accidents. Investigators hope to determine the cause of the accident soon.

James Horner is also known for his composition for “Braveheart,” “A Beautiful Mind,” “Avatar,” “Apollo 13,” “Field of Dreams,” and “Aliens.” His extensive career leaves behind a grand legacy and wealth of music for fans to enjoy for decades to come. The heartfelt condolences of Ritter & Associates are sent to the friends and family of James Horney. He is survived by his wife, Sarah, and two daughters.

Jessica Marie Steindorff filed a personal injury lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on June 8 against Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner, claiming Jenner was the person who caused the multiple-vehicle wreck that killed one person, Business Insider reported.

Steindorff claimed Jenner drove “negligently, carelessly, and wantonly,” causing the pile up on the Pacific Coast Highway on February 7, according to CNN.

The estate of Kimberly Howe, who was killed in the incident, already filed a lawsuit against Jenner for negligence and wrongful death.

Other people were injured in the crash, including Steindorff.

The attorneys at Ritter & Associates in San Diego are dedicated to representing those who have been harmed in automobile accidents through no fault of their own. If you or a loved one has experienced this, our legal team may work tirelessly on your behalf for the financial compensation you need from the person or party responsible. Call our offices at (619) 296-0123 today to learn more.

Though you have every right to pursue your claim without the help of an attorney, you will probably be at a critical disadvantage if you choose to do so.  Since there will be so much at stake for the defendant, you should expect the person or organization you are pursuing your claim against to be represented by an experienced legal team who will be trying to mitigate your compensation.  With that in mind, you will need to do everything you can to protect your interests and to anticipate the moves the defense will make to discredit your claim.

If you have been injured in an accident, you should consult with one of the San Diego personal injury attorneys with Ritter & Associates to get a better idea of what legal action may be available to you and what opposition you can expect to face.  To discuss the particulars of your claim with one of our attorneys, please call our San Diego offices at (619) 296-0123 today.

Early morning of June 16, a group of Irish and Irish-American young adults were celebrating a birthday when the balcony they were on detached and careened the party down the stucco apartment building. The balcony fell onto pavement below, killing six and injuring seven. Of the six deceased, five were visiting from Ireland.

Berkeley is a hub for Irish transfer students that come over for a college semester. There are reportedly around 700 Irish students that work and play around the bay area each summer before heading back to respective Irish colleges in the fall.

Investigators of the accident are still looking for the source of the collapse. They will be inquiring about the safety regulations of the apartment building and whether there was overcrowding on the balcony among other factors. Berkeley officials claim the balcony is meant to hold 100 pounds per square foot.

Engineering crews working on the scene inspected the break off point, noticing the broken beams and rotted wood falling away from the building. The balcony was cantilevered out from the apartment with no additional support. These factors would make it susceptible to dry rot and weathering.

Negligent and dangerous premises should be held accountable for the injuries and wrongful deaths their property causes individuals.

On May 20, San Diego man William Cady began his trial for 12 charges relating to a drunk driving accident that killed 3 passengers in the vehicle on Jan 10, 2014, according to NBC San Diego. The charges include gross vehicular manslaughter and first-degree murder.

Cady was drinking and smoking marijuana before attempting to drive him and 5 passengers to their homes. He reportedly was speeding between 87-97 miles per hour as he attempted to merge from Interstate 805 to SR-52; this is when he lost control of the vehicle.

Cady’s Escalade veered from the road, hitting a cement pillar and rolling over several times before stopping in nearby traffic. Three passengers died at the scene, two of which were not wearing their seatbelts. The two other passengers suffered serious injuries, as did Cady. The accident also caused a chain of other accidents to occur, fortunately none resulting in major injury.

At Ritter & Associates, we know too well the devastation that can occur from a drunk driving accident. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in an accident like this, our dedicated legal team may provide aggressive representation against those responsible. Speak with one of our San Diego personal injury lawyers by calling (619) 296-0123 today.

Los Angeles County will award Robert Dominguez $450,000 for the death of his two-year-old son, Gabriel Dominguez, who was killed in 2011 by his mom’s boyfriend after repeated reports to social workers about abuse, the San Antonio Express-News reported on May 6.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors decided on May 5 to give Robert Dominguez the money to settle the wrongful death claim he lodged against the Department of Children and Family Services, a report from the Los Angeles Times showed.

In the lawsuit, Dominguez claimed that his son would not have died if the Department of Children and Family Services had performed the proper process of investigating an abuse case.

The attorneys of Ritter & Associates in San Diego know that nothing can ever compensation for the loss of a loved one. However, if you would like representation as you pursue damages from the person or party responsible, we may be able to help. Call us at (619) 296-0123 today to learn more.

Articles from The New York Times and Sys-Con Media reported that at least seven individuals lost their lives while 200 others were injured in a recent Amtrak train accident.

Some passengers have yet to be accounted for, although this does not necessarily mean they are missing. An Amtrak train owned by the National Railroad Passenger Corp. derailed and crashed in Philadelphia on May 12 as the train approached a curve in a section of the Northeast Corridor. Investigators have determined the train was traveling at around 106 miles per hour when the track occurred–although they will also look into other factors that may have contributed to the crash, such as track conditions.

The National Transportation Safety Board is currently conducting an investigation into the derailment to find out if there should be charges meted out to people or organizations responsible for the crash.

The train crash had been the deadliest train accident in the United States in almost six years.

Two individuals sustained life-threatening injuries while one person incurred minor wounds after a three-vehicle accident occurred on Highway 12 west of Potato Slough in the California Delta, according to the Lodi News-Sentinel on April 18.

According to the California Highway Patrol, 40-year-old Castro Valley resident Danny Baker was driving his 2003 Chevrolet with a camping trailer west down Highway 12 at around 7:25 p.m. when he began to attempt a U-turn toward the eastbound lanes. Baker said he failed to see the 2006 Hyundai and 2015 Nissan that were approaching despite checking his side mirrors, so he initiated the turn.

This caused 92-year-old Stockton resident Phillip Paige, the driver of the Hyundai, to crash into the left side of Baker’s vehicle while 53-year-old Spring Valley resident Lisa Williams crashed her Nissan into the left side of the camping trailer.

Paige and his passenger, 57-year-old Spring Valley resident Lawana Vanhook, sustained major injuries, while Williams incurred minor ones.

Our attorneys at Ritter & Associates in San Diego are dedicated to representing accident victims in pursuit of financial compensation from negligent drivers. Call our offices at (619) 296-0123 today to learn about your legal options.

Trek recently announced a recall of 900,000 bikes in the United States and 98,000 more in Canada, according to a CNN Money article. The problem stems from an improperly installed quick release lever on the front tire, which has the tendency to over rotate and get caught in the disc brakes, potentially hurling riders over the handlebars.

The lever has caused three bicycle accidents thus far, and sadly resulted in the paralysis of one rider.

It was after hearing of this accident that Trek announced the recall, wanting to inform other riders of the potential danger. The company claims that it was unaware of the issue until recently.

The recall covers all bike models with the defective lever and disc brakes manufactured between the years of 2000 and 2015. Trek is offering owners free installation of a new quick release lever, in addition to a gift card for $20 of merchandise.

Bicycle manufacturing companies have a responsibility to ensure their products are safe before releasing them to consumers. If you or someone you love has been injured in a bike accident caused by a defective product, a product liability lawyer of Ritter & Associates may be able to help you seek compensation for your suffering. Call us today at (619) 296-0123 to begin taking action.