Tori Spelling Sues Benihana For Burn Injuries From Falling On Hibachi Grill

“Beverly Hills 90210” and reality television star Tori Spelling has filed a personal injury lawsuit Benihana after sustaining burn injuries at the popular hibachi restaurant.

According to a report on People.com, Spelling is claiming that she suffered wage loss, medical expenses and loss of earning capacity after she slipped and fell on a hibachi grill at the restaurant in Encino, California, last Easter.

The lawsuit states that Spelling, 42, suffered “deep second- and third-degree burn injuries requiring hospitalization and surgery.”

She is seeking unspecified damages. A source told People in April that Spelling hadn’t even started to eat when she slipped and fell. She then grabbed onto the side of a hot grill and burned her arm.

The source said at the time she suffered the injury, “it didn’t seem as bad as the doctors told her it was the next day.” Spelling was dining with her husband, four children and extended family.

Understanding Burn Injuries

Burn injuries are usually characterized by severe skin damage in which many of the affected cells die. Depending on the nature and extent of the burn injuries, most people can recover from them without serious health consequences.

There are three primary types of burns: first-, second-, and third-degree.

Each degree is based on the severity of damage to the skin with first degree being the most minor and third being the most severe.

With first-degree burns, the skin becomes red. Second-degree burns cause blisters and thickening of the skin while third-degree burns cause the skin to become thick with a white, leathery appearance.

The skin could suffer even more damage when burns extend beyond the skin into tendons and bones.

Liability Issues

When you suffer a burn injury on someone else’s property due to the property owner or manager’s negligence, you can seek compensation for the injuries, damages and losses sustained.

Property owners and managers have a legal obligation to ensure that their premises are safe for visitors and guests. A restaurant, for example, has the responsibility to ensure that it is reasonably safe for all visitors including children.

Injured victims can file a premises liability claim against responsible parties seeking compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries such as scarring and disfigurement and pain and suffering.

An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise injured victims and their families regarding their legal rights and options.