Ryan Radabaugh Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Stepping Stone Resources After Fatal Fallbrook Parking Lot Incident

The family of Ryan Edward Radabaugh, 53, has filed a wrongful death and dependent adult neglect lawsuit after Radabaugh was struck and killed in the parking lot of Stepping Stone Resources, an adult care facility in Fallbrook, California.

The lawsuit alleges that Stepping Stone Resources and the driver involved in the July 2026 incident failed to provide adequate safety and supervision for Radabaugh. He had severe autism and, according to the family’s allegations, a known habit of lying on the ground to self-soothe.

The defendants have not been found liable. The case is at an early stage, and the allegations in the complaint are allegations unless a court establishes them. There is no settlement, claim form or public compensation program.

Quick Facts: Ryan Radabaugh Fallbrook Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Detail	Information
Decedent	Ryan Edward Radabaugh, 53, of Oceanside
Incident	Struck by a vehicle in the parking lot of Stepping Stone Resources, Fallbrook
Date of incident	July 23, 2026
Plaintiffs	Radabaugh’s surviving family members
Defendants	Stepping Stone Resources and the driver, identified in reporting as Bryan Rodriguez
Claims reported	Wrongful death and dependent adult neglect
Court	Superior Court of California, County of San Diego
Case number	Not yet confirmed from the court record
Damages sought	Not publicly disclosed
Lawsuit announced	September 29, 2026
Status	Newly filed; active litigation
Public claim form	None
Class action	No. This is an individual family lawsuit

The San Diego Superior Court says its online case search shows a civil case’s title, case number, filing date and parties, and that its Register of Actions shows filing and scheduling information. Filed documents are not always viewable online. The exact case caption, case number, causes of action and damages demand should be confirmed from the court record.

What Does the Ryan Radabaugh Lawsuit Allege About Stepping Stone Resources?

The family alleges Stepping Stone Resources failed to properly supervise and protect Radabaugh while he was receiving services there. According to the allegations reported when the lawsuit was announced, Radabaugh had severe autism and a documented behavior of lying on the ground to self-soothe. The family’s attorneys allege that staff knew about this behavior and that he had previously been seen lying in the facility’s recreation area and parking lot.

The lawsuit reportedly also points to an earlier safety complaint involving another person at the facility. California Department of Social Services records reportedly showed an allegation that staff failed to adequately supervise a client in care. That allegation was classified as unsubstantiated, which means the evidence did not establish it under the applicable standard. It is not a finding that the event definitely did not happen. The earlier matter is separate from the new wrongful death allegations.

What Happened to Ryan Radabaugh at the Fallbrook Care Facility?

Radabaugh, a 53-year-old Oceanside resident, attended Stepping Stone Resources, a facility serving adults with special needs. On July 23, 2026, he was lying in the facility’s parking lot when a vehicle struck him.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner identified him and reported that he died at 9:45 a.m. at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido from blunt-force trauma. The medical examiner classified the manner of death as an accident.

The California Highway Patrol reported that a white Honda Odyssey was traveling about 5 to 6 mph when it struck Radabaugh. The driver reportedly told investigators he did not see Radabaugh lying in the parking lot.

Those facts describe the traffic incident. By themselves, they do not establish whether Stepping Stone Resources or the driver is legally responsible. The civil lawsuit will address that.

What Must Ryan Radabaugh’s Family Prove in a California Wrongful Death Case?

California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 sets out who may bring a wrongful death action, including certain surviving relatives and a decedent’s personal representative, when a death is caused by another person’s wrongful act or neglect.

General background, not a description of this complaint: In a negligence-based wrongful death case, plaintiffs generally must show the defendant owed a duty of care, breached it, and that the breach caused the death. Eligible survivors can seek economic damages, such as funeral costs, and non-economic damages, such as loss of companionship and support.

In the Radabaugh case, evidence that could matter includes:

• what supervision Stepping Stone Resources was required to provide
• what staff knew about Radabaugh’s behavior
• whether the facility had safety procedures for people entering or lying in the parking area
• what the driver could see before entering the area
• whether the driver acted negligently
• whether any negligence caused or contributed to Radabaugh’s death
• what damages the eligible survivors suffered

The precise claims should come from the filed complaint.

What Happens Next in the Ryan Radabaugh Lawsuit Against Stepping Stone Resources?

Expect the ordinary stages of a civil case:

1. Service and response. The defendants are served and respond to the complaint, and may dispute liability, causation or damages.
2. Discovery. The parties exchange documents and evidence, such as facility records, training materials, incident reports and witness testimony.
3. Settlement or mediation. The parties can negotiate at any time.
4. Trial. If the case is not resolved, the plaintiffs would have to prove their claims to a jury or judge.

No settlement, judgment or court finding has been verified that Stepping Stone Resources or the driver unlawfully caused Radabaugh’s death.

Is There a Claim Form in the Ryan Radabaugh Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

No. This is an individual lawsuit, not a class action or public settlement program. No claim form exists for other people to receive compensation. Readers who weren’t part of the incident do not become plaintiffs by reading about the case.

For background on how these cases generally work, see What Is A Wrongful Death Lawsuit? Everything Families Need To Know.

Key Dates in the Ryan Radabaugh Fallbrook Case

Date	Event
July 23, 2026	Radabaugh struck in the Stepping Stone Resources parking lot in Fallbrook
July 23, 2026	Radabaugh dies at Palomar Medical Center
August 2026	San Diego County Medical Examiner identifies Radabaugh (per local reporting)
September 29, 2026	Wrongful death lawsuit announced
Current	Active, newly filed litigation
Trial date	Not announced
Public claim deadline	None

Frequently Asked Questions About the Ryan Radabaugh Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Is the Ryan Radabaugh lawsuit a class action?

No. It is an individual wrongful death and dependent adult neglect lawsuit brought by Radabaugh’s family. There is no indication of class allegations.

Who is being sued in the Ryan Radabaugh Fallbrook case?

Stepping Stone Resources and the driver involved in the collision. Public reporting identifies the driver as Bryan Rodriguez. Check the filed complaint for the exact caption and party names.

What happened to Ryan Radabaugh at Stepping Stone Resources?

He was lying in the parking lot when a vehicle traveling about 5 to 6 mph struck him. He was taken to Palomar Medical Center and died from blunt-force trauma. The San Diego County Medical Examiner classified the death as an accident.

Did a court find that Stepping Stone Resources caused Ryan Radabaugh’s death?

No. No court has made that finding. The medical examiner classified the manner of death as an accident, while the civil lawsuit alleges wrongdoing by the facility and driver. Liability is unresolved.

Was Stepping Stone Resources investigated before for inadequate supervision?

Reporting says California Department of Social Services records showed an earlier allegation that staff failed to adequately supervise a client, and that it was classified as unsubstantiated. That earlier matter does not establish liability in this lawsuit.

How much money is Ryan Radabaugh’s family seeking?

The amount has not been publicly disclosed. The family is seeking damages, but no verified figure is available.

Is there a Ryan Radabaugh settlement?

No settlement has been verified.

Can other families file a claim through the Ryan Radabaugh lawsuit?

No. The lawsuit concerns the Radabaugh family’s claims over Ryan Radabaugh’s death. It does not create a compensation program for others.

Bottom Line on the Ryan Radabaugh Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Ryan Radabaugh’s family has sued Stepping Stone Resources and the driver involved after he was struck and killed in a Fallbrook parking lot on July 23, 2026. The family alleges inadequate supervision and dependent adult neglect. The medical examiner classified the death as an accident, and no court has found anyone liable. The case is newly filed, with no settlement or claim form. The next thing to watch is the public court record with the case number, parties and causes of action.

Important: This article is general information, not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is not a law firm. Allegations in a lawsuit are claims by the plaintiffs and have not been established by a court.

Sources

1. San Diego Superior Court, Online Case Search
2. San Diego Superior Court, Register of Actions FAQ
3. Medical Examiner identifies victim killed in parking lot accident (Village News, August 6, 2026)
4. Man dies after being run over at Fallbrook special needs facility (NBC 7 San Diego)
5. California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts checked against the San Diego Superior Court’s public records information, local news reporting on the medical examiner and CHP findings and the California Code of Civil Procedure, as of September 30, 2026. The complaint itself was not reviewed. Last Updated: September 30, 2026.