HIDALGO COUNTY – A 37-year-old Donna man who allegedly caused a fatal crash while fleeing police has pleaded not guilty to charges contained in a six-count indictment.
Jose Guadalupe Padilla, who was indicted on October 31, 2023, is charged with:
- Murder
- Evading arrest causing serious bodily injury
- Evading arrest or detention causing death
- Intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle
- Intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury, and
- Driving while intoxicated.
Padilla was arraigned on Monday, December 25.
The charges stem from an August 21, 2023 crash at the intersection of Victoria Road and U.S. Business 83 that killed Erick Alberto Juarez and injured Martha Valencia. Padilla was allegedly fleeing from police after a Weslaco resident reported that Padilla was knocking on his window “holding an unknown object in his hand.”
Padilla remains incarcerated in the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center pending trial.
Personal injury cases connected to criminal cases
If a defendant is arrested on a criminal charge related to a crash in which you were hurt, you may wonder how that might impact a corresponding injury case. In this situation, you will definitely want to work with an experienced personal injury attorney who can explain the complexities of your case.
Can I bring a civil case If there’s a criminal case?
A pending criminal case does not prevent a victim from bringing a personal injury case. The civil and criminal proceedings can proceed independently.
Criminal cases usually resolve sooner than the civil personal injury case, and if the defendant makes statements in the criminal matter, you can possible use the testimony to your advantage in the civil case.
The criminal suspect might not be the only liable party
In the above-mentioned news story, it might initially appear that the defendant bears all the blame for the fatal accident, but other parties might be at fault as well.
Police officers might be partly to blame if they violated department policy on vehicle pursuits. If traffic lights or signage were not present or malfunctioned, the governing road authority might share blame. If the brakes on the victim’s vehicle did not function properly, the manufacturer might also face liability. In short, there are many things to be considered.
Call the J. Gonzalez Law Firm
If you’re hurt in a personal injury accident that also involves a criminal matter, it’s important not to assume that a criminal matter will successfully resolve the case. An experienced personal injury attorney like the ones at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm can help you evaluate your case to determine how a criminal matter might impact your personal injury claim.
You can get started by contacting us today via this website, or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH.
Source: https://myrgv.com/local-news/2023/12/14/donna-man-who-caused-fatal-crash-during-pursuit-indicted-arraigned/?fbclid=IwAR2CgtPbq5hyy7fFhbN2Yi4HFR5tzSV73SQn7L7VkUNQLQS3EzUCt3_7QGs#google_vignette
