Edinburg man dies in New Year’s Eve crash
by Benjamin Treviño | January 2nd, 2025 | Auto Accident, Blog
A 22-year-old Edinburg man died on New Year’s Eve after crossing into the wrong lane and crashing head-on with a truck. According to a City of Edinburg news release, the crash happened in the 1800 block of East Monte Cristo Rd. shortly after 9:00 p.m. on December 31.
The preliminary report indicates that a black Nissan Rogue driven by Juan Enrique Rios was traveling west before veering into the eastbound lanes, crashing head-on with a white Ford F-150.
Rios sustained major injuries and died at the hospital. The driver of the F-150 sustained minor injuries.
The crash was still under investigation at this writing.
Death of a personal injury defendant
The personal injury claim process doesn’t stop if the at-fault driver dies. The deceased defendant’s automobile insurance must still defend the claim. If the insurance company refuses to offer a just settlement, it would be necessary to go to court. The plaintiff may still be entitled to damages, but he/she would have to prove that the deceased driver was at fault for the car accident.
Building a case
Building a strong case on the plaintiff’s behalf requires supporting evidence. This can include items such as:
- Photographs documenting both vehicle damage and physical injuries
- Official documentation from law enforcement and crash investigators
- Medical documentation and treatment invoices
- Testimony from people who witnessed the incident
- Testimony of experts (when necessary)
As with any personal injury case, it’s important to collect evidence promptly. If possible, take photos and videos at the accident scene using your phone, gather witness contact information, and file a police report.
Your personal injury attorney may be able to file claim or lawsuit against the estate of the deceased driver. Legally speaking, the case will proceed as if the at fault driver was still alive. However, a personal representative or special administrator will be appointed to accept service on behalf of the deceased driver.
Uninsured driver
If the deceased driver was uninsured, you may still have options through your uninsured motorist coverage. Texas has minimum coverage requirements of $30,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in one accident and $60,000 for bodily injury to or death of all people in the vehicle.
Contact J. Gonzalez
The J. Gonzalez Law Firm strongly recommends beginning your claim as soon as possible–evidence can disappear, memories can fade, and waiting only makes building a strong case more challenging.
Our expert team of personal injury attorneys specialize in helping people with complicated claims. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact us via this website or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH. We have bilingual attorneys on staff to help you fully understand all your legal rights. Do it today before time runs out.
Source: https://myrgv.com/local-news/2025/01/01/edinburg-man-dies-in-crash-on-new-years-eve/
