MCALLEN — A May 8 crash in McAllen left one man dead and caused a power outage.
According to McAllen police, the one-vehicle crash happened around 3:00 a.m. in the 4100 block of north Bicentennial Boulevard. They say the victim was driving south on Bicentennial when his vehicle left the street for unknown reason. The vehicle collided with a cinder block wall, a parked vehicle, before coming to a stop when it struck a light pole, according to police.
The victim, identified as 21-year-old Dominik Alvarado of Hidalgo, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police added that a 21-year-old passenger was injured and transported to an area hospital.
The crash also caused a temporary power outage to about 1,000 AEP customers in the area.
Personal injury cases when at-fault driver dies
Fault in the above accident has not been established. Generally speaking, claims for compensation come down to whether someone else’s negligence directly resulted in your damages. In most states, including those with no-fault insurance systems, the at-fault party’s death does not affect a claim for compensation.
Filing a claim against a deceased at-fault driver
If the decedent’s insurance company fails to meet a compensation claim despite having sufficient evidence to prove liability, the victim may have to file a lawsuit against the deceased driver’s estate. This can complicate matters, but the liability insurance company would still defend the case and be responsible for paying the victim’s damages (as long as there is adequate insurance coverage).
Deceased driver’s family
Injury victims sometimes hesitate to file a claim or a lawsuit against an estate, especially if they know or are related to the at-fault driver’s family. However, it’s essential to understand the focus is on insurance company throughout the process, even if a lawsuit is filed It is not with the deceased driver’s family or loved ones.
J. Gonzalez is ready to help
The personal injury attorneys at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm are ready to guide you through the legal process of pursuing the compensation you need, even if the at-fault driver died in the crash.
The consultation is free, and J. Gonzalez works on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no fees unless we win your case. Call us today at 1-800-CAR-CRASH, or contact us via this website.
