Fiery fatal car crash claims one life
by Benjamin Treviño | August 2nd, 2024 | Auto Accident, Fatal Crash
A fiery crash east of Edinburg claimed the life of an elderly man whose body, according to Texas DPS investigators, was left “burned beyond recognition.”
According to a DPS news release, the crash happened July 29 at about 5:43 p.m. on Depot Road, north of Mile 17 1⁄2 Road.
DPS said its preliminary investigation revealed a maroon Ford F-150 that was occupied by one male driver was traveling northbound on Depot Road, while a red Toyota FJ Cruiser occupied by one female driver was traveling southbound on the same road.
“For unknown reasons, the driver of the Ford veered onto the southbound lane of Depot Road and collided with the Toyota,” the release stated. The DPS report also stated that the truck burst into flames with the driver pinned inside.
DPS later identified the victim as 79-year-old Jose Luis Loredo of McAllen. Loredo died at the scene, but it was not immediately clear whether he was killed by the impact of the collision or by the ensuing fire.
Meanwhile, the driver of the Toyota was transported to Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg with non-life threatening injuries, according to DPS.
DPS was still investigating the fatal crash as of this writing.
Vehicle fire frequency
The U.S. Fire Administration estimates that fewer than one percent of car fires are due to design flaws. Safety laws have nearly eliminated manufacturing defects in automobiles and their component parts. However, defective vehicles and defective vehicle parts can still slip by on rare occasions, and they can remain hidden until there’s a catastrophic accident.
Sources of vehicle fires
Some of the most common types of vehicle defects that can lead to fires include, but are not limited to:
· Defective airbag detonators
· Defects in a vehicle’s gas tank or fuel-delivery system
· Electrical system defects
· Faulty batteries or components
· Leaky hoses that drip or spray flammable liquids like engine oil, power steering fluid, or brake fluid
Common consequences of vehicle fires
In addition to burns, other vehicle fire injuries can include:
· Eye injuries from smoke or flames
· Lung damage from breathing toxic fumes
· Wrongful death
Who is liable for a vehicle fire caused by a defect?
The step in determining liability is to establish how the fire started. If the cause is determined to be a vehicle defect, liability could fall with the designer, the manufacturer, or even the dealership that sold the vehicle. Further investigation would be needed.
If the fire was caused by a defective part, liability might fall on the company that assembled the part. If the part was not defective, but it was installed improperly, then the assembly plant might shoulder the blame.
J. Gonzalez can help build your case
If you were injured in a vehicle fire or if an immediate family member was killed in a vehicle fire, you will likely be unsure if you have a personal injury or wrongful death claim. You will need professional help to determine if you were victimized by some sort of vehicle defect.
The personal injury lawyers at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm can sit down with you free of charge to answer your questions and provide the legal guidance you need to make informed decisions about the direction of your case.
The J. Gonzalez Law Firm operates on a contingency basis, meaning if we take your case, you will not have to pay anything unless we win the legal settlement you deserve.
Contact us today via this website, or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH. Let us explain how we can help you move forward confidence.
