STARR COUNTY — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reports one man died in a February 27 crash north of Rio Grande City. According to a DPS news release, the accident happened about 2:00 p.m. on Farm Road 755 at Embassy Rd.

The preliminary report states a 2011 GMC Sierra was travelling north on FM 755 when the driver rear-ended a flatbed trailer being towed by another vehicle.

“The driver of the GMC was distracted prior to the crash,” the release states, but it provided no other details.

A passenger in the GMC, identified as 34-year-old Michael Villanueva of Rio Grande City, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the GMC was transported to a local hospital for their injuries. There was no report of anyone in the other vehicle being injured.

The case remained under investigation at this writing.

Driver Responsibility

Drivers take on certain responsibilities when they choose to get behind the wheel of an automobile. In fact, Texas law requires drivers to drive with reasonable care to avoid injuring their passengers and others. Any driver who does not act with reasonable care could be found to be negligent, and held legally and financially responsible for any injuries they cause as a result of an accident.

One of the responsibilities placed on Texas drivers is the duty to maintain a “proper lookout.” This is a term used to describe a driver’s responsibility to intelligently and carefully observe the road, other motorists, and their surroundings while driving. In short, every driver has a duty to take reasonable steps to avoid car accidents.

Other driver duties include:

• Adjusting vehicle speed based on road and weather conditions
• Keeping their vehicle in safe working order
• Maintaining current state inspection
• Maintaining control of their vehicle
• Avoiding unnecessary distractions

Call Attorney J. Gonzalez

If you have been injured in a car accident and you believe it was caused by a negligent driver, you should get expert legal advice from a qualified Texas personal injury attorney like J. Gonzalez and his team of personal injury lawyers.

The J. Gonzalez Law Firm offers a free initial consultation, and if you partner with his team to represent your case, you pay nothing until you get the settlement you are legally entitled to. Call J. Gonzalez today at 1-800-CAR-CRASH.

Source: https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/dps-1-dead-1-hospitalized-after-rio-grande-city-crash/

PHARR — One man is dead following a February 20 auto-pedestrian accident in Pharr.

According to Pharr police, the accident happened about 7:30 p.m. in the 5800 block of S. Cage Blvd. The victim, who is said to have died less than an hour after being struck, was described as a 54-year-old man, but his name was not immediately released.

Police say he was struck by a maroon Nissan Roque, and that the driver of the car stopped to render aid, and remained at the location until police arrived. Details about how the incident occurred had not been released as of this writing.

The investigation is ongoing.

Many pedestrian accidents can be prevented if the driver and/or the pedestrian pay closer attention to their surroundings. The injury attorneys at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm urge everyone to learn a few pedestrian safety skills in order to reduce the risk of auto-pedestrian accident fatalities and injuries.

Choosing where to walk

Sidewalks are always the best option. However, if no sidewalk is available, pedestrians should walk facing oncoming traffic, and as far off the shoulder as possible.

Finding a place to cross

A dedicated crosswalk is always best. Cross where you can see cars coming from both directions. Never cross where there is a bend in the road.

Cell phones and headphones

One of the largest contributing factors to increased pedestrian injuries is the distraction caused by the use of hand-held electronics. According to a USA Today survey, pedestrian cell phone-related injuries have more than doubled since 2005. The group most at risk is young people between the ages of 16 to 25. Avoid using these devices, or take extra care to maintain awareness of your surroundings.

Look in all directions

At intersections with a crossing signal, wait until the walk light appears, and then look in all four directions before crossing. Children should wait until cars have come to a complete stop, even if the walk signal and/or the “chirping” signals are on.

Never assume drivers can see you

Assume the opposite. This especially applies at night, in rainy conditions, and on poorly-illuminated country roads. 68% of pedestrian accidents occur at night! Wear light-colored reflective clothing, and carrying a flashlight.

Contact the J. Gonzalez Law Firm

If you or a loved one is hurt in an auto-pedestrian accident and you believe the driver was at fault, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The consultation is free, and you only pay if we win your case. Call us today at 1-800-CAR CRASH.

Source: https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/pharr-pd-man-dies-after-being-struck-by-car/

EDINBURG – An apparent single-vehicle accident has claimed the life of an Edinburg teenager. According to Edinburg Police, 19-year-old Ruben Zepeda III died in a hospital February 17 due to injuries he sustained in a car crash two days earlier.

Zepeda was taken to the hospital on February 15 following an accident that occurred about 9:00 p.m. on North I-69C at Ramseyer Rd.

According to a city news release, Edinburg police responded to the crash and found Zepeda inside his crashed vehicle, and that no other vehicles appeared to have been involved. The report stated that Zepeda had sustained a “serious injury.” He was initially reported in stable condition, but died two days later.

Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.

Who is liable for a single-vehicle accident?

Single-vehicle accidents are often assumed to be the fault of the driver, but in reality, one-car crashes can result from other factors, such as poor road maintenance, owner negligence, maintenance company negligence, or manufacturer negligence.

A driver is liable for a single-vehicle accident only when their actions are the “proximate cause” of a crash. Proximate cause means their actions were the leading cause of the crash. An example would be a driver who is speeding or simply driving too fast under adverse road or weather conditions.

Other causes

Single-vehicle crashes can be caused by other factors. Another driver may have pulled out in front of the crash victim and then left the scene of the accident. A manufacturing defect may have cause the vehicle to malfunction and crash. A defective tire could also lead to crash. A government entity may have failed to fix a hazardous road condition in a timely manner, and the hazard may have caused the accident.

Seek legal help

Any of the above parties may be liable if their negligence was the proximate cause of the crash. Determining who is liable for a single-vehicle accident is not always easy, especially if the victim dies as a result of the crash and there is no one who witnessed the accident.

By definition, a single-car accident involves just one vehicle; however, this does not always translate to just one party being liable for the accident.  For this reason, if you have been injured you should consult the personal injury attorneys at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm as soon as possible. They can review the accident investigation and determine if the case should be examined more closely.

Call us at 1-800-CAR-CRASH for a free consultation to make sure your rights are protected.

Source: https://myrgv.com/alerts-mcm/2024/02/17/19-year-old-in-major-edinburg-crash-dies-from-injuries/?fbclid=IwAR2tEdAzSx6ZgBW-EVVHcKWfnMBrffNLdfyFn7I_m3Z9zdItLn2UnifkpRY

BROWNSVILLE — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reports a Brownsville man was killed in a motorcycle crash on January 29.

A DPS news release said the accident happened around 12:22 a.m. on FM 1732 east of New Carmen Avenue in Brownsville. A preliminary investigation revealed a black/gray 2024 Suzuki motorcycle, operated by a male rider, was traveling east on FM 1732 when it veered off the roadway and struck a utility pole.

The rider, identified as 39-year-old Juan Pablo Oropeza Bellavia, died from his injuries at the scene.

What is the average settlement in a motorcycle accident?

Many people wonder how much compensation they’re likely to get after a motorcycle accident, but because every accident is different, it’s impossible to arrive at an “average” settlement amount. Even if there were possible, it wouldn’t be useful for determining how much a particular person might receive. A Biker who suffered a broken arm and was able to continue working is more likely to have a smaller settlement that one who suffered a traumatic brain injury and had to stop working for months. It all depends on the circumstances.

According to a report for the organization Jury Verdict Research, the median motorcycle injury verdict between 1999 and 2006 was $73,700. The average award for the same period was $561,065. These figures do little more than indicate the wide range of awards.

Contact the J. Gonzalez Law Firm

The personal injury attorneys at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm will take the time to investigate the facts of your case and gather supporting evidence. We will review police reports, speak to witnesses, and examine the accident scene. We will also help you collect medical documentation to prove your injuries and treatment as well as help estimate the bills and costs you’ll have going forward.

When you’re still reeling from an accident it can be hard to focus on all that you need to know to fight for fair compensation. J. Gonzalez can take that burden off your shoulders. Contact us through this website, or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH to find out if we can help you get the compensation you legally deserve.

Source: https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/brownsville-man-dies-in-motorcycle-accident/

A car crashed into an Austin hospital emergency room February 13, leaving the driver dead and 11 people inside the hospital injured. Police say the crash happened about 5:30 p.m. at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center.

Surveillance videos showed the car crashing through the emergency room’s glass doorway striking some patients inside as others ran off in panic.

The driver, 57-year-old Michelle Holloway, was extricated from the crashed vehicle, and was given CPR, but she died at the scene, according to Thayer Smith of the Austin Fire Department.

Four victims were transported to other hospitals, including an adult and a child who were in critical condition. One patient was admitted to St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, where the crash occurred. Officials did not give details on their conditions.

Austin-Travis County EMS reported that the remaining six crash victims did not have life-threatening injuries.

Two days after the crash, investigators had still not determined what caused Holloway to crash into the building.

Safety barriers and building crashes

According to the Storefront Safety Council (SSC), at least 60 cars crash into storefronts, restaurants, and other buildings every day in the United States. SSC also says more than 4,000 people are injured and 500 people are killed each year from storefront car crashes.

While many buildings have safety barriers in front of them to prevent these types of crashes, regulations on the barriers are virtually nonexistent. On top of that, there are no federal requirements for stores to have protective barriers in front of their buildings.

28% of building crashes are caused by driver error, with another 28% caused by vehicle malfunctions. Speeding was another factor in these crashes, according to the NTSB.

Modern safety barriers can help prevent car crashes from happening and may protect innocent bystanders from being injured or killed, but it’s important to note that just because a building has no crash barriers in front of it, that doesn’t mean the owner is negligent or liable when a car crashes into it and injures someone. Every case has its own factual circumstances.

Get expert legal advice

If you or someone you know has been injured by an automobile crashing into a building, call the J. Gonzalez law firm. Our team of personal injury attorneys can investigate the facts of your case to determine the best course of action FOR YOU. The initial consultation is free, so call us today at 1-800-CAR-CRASH.

Source: https://www.krgv.com/news/1-person-killed-and-10-injured-when-vehicle-crashes-into-emergency-room-in-austin?fbclid=IwAR3LfiTEj8WkomTDk8IN8d8KTFlkas0t22jecj6hcCSYKnMEToFjvdIslNY

HIDALGO COUNTY — A 57-year-old Weslaco woman is dead after running a stop sign January 25, and crashing into another vehicle. The crash happened at 12:45 p.m.

According to a DPS news release, Josefina Herrera Castillo was driving a brown 2005 Chrysler Town & Country van westward on Chuparosa Street. The report states that Castillo failed to heed a stop sign the intersection of FM 1015 and her vehicle hit a black 2014 GMC Sierra traveling north on FM 1015.

Castillo died at the scene. Her unidentified male passenger was taken to South Texas Health System McAllen where he was listed in critical condition as of this report. The unidentified driver of the other vehicle was transported to Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen for injuries that were described as “not life-threatening.”

The DPS investigation was ongoing as of this writing.

Passenger injuries

Passengers can suffer severe injuries in a collision. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), more than 600 passengers sustained fatal injuries in car accidents in 2020. Passenger injuries can vary depending on where they are seated, and the severity of the crash.

If you were a passenger in a car accident, you should not assume your injuries are minor. You should see a doctor immediately after the accident even if you feel okay. Some injuries can worsen over time.

If you are taken to an emergency room for initial treatment, you are urged to follow up with your primary care physician. You may require ongoing treatment, and the sooner you begin your treatment plan, the better.

The last thing you want is to give an insurance adjuster a reason to undervalue or deny your claim. If you forgo treatment, they might even try to claim that you contributed to your injuries.

Texas lawsuit deadline

Texas law generally allows you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. The same timeline applies if you are filing a wrongful death lawsuit. If you do not file your lawsuit in time, the court could dismiss your case. You could lose your last chance to hold a party liable for your losses.

Discuss your case with J. Gonzalez

The personal injury attorneys at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm can help you understand and weigh all your options if you suffered injuries as a passenger in a car accident. We can investigate your case and fight for the full award you deserve. Even if the driver is killed in the crash, you may be able to pursue a claim against the deceased person’s estate.

The expert team at J. Gonzalez Law Firm will investigate your accident, and gather the evidence you’ll need. We can begin with an insurance claim, and settlement negotiations, and if necessary, we will take your case to court.

Contact us today via this website, or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH. The initial consultation is free, and you won’t pay anything unless we recover the damages you legally deserve.

Source: https://www.valleycentral.com/news/dps-1-killed-2-hospitalized-in-two-vehicle-crash-near-weslaco/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=socialflow&fbclid=IwAR1t06ZyWYW23B738cZlJ0Vw9wWDRjI8rjuv-md0sAegxupp4FUHLsyH_1A

Officials are urging residents in the Starr County town of La Gloria to avoid drinking well water after a tanker truck crashed and spilled a substantial amount of diesel fuel. The truck’s driver was killed in the one-vehicle accident.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a fuel truck driven by 36-year-old Juan Carlos Mendoza Jr. of Donna was traveling west on FM 1017 when it disregarded a stop sign at the road’s T-intersection with FM 755.

DPS Sgt. Maria Hernandez said the vehicle proceeded through the intersection, struck a fence and a tree, which prevented the truck from hitting an occupied home. Mendoza, however, died at the scene from his injuries, according to Hernandez. The crash happened about midnight on the morning of January 24.

The Texas Department of Transportation has stated that the fuel truck’s tank spilled nearly 4,000 gallons of diesel, and a hazmat crew was dispatched to the scene. La Gloria is located about 31 miles north of Rio Grande City.

The fuel spill prompted the Starr County Emergency Management Office to issue a well water warning to residents living in the area. The emergency notice urged residents not to consume water from their “natural resources” until further notice. The warning was still in effect as of this writing.

Water contamination lawsuits

A water contamination lawsuit begins with an investigation. What contaminants are involved? When did they enter the water supply? What effect have they had on you?

The next step is to identify the liable parties. Plaintiffs may be able to sue a retail business, a trucking company, or any government agencies responsible for overseeing such entities.

In order to achieve the above steps, plaintiffs will need the expertise of a qualified law firm who can then build a case on their behalf.

Financial recovery

Plaintiffs must initiate a case within two years of when an injury occurred, according to Texas law. Plaintiffs could get financial recovery in different ways:

· Accept a settlement offer from the liable party’s insurance company

· Negotiate a settlement from the liable party’s insurance company

· Take the liable party to court and persuading a jury to award financial recovery

Contact J. Gonzalez

The J. Gonzalez Law Firm is dedicated to making Texas a safer place for everyone, by standing up for Texans who have been wronged by a personal injury. If you are considering filing a water contamination

lawsuit, we want to listen to your story. For a free case evaluation, contact our office today via this website, or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH. We are anxious to let you know what our attorneys can do for you.

Source: https://www.krgv.com/news/starr-county-residents-urged-to-avoid-drinking-water-after-semitrailer-crash-spills-diesel

WILLACY COUNTY – A 61-year-old Mission man died January 23 in a single-vehicle semi crash in Willacy County.

The Texas Department of Public Safety stated via news release that the crash happened at 5:22 a.m. on U.S. 77 north of FM 1017.

The driver of the SAIA Motor Freight Line truck, Alejandro Del Bosque Jr., was traveling south when he lost control of his rig for unknown reasons, and the vehicle plummeted from the overpass.

Del Bosque died at the scene. DPS was investigating the cause of the crash as of this writing.

Who is liable for a single-vehicle accident?

Many people assume that a single-vehicle accident is always the fault of the driver. While that may be the case in many one-vehicle crashes, it is only an assumption, as there could be other people, or entities, that may have caused or contributed to the accident.

Another driver could be found liable if their reckless actions or traffic law violation caused another vehicle to crash.

A trucking company could be held liable if unsecured cargo falls from one of its trucks and either hits another vehicle or causes another driver to lose control and crash. It could also be held liable if the vehicle the victim was driving was faulty in some way.

A government agency could be blamed for an accident if it failed to correct a hazardous condition, such as replacing a missing warning sign.

It’s also possible that no one was at fault, such as in accidents that occur as a result of hitting a deer, and accidents caused by bad weather.

Proving any of the above scenarios can be difficult, especially cases in which the crash victim dies, and there were no witnesses to the crash.

J. Gonzalez is your best ally

Because there are so many factors at play in dealing with a single-vehicle accident, we recommend you contact the J. Gonzalez Law Firm. Our team of professional personal injury attorneys can help investigate the accident, navigate the insurance claim, or file a lawsuit in court if it becomes necessary.

Family members whose loved has died in a one-vehicle accident can contact us via this website, or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH. The consultation is free, and you pay no money unless J. Gonzalez gets you the compensation you deserve.

Source: https://myrgv.com/local-news/2024/01/23/mission-man-killed-after-losing-control-of-semi-falls-from-overpass-in-willacy-county/#google_vignette

A Mission man died in the hospital January 13 after being struck by a vehicle while he was riding his motorcycle in Palmview the night before.

The victim is identified as 24 year old Isaiah Angelo Torres of Mission. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Torres was riding his black Yamaha motorcycle north on La Homa Road at around 10:22 p.m. January 12 when a red Chevrolet Cruze crashed into the bike.

Torres was approaching the Chevy in the left lane at the time. The Chevy, which was occupied by a male driver and passenger, was also heading northbound on the center turning lane of La Homa Road and was nearing West Mile 4 Road when it tried to make an “unsafe” right turn onto a private drive east of La Homa.

“The driver of the Chevrolet then turned into the left lane and collided with the Yamaha,” DPS said in the release.

The Chevy’s occupants were transported to Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen with non-life-threatening injuries while Torres was airlifted to DHR Health in Edinburg for surgery.

He had been in critical but stable condition until Saturday, when he was pronounced dead at the hospital, according to DPS.

Troopers said they are continuing their investigation.

Do I have a legal claim if the at-fault driver is not cited?

A traffic citation can be strong evidence that the other driver’s negligence caused your accident, but it is not the only evidence that can show fault. Injured parties can still pursue a personal injury claim to cover the cost of damages even if the other driver was not cited after the accident.

A traffic ticket is just one example of direct evidence of fault. Other forms of direct evidence include the at-fault driver’s statement admitting he or she caused the accident, or one of the at-fault driver’s passengers admitting that the driver was speeding or recklessly operating their motor vehicle.

If there is no direct evidence of fault in your particular case, an astute personal injury attorney may be able to find circumstantial evidence to show negligence or recklessness. Examples of this include:

• The position of the vehicles at the time of the accident
• Traffic conditions
• Damage patterns on the vehicles
• Damage to other property
• Weather and time of day
• Skid marks
• Witness statements
• Photographs
• Impairment due to alcohol or drugs

Contact J. Gonzalez

The personal injury attorneys at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm are experts at poring through traffic accident evidence. Quite often they are able to find and consolidate small pieces of circumstantial evidence to build a solid case against the at-fault driver.

If you have been injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation even if the other driver was not issued a citation in the crash. For more information about whether you have a personal injury claim, contact the J. Gonzalez Law Firm today via this website, or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH.

Your initial consultation is free, and we don’t charge attorney’s fee unless we win your case!

Source: https://myrgv.com/local-news/2024/01/14/mission-motorcyclist-24-dies-in-hospital-after-being-struck-by-car/

LOS FRESNOS — A man who was riding his bicycle is in critical condition after being hit by a car January 10 in Los Fresnos.

According to a Los Fresnos Police Department news release, the man was riding north on FM 803 when he was struck by an SUV shortly before 6:00 p.m. The collision happened in front of the Los Fresnos United 9^th and 10^th Grade Campus, according to police.

The statement indicated that the driver of the SUV did stop to render aid. The cyclist was transported to a local hospital, and at last report he was in critical condition. The names of the victim and the driver had not been released as of this writing.

The investigation was still ongoing at the time of this report.

Auto-Bicycle accident liability

Under Texas law, bicyclists are expected to follow most of the same rules of the road as automobile drivers do. Additionally, there are regulations specifically applied to cyclists. Under these rules, cyclists must:

• ride in designated bike lanes or on the far right-hand side of the road
• use hand signals to announce turns and stops
• use only bicycles with the required lights and reflectors when riding at night
• obey local ordinances governing bicycles on sidewalks
• not carry another person while cycling

Cyclists can still qualify for compensation even if partly to blame

Texas has a modified comparative negligence law in personal injury cases. That means a cyclist must be less than 51 percent responsible for the collision in order to be eligible for compensation. Any award or judgment will reflect the rider’s percentage of culpability.

Get legal advice

Establishing liability in these cases is often complex, which is why you should contact the personal injury lawyers at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm. They have years of experience handling bicycle personal injury cases, so they know if qualify for compensation and what it will take to win your case.

Remember, cyclists have a legal right to pursue available compensation even if they are partly to blame for an accident, and regardless of any criminal charges brought against the driver. Seeking recoverable compensation is a separate, civil action. Texas statutes allow you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.

So call the J. Gonzalez Law Firm today at 1-800-CAR CRASH, or set up an appointment via this website.

Source: https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/bicyclist-in-critical-condition-hit-by-car-in-front-of-los-fresnos-united/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&fbclid=IwAR2C1ZNYbx2jGp1FRNEecviwdtmPqCdZ5X-ZSih7dLlIBMKnJlfV3MsC9hc