Vehicle crash in Palmview, driver arrested
Posted on Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 at 8:00 am
PALMVIEW — A driver who fled the scene of a one-vehicle crash in Palmview has voluntarily surrendered to authorities. According to police, the incident happened July 27 at about 3:00 a.m. in the 1100 block of E. Palma Vista Drive.
According to Palmview City officials, the driver of a red Dodge Ram TRX ran into the Joe Ruiz Income Tax building and ran from the scene. The owners of the business were called to the scene and are pressing charges on the driver, police said.
The driver came forward the following day and provided a statement to police. His identity was not immediately released and was pending arraignment as of this report.
What to do if a vehicle damages your property
You could be entitled to sue for damages if a vehicle causes substantial damage to your private property. An accident lawsuit does not have to involve physical injuries.
For example, if your car is parked at a business, and a driver crashes into it, you could sue for compensation to cover the property loss even if you personally were not injured. The same applies to the business owner if his property is damaged by a reckless driver.
How to calculate property damage
Property loss isn’t just about direct damages. There is loss associated with the cost of repairs. There’s loss associated with finding a replacement home, business, or vehicle until the damages are fixed, and more.
Documentation is essential and can include a police report, video evidence, and photo evidence.
A professional appraiser can evaluate the market value of the pre-accident property. This will provide you a baseline from which to secure compensation in your suit.
Statute of limitations
Whether your claim involves property loss or an injury, or both, there will be an applicable statute of limitations. In Texas, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim or you forfeit your right to seek compensation.
Call J. Gonzalez
Given that your livelihood could be at stake, it’s important to work with an attorney as soon as possible, and not just any attorney. The personal injury attorneys at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm can help you navigate the legal processes in a timely manner, so that you don’t miss the statute of limitations deadline.
Call 1-800-CAR-CRASH for a free legal consultation today. We understand that bringing a lawsuit can be stressful for those who have never been through the process. Rest assured that J. Gonzalez and his team
can help you navigate the dispute process effectively, efficiently, and in a way that minimizes the overall stress.
Car crash in Edinburg: Vehicle slams into HEB building
Posted on Tuesday, July 30th, 2024 at 6:40 pm
EDINBURG — An Edinburg H-E-B supermarket was forced to close for the day after a car ran into the building, authorities say.
The incident happened July 28 at 1:30 p.m. at the HEB store located at 1212 N. Closner. According to police, a vehicle was traveling south on 12th street and the driver failed to heed a stop sign at the intersection of Ebony Ave. The vehicle proceeded through the T-intersection and crashed into the north wall of an H-E-B store, according to police.
Authorities say five people were in the car and were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The building’s integrity was not affected, according to police, but HEB spokesperson Linda Tovar told Valley Central, “For the safety of our Partners and customers, the store on will be temporarily closed today. We apologize for the inconvenience, and we are working to reopen soon.”
No HEB employees or customers were injured by the impact and the supermarket reopened for business at 6:00 a.m. July 30.
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Who is liable if you are injured when a vehicle crashes into a building?
You have a right to pursue personal injury compensation if you are hurt when a vehicle crashes into a building. That right is inalienable whether you were in the vehicle, or in the building when the crash occurred.
Determining who is liable for your injuries and other damages can be a complex process, and there may be more than one party at fault. Here are just a few of the parties from whom you might be able to seek compensation.
The driver
In many cases, the driver is liable for damages. Passengers should be able to file a claim with the driver’s liability insurance to pursue compensation. Victims inside the building can file a third-party claim with the driver’s liability insurance. They may also have the right to file a lawsuit to pursue compensation no matter the extent of their damages.
The vehicle owner
Vehicle owners can still be held liable if the crash was caused by someone who borrowed their vehicle. The owner might be held liable even if the vehicle was taken without their permission. For example, if the keys were left accessible to another person, even a car thief, the owner could possibly be stuck with the liability.
The property owner
The owner could be partially liable if they fail to correct conditions that may have contributed to a vehicle crashing into their building. For example, if the local municipality requires bollards must be installed in certain locations around the building and the owner fails to so, it could open them up to a lawsuit in the event of a crash.
Contact J. Gonzalez for legal advice
The above are just a few of the parties that might be held liable when a car crashes into a building and injures someone. The car’s manufacturer, and even the local government might bear some responsibility. But the only way to ensure you cover all your bases is to hire the expertise of the J. Gonzalez Law Firm.
Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys will help you understand your legal options, especially in complex cases in which multiple parties may be involved. J. Gonzalez offers a free consultation to discuss your claim, and there are no fees unless we successfully plead your case. Call us today at 1-800-CAR-CRASH to get started.
Mission man indicted in road rage shooting death
Posted on Friday, July 19th, 2024 at 9:36 pm
EDINBURG – Court documents indicate a Hidalgo County grand jury has formally indicted a Mission man accused of fatally shooting a driver during an April road rage incident in Mission. The indictment against 23-year-old Briaham Alexis Peña was handed up July 16, exactly three months after Peña’s arrest.
Peña is charged with murder in the road rage shooting death of Jose Cruz Jr. The deadly encounter happened about 8:57 p.m., April 8, in the 2500 block of W. Expressway 83. When officers arrived on the scene, they reported finding the Cruz inside his truck with eight gunshot wounds, including one in the head. Further investigation revealed the victim’s truck had eight bullet holes on the passenger’s side door and two bullet holes on the driver side window.
Cruz was transported to McAllen Medical Center where he succumbed to his wounds.
A subsequent investigation identified Peña as the suspect in the fatal shooting, but he had fled to Mexico in the aftermath of the confrontation. According to police Peña surrendered himself at the international bridge in Rio Grande City on Sunday, April 14. During interviews with investigators, Peña suggested Cruz initiated the incident.
Peña has been in the Hidalgo County Jail since his arrest under a $1 million bond.
Road rage and insurance claims
According to the Insurance Information Institute, most automobile insurance policies do not cover damages caused by road rage accidents. Many insurers exclude coverage because they consider road rage accidents to be caused by risky behavior and not an actual accident.
You might like your automobile insurance company, but you have to remember that it does not always have your best interests in mind. The goal of all insurance companies is to make a profit, and they do that by maximizing the amount of premium payments they take in and minimizing the amount of claims they pay out.
Put J. Gonzalez on your side
Insurance companies will likely be hesitant to compensate you for your injuries after a road rage accident, even though you need compensation to pay for your recovery. The J. Gonzalez Law Firm will help you focus on recovering from your injuries by taking your case on a contingency basis. That means you pay nothing unless J. Gonzalez gets the maximum settlement that you’re entitled to.
If you have questions regarding road rage, aggressive driving, or similar incidents, and how they impact your case, J. Gonzalez and his expert team of personal injury attorneys can help. Our bilingual staff are ready to speak with you 24/7.
In fact you can contact us immediately via this website, or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH. We have the specialized knowledge and resources necessary to help you build your case and win your maximum possible settlement.
Source: https://myrgv.com/local-news/2024/07/11/mission-man-indicted-in-road-rage-shooting-death/
Street argument leaves one woman dead
Posted on Wednesday, July 17th, 2024 at 10:08 pm
The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a homicide investigation after witnesses reported a man intentionally ran over a woman with his vehicle, leaving the woman dead on a residential street northeast of Edinburg.
According to a sheriff’s office news release, the incident happened July 15 about 4:50 p.m. in the 6300 block of Lorena Street. The release states that multiple people called 911 to report “several individuals fighting on the roadway.” When deputies arrived on the scene, they discovered a 20-year-old woman who had sustained fatal injuries to the head, the report stated. The victim’s name was not disclosed.
Initial witness statements indicate that the victim had been talking with a man on the side of the street, when another man drove up, exited his vehicle, and an argument ensued. The report states that the driver eventually left the scene, but returned and struck both individuals with his vehicle.
The woman was killed, but the man, identified only as a 27-year-old male, sustained only minor injuries, according to the news release.
The sheriff’s office said deputies located and detained the driver of the vehicle, but no further details were immediately available. At this writing, the sheriff’s office was encouraging anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward by calling (956) 383-8114, or by calling the Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers Hotline at (956) 668-TIPS (8477) or through the P3 TIPS app.
Wrongful death lawsuits by families of murder victims
In Texas, immediate family members of murder or manslaughter victims can bring a wrongful death lawsuit, to compensate the survivors for their losses.
Under Texas law, for purposes of a wrongful death lawsuit, immediate family is limited to the spouse, parent, or child of the victim. The executor of the decedent’s estate can also file on behalf of those parties, as stated in Chapter 71 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
Recoverable losses
Recoverable losses can include funeral and burial expenses, loss of consortium (loss of the victim’s love, companionship, comfort, etc.), and in the case of a spouse or registered domestic partner, the loss of sexual relations.
Losses for grief and sorrow are not recoverable at all by murder victims’ families.
Burden of proof
It is not necessary to secure a murder or manslaughter conviction against the defendant in order for families to sue the perpetrator. In fact, criminal charges do not even need to be filed to win a civil case.
Wrongful death lawsuits do not need to be won by the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard of proof needed in criminal cases. In a civil lawsuit, nine of the 12 jurors simply need to conclude that it was more likely than not “by a preponderance of the evidence” that the defendant was responsible for the victim’s death. This is a much lower burden of proof than in criminal cases.
Contact J. Gonzalez
If you feel you are entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit against someone for the loss of an immediate family member, the time is now to contact the J. Gonzalez Law Firm. Our wrongful death attorneys handle cases anywhere in Texas.
Most importantly, the J. Gonzalez Law Firm will handle your case with dignity and respect, and you can trust our firm to find answers, get results, and help you rebuild your life. Contact us now via this website, or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH.
Source: https://myrgv.com/alerts-mcm/2024/07/14/roadway-fight-leaves-1-dead-in-edinburg-crash/
Failure to wear seat belt suspected in fatal Alamo crash
Posted on Saturday, July 13th, 2024 at 10:00 am
An Alamo man was killed in a July 4 one-vehicle crash, and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) says the victim’s failure to wear a safety belt may have contributed to his death.
According to a DPS news release, the crash occurred around midnight on Interstate Highway 2 near FM 493 in Donna.
The report states 45-year-old Pedro Garcia was driving west on the interstate in a silver 2005 Nissan Armada, when “for unknown reasons, (the driver) veered off the roadway and drove onto the westbound IH-2 Frontage Road, where the Nissan struck a utility pole, and rolled over.”
The release goes on to say that Garcia was ejected during the crash, and suggested he was thrown from the vehicle because he did not have a seat belt on.
The reports concludes with a warning to all drivers about the danger of not wearing a safety belt while driving.
“According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of dying by 45% for people in the front seat of passenger cars. For those in pickups, seat belts reduce the risk of dying by 60%. Your seat belt is designed to keep you from being thrown into the dashboard, windshield, or even onto the road,” DPS said in the release.
Defective seat belts and personal injury compensation
A recent NHTSA study found that between 1960 and 2012, seat belts saved 329,715 lives. That’s more lives saved than all other vehicle safety technologies combined, including air bags, energy-absorbing steering assemblies, and electronic stability control.
But despite the advances in technology and manufacturing standards, defective seat belts still cause a large number of deaths and injuries every year.
People can be injured by a defective seat belt in two main ways. The strap on a poorly-manufactured seat belt can fray prematurely. A seat belt with defective webbing will not be strong enough to keep from tearing when someone is in an accident.
The most common defect is found in the seat belt latch. A defective latch can lead drivers to believe they are secured in their seat, but they really aren’t. Sometimes a police accident report will state that the accident victim(s) were not buckled in, when in reality they were buckled in, but the defective seat belt failed during the crash impact.
How to prove a seat beat contributed to an injury in a Texas car crash
Determining whether a safety belt is defective is a fact-intensive process. It requires the analysis of trained experts, and you will need to retain one to prove that the safety belt was negligently designed or manufactured to the court.
You need the J. Gonzalez Law Firm on your side. J. Gonzalez knows that seat belt manufacturers will employ a large number of attorneys and crash experts in an effort to defeat claims just like yours. The attorneys at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm have decades of experience representing victims of defectively designed or manufactured seat belts and safety seats.
We are available any time, day or night via this website, or you can set up your initial free consultation regarding your injuries at 1-800-CAR-CRASH.
Source: https://myrgv.com/local-news/2024/07/04/alamo-man-ejected-from-vehicle-killed-overnight-thursday/
DPS investigating pedestrian fatality
Posted on Friday, July 12th, 2024 at 8:01 pm
WESLACO — The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating an auto-pedestrian fatality north of Elsa. According to a Texas DPS news release, the fatal crash happened June 9 on FM 1925 (Monte Christo Road), west of Engleman Road at 4:34 a.m.
The news release states that a gray Chrysler Town & Country van, occupied only by the driver, was traveling east on FM 1925 west of Engleman Road.
A man crossing FM 1925 from north to south and was hit by the Chrysler, went airborne, landed on the windshield of a pickup truck headed in the same direction, before landing on the pavement of the road.
The victim was identified as 36-year-old Juan Eufracio Lopez Gutierrez of Edcouch. He died from his injuries at the scene, according to the DPS report. The driver of the Chrysler and the occupants of the truck were not injured.
DPS Troopers were still investigating the fatal crash on Engleman Road as of this writing. There was no indication that charges would be filed in the case.
The personal injury attorneys at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm want to help reduce the risk of incidents such as the above fatality on FM 1925. Here are few safety tips that you and your loved ones should follow when walking along a street in the dark.
Carry a light source
A flashlight, headlamp, or a blinking light attached to clothing can greatly help drivers see you from a much greater distance at night. Being aware of your presence allows drivers more time to slow down and be prepared if pedestrian should happen to veer into the street.
Wear bright clothing
Bright colored clothing is another helpful pedestrian indicator for drivers. Black or dark clothing will greatly obscure your presence at night.
Use only designated sidewalks and crosswalks
Pedestrians should never walk along a roadway that has no sidewalk. Neither should pedestrians use the shoulder of a road as a walking path. The shoulder is for vehicles only. Pedestrians should only cross a road at a designated crosswalk. Drivers must give the right of way for pedestrians who are crossing the street in a marked crosswalk.
Pay Attention
Most people refuse to go anywhere without their cell phone. That includes when they go out for a walk, but when you are walking, especially at night, you should practice proper pedestrian safety by keeping your eyes up and focused on what is around you.
Contact J. Gonzalez if you need help with a pedestrian accident
Pedestrian safety is mainly the duty of the pedestrian, but sometimes pedestrians who follow all the rules are still injured by careless drivers. f you believe you were injured due to a driver’s negligence while you were walking at night safely, the J. Gonzalez Law Firm will handle the personal injury claim process while you focus on your recovery.
Contact us today via this website or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH.
Man pulled from wreckage in La Feria crash
Posted on Thursday, July 11th, 2024 at 8:36 pm
La Feria firefighters pulled one man from the wreckage of his automobile following a one-vehicle rollover crash on Kansas City Road. The accident happened on the afternoon of July 8.
The Texas Department of Public Safety also responded to the crash. DPS Sgt. Maria Hernandez said the driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries. His identity was not immediately released.
Personal injury cases in one-vehicle rollover crashes in Texas
In order to make a personal injury claim in a single-vehicle accident, another party must be found negligent, or responsible, for the accident. Drivers are usually held responsible when they are involved in one-vehicle accidents, however, there are some exceptions.
For example, there are cases in which poor road maintenance, road debris, or a vehicle defect have been found to have caused the crash.
The J. Gonzalez Law Firm is an expert in Texas personal injury cases and it may be able to help you make claim if you have been hurt in a single-vehicle crash.
If you believe you were hurt because of any of the following reasons:
Vehicle defect
Poorly-maintained road
Falling debris from another vehicle
Reckless driving by another motorist
You should consider reaching out to the J. Gonzalez Law Firm. Our attorneys can review your case, investigate the causes of your accident, and fight to help you get the settlement you deserve under the law.
Under Texas law, you must file a claim within two years of the date of the crash, so time is of the essence. Call the J. Gonzalez Law Firm today at 1-800-CAR-CRASH, or contact us directly via this website. Our attorneys are ready to assist you with the insurance claim process and with seeking damages from any negligent parties.
Source: https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/one-pulled-from-wreckage-in-la-feria-crash/
Driver of 18-wheeler killed when rig crashes into Mission home
Posted on Thursday, July 4th, 2024 at 9:00 am
The driver of an 18-wheeler semi-truck that crashed into a home in Mission June 29 died as a result of injuries he sustained in the accident, according to authorities. Police say 51-year-old Anastacio Martinez Jr. died from traumatic injury from the impact of the crash, and possible asphyxiation. Police added that a toxicology test was not conducted, because alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in the crash.
In the immediate aftermath of the crash, members of the Mission Firefighters Association took to Facebook to issue a statement explaining that the crash occurred in the 2600 block of West Expressway 83 in Mission.
They were asking residents to avoid the area as they continued their efforts to rescue the driver.
Firefighters provided images showing the back of the semi sticking out from the side of a home with a trail of dirt and debris behind it. The trail stretched across the parking lot of a Jr’s Tires and Wheels located next the home.
Art Flores, spokesman for the Mission Police Department, said authorities received the call about the crash at about 9:00 a.m. Saturday.
What happens if a vehicle crashes into your home?
The above accident is just one of the rare commercial accidents involving 18-wheelers that occur in the Rio Grande Valley every year. Even though cars and trucks do not typically crash into buildings, a personal injury case can still arise from such an incident.
People inside the house can sustain injuries as well as people in the vehicle. Fatalities can also occur.
Who is liable when a vehicle crashes into a Texas home?
The party who caused the accident is liable for the damages under Texas tort laws. Texas drivers must have a minimum amount of liability coverage for car accidents. A vehicle striking a home will likely cause significant property damage. The homeowner and other victims are entitled to compensation for damages and even death in these types of crashes.
Therefore, it is crucial to identify all parties who contributed to the cause of the crash. Each party responsible for the crash could be liable for paying the damages.
Seeking compensation
Victims can receive personal and economic damages from any party responsible for the crash. The defendant might be the driver, the company (when commercial vehicles are involved), or even a brak manufacturer if the braking system is determined to have been faulty.
Economic damages can include:
· Property damage to your home and personal property
· Lost wages
· Out-of-pocket expenses
· Medical expenses and bills
· Diminished earning capacity
Non-economic damages can include emotional distress, loss of quality of life, permanent impairments, pain, and suffering. In addition, if a family member died, your family could be entitled to damages under Texas wrongful death laws.
If the defendant’s car insurance policy does not cover the damages caused by the wreck, the victim’s homeowner’s insurance policy might cover the damage under a hazard insurance clause. Have an attorney review your policy to determine if it covers losses, such as a car hitting your home.
The J. Gonzalez Law Firm can help
Filing a personal injury claim against the driver and other at-fault parties can get you the money you need to repair your home, pay your bills, and get back to your ordinary routines.
Multiple parties could be involved in your case, including multiple insurance companies. Each of the parties will try to shift blame to avoid liability. Having the J. Gonzalez Law Firm handle your case from the beginning can avoid mistakes that could hurt your case.
Remember, there are time limits for filing claims (usually two years). If you do not file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires, you lose the right to pursue a claim in court.
For more information, contact the J. Gonzalez Law Firm via this website, or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH. The initial consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless J. Gonzalez gets you the compensation you deserve.
Source: https://myrgv.com/local-news/2024/06/29/driver-of-18-wheeler-crashes-into-mission-home-dies/
Vigilance is vital to road safety, TSTC CDL trainers say
Posted on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024 at 9:55 pm
Special report to the J. Gonzalez Law Firm
MARSHALL — Commercial accidents involving 18-wheelers are a universal concern for motorists in the Rio Grande Valley and across Texas. That’s why Texas State Technical College’s Professional Driving Academies work hard to instill safe driving habits in their student drivers.
Wayne Bradley is a commercial driver’s license (CDL) trainer at TSTC’s Professional Driving Academy at the Marshall campus. His job is to help reduce 18-wheeler accidents in the Rio Grande Valley and elsewhere in Texas.
“When they come to a CDL program, we’re taking an existing driver and we’re upgrading them to a professional driving operator so that they can operate a vehicle safely, and retraining them to help get rid of bad habits,” he said.
Bradley said noncommercial drivers should be careful about merging into the space between a semitruck and the vehicle ahead of it.
“Say the semitruck is 72 feet long. At 60 miles an hour, he has to leave six seconds or more between him and the driver ahead,” Bradley said. “If he hits the brakes, he’s lucky if he stops in a football field or two.”
Bradley Hayes, a TSTC program team lead, said noncommercial drivers should exercise caution when tempted to speed up and pass commercial vehicles that are changing lanes.
“They (commercial vehicles) need twice as much time and ability to change lanes,” he said. “If you’re that far behind that you’re not blocking them from moving over, slow down and give them room.”
Hayes said he was aware of many fatal accidents during his 25 years of working in diesel mechanics.
“Generally if someone tangles with a commercial vehicle, they’re going to lose, and often they lose everything,” Hayes said.
Hayes said diesel companies are incorporating more technology to increase safety with such features as dashcams and crash avoidance.
TSTC CDL student David Denham knows the importance of staying calm, cool and collected behind the wheel.
“If every truck in the United States shut down for one day, it would take three to five months to get everything going again,” he said.
The Professional Driving Academy is offered through TSTC’s Workforce Training and Continuing Education department at the Abilene, Brownwood, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall and Sweetwater campuses.
If you are involved in an 18-wheeler accident in the Rio Grande Valley or anywhere else in Texas, you need the expert representation that only the J. Gonzalez Law Firm can provide. Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys will ensure you get every penny of the compensation you are legally entitled
to. Call the J. Gonzalez Law Firm at 1-800-CAR-CRASH. Your initial consultation is free and you pay nothing until we win your case!
Source: https://myrgv.com/local-news/2024/06/30/vigilance-is-vital-to-road-safety-tstc-cdl-trainers-say/
Dog attack in Monte Alto leaves elderly woman dead
Posted on Tuesday, June 25th, 2024 at 3:58 pm
MONTE ALTO — An elderly Monte Alto woman died after being attacked by two of her own dogs.
According to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, the attack happened June 21 about 6:00 p.m. in the woman’s back yard in the 22000 block of Jesus Flores Road.
The sheriff’s office news release says deputies arrived at the residence and found an 85-year-old woman lying on the ground, bleeding from her neck, and the left side of her head. The woman, whose name was not released, was transported to a hospital where she died as a result of her wounds.
HCSO Investigators interviewed the victim’s brother, and according to the news release, the man told them that his sister had gone outside to feed the dogs, and then he heard her screaming. The man told deputies that he went outside, and saw the dogs attacking his sister. He said when he attempted to get the dogs away from her the dogs tried to attack him. He shot and killed one of the dogs with a shotgun and the other dog ran away, according to the news release.
Animal Control officials subsequently caught the second dog involved in the incident.
The investigation was still ongoing as of this report.
The above incident appears to have involved the woman’s own dogs. In cases where a person is attacked by someone else’s dog, the victim has a right to file a personal injury claim against the dog’s owner. If a person is killed by someone else’s dog, an immediate family member can sue the owner for wrongful death.
In a Texas dog bite claim, the injured person must typically prove two things. One, that the owner knew that their dog has acted aggressively or has bitten someone in the past, or that the dog’s owner failed to use reasonable care to control the dog or prevent the bite.
The negligence rule also applies to other types of injuries caused by dogs. For example, if a large dog jumps on a person and causes an injury, the injured person may bring a claim for damages against the dog’s owner. Again, the injured person will have to show either that the dog’s owner knew the dog was aggressive or that the owner failed to use reasonable care to prevent the dog from harming others.
Although Texas’s “negligence” rule applies to most dog bites, Texas courts will apply a “strict liability” rule in cases in which the dog is known to be “vicious, dangerous, or mischievous.” Strict liability in this context means that if the injury was caused by a “dangerous dog,” the injured person does not have to demonstrate that the owner also failed to use reasonable care to restrain or control the dog. The injured person will be able to recover damages simply by demonstrating that the dog was known to be dangerous.
In dog bite cases that cause severe injury, the dog’s owner may face criminal charges as well as civil liability. The Texas Health and Safety Code states that a dog’s owner can be charged with a felony if:
• the owner “with criminal negligence” fails to secure the dog, and the dog attacks someone, unprovoked, at a location away from the owner’s real or personal property, or
• the owner knows the dog is a “dangerous dog” and the dog attacks someone, unprovoked, outside its own secure enclosure, and
• either of these situations causes serious bodily injury or death.
Contact J. Gonzalez
If you’re bitten by someone’s dog (or other pet) it’s important that you get medical attention, contact the police, and call a personal injury attorney who can explain your options regarding a lawsuit. The J. Gonzalez Law Firm offers a free initial consultation, and you don’t have to pay anything unless J. Gonzalez obtains the highest-possible compensation that you’re entitled to. Call today at 1-800-CAR-CRASH.
Source: https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/dog-attack-in-monte-alto-leaves-woman-dead/