A civil lawsuit was filed against fast-food giant Chick-Fil-A on January 14^th, 2014. The suit came almost two years after a Sabine County resident was injured after suffering a slip and fall at a Nacogdoches County location in May of 2012. The lawsuit alleges that the restaurant acted negligently by failing to maintain its premises and warn customers of a liquid hazard. The alleged victim is seeking an undisclosed amount in damages for the injuries she sustained.

A Restaurant’s Alleged Negligence

The plaintiff is alleging her injuries from the slip and fall accident were caused by the restaurant’s lack of warning customers of the hazard. Restaurants and businesses are responsible for maintaining safe premises and keeping their customers out of harm’s way. This slip and fall accident is a perfect example of how negligent property owners place their customers in danger by failing to do something as simple as placing a warning informing them that a hazard exists.

Legal Expertise When You Need it Most

Always seek immediate medical attention if you have been the victim of any accident where another’s fault has played a role. The severity of your injuries may not seem apparent and could become debilitating over time. Slip-and-fall accidents are known to cause serious injuries that may result in costly medical bills and lengthy recovery periods. Consult with a personal injury attorney from the J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys of McAllen as soon as a slip-and-fall accident occurs so you can take the proper steps to recover the compensation for any damages you are entitled to.

Entrust Your Case with Us

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by another’s negligence, contact a slip and fall accident attorney from the J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys in McAllen at (956) 630-6700.

The McAllen Police Department has placed a woman under arrest in relation to a hit-and-run accident which occurred on November 16^th, 2013. The charges were filed against a 23-year old woman from McAllen, three days after the incident happened. Authorities stated the alleged wrongdoer struck a 79-year old woman. The accident occurred in the area of 10^th Street and Datepalm around 6 p.m. on the evening of the 16^th.

Hit-and-Run Charges Brought Against the Driver

A Justice of the Peace pronounced the victim dead after she was taken to Rio Grande Regional Hospital for treatment. The driver allegedly failed to stop and render aid after striking the victim with her SUV. It was not until the driver arrived home that she notified the police of the accident. She was charged with a felony and may face a fine of up to $10,000 as well as jail time. In September, Texas enacted a new law raising hit-and-run death charges as second-degree felonies with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

State Laws Protect Victims of Hit-and-Run Accidents

State laws specify that the parties involved in an accident should immediately stop to render aid for possible victims as well as to contact authorities. It is a common, and unfortunate, occurrence for some drivers to flee accident scenes for fear of prosecution. What these drivers fail to realize is that fleeing an accident scene will serve only to increase the number of criminal charges filed against them.

Victims and Families Can Seek Justice

Being involved in a hit-and-run accident can result in serious injuries, which can be emotionally and financially overwhelming. Through personal injury lawsuits, victims and their families can recover compensation for their financial and medical troubles. A lawsuit can provide monetary assistance to cover the payments of medical bills, funeral expenses, income loss and pain and suffering.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a hit and run accident, schedule a consultation with McAllen’s personal injury attorneys of the J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys by calling (956) 630-6700.

Each year during the holidays, shopping deals continuously grow more and more popular. These limited deals are often too good to pass up and it is easy to forget they come with a price. What many shoppers do not realize is that those slashed prices, unbelievable sales and one-day-only deals can lead to serious injuries or even death if proper safety precautions are not taken by retailers. Businesses have promised consumers great deals beginning on Black Friday and extending throughout the holiday season. As such, there is no doubt that shoppers will be out in full force for the next few weeks.

Employees and Shoppers Face the Greatest Risks

This year was marked with early door-buster deals with stores such as Wal-Mart and Target beginning Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving night. In 2008, a Wal-Mart employee was tragically killed when Black Friday shoppers in Long Island forcibly broke down the business’s doors and trampled the employee. The victim’s death sent a message to shoppers and storeowners alike about the dangers of holiday shopping crowds. Throughout the years, other employees and shoppers have suffered serious injuries due to the disorderly actions of these large crowds.

Retailers are Responsible for Customer Safety

Consumer safety should be the first and foremost concern of any retailer as the shopping season has already begun. Retailers are required by law to keep customers safe by employing extra security precautions. Businesses may be held liable for negligence if an accident occurs and said precautions were not being enforced. Shoppers injured on store property may file a claim against the owner for compensation to settle medical bills resulting from their injuries.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has been injured while shopping during the holidays or at any other time, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys of McAllen’s J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys at (956) 630-6700.

Every day in the United States, more than 9 people are killed and more than 1, 060 people are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver, according to the CDC.  More often than not, those distractions involve cell phones. Drivers who read and send text messages are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car accident.

A McAllen man was the victim of a fatal hit and run accident that involved texting and driving early Sunday morning. A motorist took his eyes off the road to send a text and struck the victim’s vehicle from behind causing him to crash into the median and catch on fire. The victim was burned alive. The alleged wrongdoer was charged with intoxication manslaughter and causing an accident involving injury or death.

Regardless of the city’s ban on texting and driving, there are reportedly 8,000 accidents every year that involve distracted drivers.

Contact Us

If you are involved in an accident with a distracted driver who was being negligent, seek legal counsel from the expert attorneys at Rio Grande City’s J. Gonzalez Firm by calling 956.630.6700.

The last thing we expect from those serving in law enforcement is to breach the public’s trust. In northern Texas, that trust has allegedly been breached. Two former Benbrook officers are at the center of a lawsuit involving a hit and run. One of the victims, Jeff Panfil, filed the lawsuit after having suffered injuries in the crash and is requesting damages of at least $100,000. The two officers, Sgt. Chad Peabody and Det. Jason Montgomery, were both off-duty at the time of the accident according to the suit.

Peabody and Montgomery struck Panfil’s vehicle with their own, then supposedly fled the scene on foot. A police report has revealed that a red Dodge vehicle ran a red light before striking the victim’s car. Four people were in the vehicle that was struck. Two were treated on-site while a third was taken to a hospital. Panfil’s attorney believes that alcohol may have played a role in the accident due to the police report suspecting the same. The two officers have yet to be charged and the investigation is ongoing.

Contact Us

Hit and runs are not only negligent, but also dangerous. If you have been the victim of a person leaving the scene of a crime and have suffered injury as a result, contact the J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys of McAllen at 956.630.6700.

Safety should be the number one concern for any business involving heavy machinery, especially if that machinery is used by customers. That having been said, we were saddened to hear that a mother tragically lost her life while riding a roller coaster, Texas Giant, at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. The incident happened in the early evening of Friday, July 19^th while the victim, Rosie Esparza, fell out of her seat. Her son was at her side when the accident happened.

According to a witness on the ride, the victim’s restraint came lose as the coaster made a turn. Another witness on the ride alleges that Esparza informed an employee that her harness may not have been properly secured.  Arlington police informed local affiliate WFAA-TV that a criminal investigation would not be pursued. Six Flags Over Texas/Hurricane Harbor communications manager Sharon Parker released a statement saying that the park will not speculate as to what caused the accident and that an investigation will be underway. Some have called for the investigation to be undertaken by an independent party.

If the park has been proven to have been negligent regarding the safety of Esparza, a wrongful death lawsuit may be filed. We stress that any accident that has resulted in a death should be dealt with legally.

Contact Us

Any accident or lack of care that has cost you injury or the death of a family member should not go ignored. Contact our professional team of personal injury litigators at McAllen’s J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys at 956.630.6700.

We’ve learned that a tragic accident which occurred in the late afternoon of Thursday, June 6^th has claimed the life of Round Rock, Texas resident Rayford Reaves. The 50-year old victim’s Ford F-150 was struck from behind by John Sexton, III who was later discovered to have been inebriated. Sexton, according to police, has a long history of alcohol-related troubles dating as far back as 1984. The tragic accident occurred on U.S. Highway 290 in McDade County. The collision caused Reaves’s vehicle to skid uncontrollably before rolling several times. Reaves died at the scene.

The victim was a New York native, having moved to Texas not long after graduating high school. He was the CEO and founder of FieldPoint Petroleum Company. The business operates 300 natural gas and oil wells across the nation. Sexton was charged with intoxication manslaughter, a second-degree felony in the State of Texas. It carries a punishment of two to 20 years in the Texas Department of Corrections and a fine not exceeding $10,000. He is currently being held on a $75,000 bail.

Reaves’s widow went on record to say that she wishes for stricter laws regarding drinking and driving, a stance we support. Every year in the United States, hundreds and even thousands are injured and/or killed due to negligence. We do our best to bring peace to those who have suffered the unfortunate effects of drunk driving. There are legal options available for you and for those who have suffered injury or a loss due to this horrible act, know that we can help.

Contact Us

For a professional and highly-skilled legal team specializing in personal injury, contact McAllen’s J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys at 956.630.6700.

The family of a woman involved in a fatal accident outside of a Dallas-area gentleman’s club was awarded $10.5 million by a jury this past February. The accident occurred in the parking lot of the club where the woman was struck and run over by a monster truck.  The driver of the monster truck had a blood alcohol content over twice the legal limit.

In Texas, any accident involving a drunk driver can fall into the Dram Shop Doctrine. This means that a bar, restaurant, or other locales that sell alcoholic beverages can be found liable In the event that the driver was drinking at the location before the accident occurred.  This requires that the establishment over-served alcohol to a patron they knew was already intoxicated.

 Contact Us

If you or a loved one have been the victim of negligence or a drunk driver and are seeking legal help we can help. Contact J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys at (956) 630-6700 and set up a free consultation today to review your legal options.

Friendswood, Texas resident Brian Johns was killed in 2012 following injuries sustained from an explosion at a Deer Park Dow Chemical Plant. His mother and son have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company, two employees and a subsidiary. The suit was filed on April 1^st, 2013 at the Harris County Probate Court. It is seeking damages for pain and suffering, loss of inheritance, loss of earnings and loss of companionship. The amount being sought has not been made public.

Johns’s death occurred on July 17^th of last year when he attempted to replace a filter for an ammonia recycle unit. An explosion occurred, causing caustic chemicals to spill on the victim. He suffered third degree burns on 65 percent of his body. He died a month later. The suit alleges that the company was aware that the filter unit was not in working order and posed a hazard. Also, the defendants allegedly did not provide safety equipment to workers.

Contact Us

If you have suffered work-related injuries or have lost a loved one in a similar manner, contact a McAllen personal injury attorney from the J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys at 956.630.6700.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is attempting to garner support in the state of Texas to curb drunk driving cases and save lives. Two bills are currently in consideration in the Lone Star State; the first hopes to establish sobriety checkpoints, currently illegal in the state. The second calls for interlock devices to be installed in the vehicle of first time offenders to prove sobriety before the engine can be started. The two proposals have stalled in committee. The organization’s CEO, Debbie Weir, has stated that Texas currently holds the highest number of alcohol-related deaths in the nation.

Weir has expressed concern that drunk drivers receive support for their actions, citing an incident involving State Representative Naomi Gonzalez. Rep. Gonzalez allegedly drove drunk and injured a cyclist. On the House floor, she expressed remorse for her actions, which was met with applause by her peers. Weir stated that victims, their family members and law enforcement officers deserve praise. The organization, according to Weir, is not about punishing drunk drivers, but to prevent alcohol-related incidents. This is the fourth attempt MADD has made to draw support to pass the bills into law.

Contact Us

If you have been injured in an alcohol-related accident, contact a personal injury lawyer from the law office of McAllen’s J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys at 956.630.6700.