Edinburg Wrongful Death Attorney J. Gonzalez
by Benjamin Treviño | April 23rd, 2026 | Blog, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death
Can surviving family members pursue a wrongful death lawsuit when a loved one is killed in a one-car accident?
By: Benjamin Treviño
Yes, families can file a wrongful death lawsuit after a one-car accident. However, the case must be built on the negligence of a party other than the deceased driver.
While these accidents often seem to be the straightforward fault of the driver, liability can sometimes be traced to outside factors like vehicle defects, poor road conditions, or other third-party failures.
Potential Liable Parties
In a single-vehicle crash, a legal claim typically targets entities whose actions contributed to the fatal event, including:
Vehicle Manufacturers
If a mechanical failure, such as a tire blowout or brake failure, caused the crash.
Government Entities:
If the accident resulted from hazardous road conditions, poor signage, or lack of proper guardrails.
Employers:
If the deceased was working at the time and the crash involved a company vehicle that was poorly maintained.
Establishments (Dram Shop):
If an intoxicated driver was over-served at a bar or restaurant before the accident.
Repair Shops: If recent negligent maintenance or faulty repairs directly led to the vehicle’s failure.
Who Can File the Claim?
Laws vary by state, but in Texas, the following individuals have the primary right to file a wrongful death lawsuit:
- Surviving Spouse: Including common-law partners if the relationship is legally proven.
- Children: Both biological and legally adopted children, regardless of their age.
- Parents: Both biological and adoptive parents.
- Estate Representative: If the immediate family does not file within 90 days, the executor of the deceased’s estate may file unless family members specifically request otherwise.
Note: In Texas, siblings and more distant relatives are typically not eligible to file a wrongful death claim.
Contact the J. Gonzalez Law Firm
Pursuing a wrongful death claim or lawsuit following a one-car crash requires that families have the representation of a highly qualified attorney. There’s no law firm better suited for such cases than the J. Gonzalez Law Firm.
J. Gonzalez and his team of expert lawyers have more than two decades of experience when it comes to winning complicated settlements.
They know exactly what to look for, and they have at their disposal a vast network of industry experts who can determine the root causes of one-car crashes.
The J. Gonzalez Law Firm offers personalized and compassionate representation. They never charge for the initial consultation, and their clients pay nothing unless J. Gonzalez brings home a victory.
Contact them today via this website or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH. J. Gonzalez is ready to work for you!
Driver dies after crashing into irrigation pipe in Edinburg
By: Benjamin Treviño
The driver of a car that crashed into an irrigation pipe and caught fire in Edinburg early Saturday morning has died, police said in a news release.
Police units responded to the 2700 block of East Mile 17 1/2 at around 4:30 a.m. after receiving a call of a blue Chevrolet Camaro on fire.
The Camaro was being driven west on East Mile 17 1/2 from Doolittle Road “when it lost control, went off the roadway, and struck a concrete irrigation pipe,” the release stated.
Officers found the driver had died, and was identified only as a male until next of kin are notified.