Hidalgo County Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Attorney J. Gonzalez
by Benjamin Treviño | April 13th, 2026 | Blog, Personal Injury
Filing multiple claims on behalf of minor children
By: Benjamin Treviño
Seeking compensation on behalf of more than one minor child requires filing individual claims for each victim. However, courts will often combine the cases into one lawsuit for efficiency.
Who Can Sue?
Parents are typically the primary plaintiffs when a minor child is killed in an automobile accident. for a child’s wrongful death. Injured children (or parents on their behalf) can sue for their personal injuries.
Potential recovery includes medical expenses, loss of earning capacity, mental anguish, and loss of companionship.
Policy Limits
Liability insurance policies have a limit per person, and a limit per accident. For example, if eight children are injured in a crash, their medical bills can easily exceed the at-fault driver’s per accident policy limit. This can happen even if the injuries were minor enough that they required no further treatment beyond the emergency room visit immediately after the accident.
Personal Injury Protection
No matter how many or how few children are injured in the accident, the plaintiff can file a claim with their own personal injury protection (PIP) insurance policy. This applies if the at-fault driver’s policy limit is not enough to cover all the accident-related medical bills. Plaintiffs can also file a PIP claim if they were at fault for the accident, because fault is not a factor in PIP claims.
All Claims are not Created Equally
If insurance companies are unwilling or unable to cover all accident-related medical expenses, the plaintiff has the right to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault driver and any other parties responsible for the accident.
Statute of Limitations
The Texas statute of limitations for filing a civil claim is generally two years from the date of the injury. However, there are tolling rules which can temporarily pause or suspend the running of the statute of limitations. This can prevent the deadline to file a lawsuit.
These rules apply in situations such as impaired mental incapacity, fraud by the defendant, or through contractual “tolling agreements” that allow parties to extend deadlines while negotiating.
Contact the J. Gonzalez Law Firm
Hiring an attorney who has experience in wrongful death and personal injury cases is crucial to manage both aspects of the case.
Choosing the J. Gonzalez Law Firm ensures you receive personalized, high-quality legal representation from experienced professionals committed to your success. The J. Gonzalez Law Firm prioritizes client care. They offer tailored strategies, direct communication with attorneys, and a proven track record of achieving maximum results.
The J. Gonzalez Law Firn works on a contingency fee basis. The means your initial consultation is free, and you pay no money until the firm achieves the maximum settlement possible in your case.
Contact J.Gonzalez right now to set up a no-obligation visit. You can connect via this website or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH.
Mission man indicted in La Joya freshman’s death
By: Benjamin Treviño
A judge is preparing formal arraignment of a 24-year-old Mission man accused in the car crash death of a La Joya Juarez-Lincoln High School freshman. A grand jury in February indicted Jose Omar Cordero on several charges. They include two counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury, and one count of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle. Arraignment is scheduled for April 20.
The charges against Cordero stem from the death of 14-year-old Ashley Monserrat Pano Fuentes, court records show.
Fuentes was killed in a New Year’s morning crash near the intersection of 6 Mile Road and Farm-to-Market Road 492.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Fuentes and members of her family were in a Toyota vehicle, attempting to exit a private driveway. Cordero was allegedly traveling northbound at a high rate of speed, and driving on the southbound lane to pass northbound traffic, DPS said. His car slammed into the family car, ejecting Ashley from the vehicle.
Fuentes’ 17-year-old sister, who was also an 11th grade student at Juarez-Lincoln at the time, underwent surgery and would need additional surgery in the future, the report stated. Fuentes’ younger sister, who at the time was a seventh grader from Ann Richards Middle School, suffered a broken leg.
Cordero and his passenger were hospitalized, but have since been released.
A statement from La Joya ISD Superintendent Marcey Sorensen identified Fuentes as a ninth grade student at Juarez-Lincoln High School.
Authorities arrested Cordero Jan. 7, but he made bail on $54,000 in bonds on Jan. 22.