Wilson County, TX — March 14, 2025, Joshua Olivarez was injured in a single-vehicle accident just after 12:00 midnight along F.M. 775 (Seguin Road).

According to authorities, 39-year-old Joshua Olivarez was traveling in a southwest bound Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck on F.M. 775 in the vicinity of the Chihuahua Street intersection when the accident took place.

The cause of the accident remains unclear. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, the pickup truck failed to safely maintain its lane of travel. It was consequently involved in a single-vehicle collision in which it apparently struck a tree. Olivarez reportedly suffered serious injuries over the course of the accident. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When someone is seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash, it’s common for people to assume the driver simply lost control. But in my experience, those assumptions often miss the bigger picture. To truly understand what happened—and whether it could have been prevented—there are three important questions that should always be asked.

First, did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? A complete investigation should examine the roadway itself, including visibility, signage, lighting, and any physical evidence like tire marks or signs of evasive action. These details can help determine whether the crash was the result of an isolated mistake or something more complex. Unfortunately, the depth of such investigations can vary depending on the agency involved and the resources available at the time.

Second, has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect played a role? While it’s easy to assume driver error, issues like steering malfunctions, tire blowouts, or faulty brakes can cause a driver to lose control unexpectedly. These kinds of defects are rarely visible at the scene and typically require a forensic inspection to uncover. If the vehicle isn’t preserved for analysis, any opportunity to identify a contributing mechanical failure may be lost.

Lastly, has all the electronic data from the vehicle been collected? Most modern vehicles are equipped with event data recorders that capture critical information in the seconds leading up to a crash—such as speed, braking, and steering input. That data can help determine whether the vehicle responded to the driver’s actions properly or if something went wrong internally. Preserving and analyzing this data is essential for understanding the full context of the crash.

Understanding how and why a crash happened is essential—especially when someone has been seriously hurt. The answers don’t always come easily, but they can’t be found unless the right questions are pursued from the start. Asking these questions is the least that can be done to ensure that those affected by this crash get the clarity and closure they deserve.