Video Blog

Settling Claims with Insurance Companies in Texas Settling claims with insurance companies after an accident can be one of the most stressful parts of the recovery process. In the video above, Brownsville attorney Michael Gonzalez explains why handling the claims...

Understanding the Role of a Notary Public in Texas A notary public in the United States serves a very different function than in many other countries. In the video above, Brownsville attorney Michael Gonzalez explains why clients from Latin America and other regions...

For more information on felony DWI cases, learn about what to do when stopped for DWI, explore blood testing in DWI cases, and understand breathalyzer tests. You can also visit the Texas Department of Transportation for official information on DWI laws. Understanding...

Understanding the Cost of an Attorney in Texas The cost of an attorney is one of the most common concerns people have when facing legal issues. In the video above, Brownsville attorney Michael Gonzalez addresses this important topic and explains why legal...

If a cop shows up at your door, first thing you need to ask is whether he has a warrant. If he does not have a warrant, you have a right to not let him in the door. Cops, usually are a little aggressive and the first thing they’ll ask is if they can come in. You wanna...

It happens a lot where somebody is arrested and you have substance in there, let’s just say, it’s marijuana. It’s found in a bag in the car and the officer arrests both the passenger and the driver. Happens a lot. I’ve handled cases and gotten dismisses on this type...

The cop will ask you to take a breath specimen right then and there. The result of that little machine is inadmissible in a court of law, which means they can’t use it. They’re using it to build probable cause to arrest you but that’s inadmissible when we get to...

There’s been a recent change in the law of the Supreme Court decision that decided I believe in late 2013 that declared statutes that required blood sample after an accident; if the cop suspected the individual of being intoxicated. It was actually regardless of...

Representing an undocumented person in this country in a criminal case can be really tricky. The immigrant needs to know of the consequences to pleading guilty because that opens lawyer up to an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. My clients, a lot of them are...

The usual beginning of a DWI is that a cop walks up to your door, and asks you whether you’ve been drinking. And to that point, they have no evidence on you. They claim to smell an odor of alcohol. They claim that your eyes are bloodshot, but that will not suffice to...

In the state of Texas, you have a Class A, Class B, and Class C misdemeanor. It’s unlike grade school. You want to get the C, you don’t want to get the A. Because a C entails– well the range of punishment for a Class C misdemeanor is up to a $500 fine, no jail time....

Field Sobriety Test: Know Your Rights in Texas A field sobriety test is one of the primary tools law enforcement uses during a DWI traffic stop in Texas. Understanding what these roadside exercises involve and knowing your rights can help protect you if you are ever...

What is the difference between a private attorney that you hire and retain versus a public defender. There's-- at least in Cameron County, there is a pretty big misconception that the private attorney will do a better job than the court-appointed attorney.  I'm going...

A lot of people walk in the door asking about appealing an older case — whether they can overturn a guilty plea from 15 or 20 years ago. Or whether they can get an expunction or somehow get it off their record or reopen the case. The quick answer to that,...

There is a common misconception about Miranda rights. Miranda rights attach when you are under interrogation and not necessarily when you are arrested. That's why it's important when you're talking to a cop to ask him whether you are free to leave. Because if you're...

One thing that I think is extremely important down here in Brownsville and any border city really is a whole lot of criminal defendants who aren't here legally. They're undocumented. And it becomes a race to get a bond sometimes before the ICE immigration people get...

If you're arrested after an illegal search-- now, that's hard to declare. It just-- as an illegal search, you usually need to be arrested. And a lawyer needs to evaluate whether there was enough evidence to support probable cause. But it happens. If you're arrested,...

My process is quite simple. I'll ask you to come down to my office immediately. There are real consequences for not showing up to these hearings. If it's a criminal case, an arrest warrant, a bench warrant will be sent out. And it could be a month or two down the...