Find a spinal cord injury lawyer in El Paso: where care starts and who pays
Spinal cord injuries in El Paso go first to University Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma center. Rehab can continue at PAM Health, 1600 East Cliff Drive. Texas has a state program for people with traumatic spinal cord injuries. You generally have 2 years to sue, but a city claim is due in 90 days.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (30)
Where does a spinal cord injury get treated in El Paso?
Do not move someone you think has a spinal injury. Emergency crews place a rigid collar on the neck and lay the person on a backboard. Then the choice is the hospital.
| Place | What it is | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| University Medical Center (UMC) | Level 1 trauma center, reverified by the American College of Surgeons | Main number (915) 544-1200. Part of a public, nonprofit hospital district |
| The Hospitals of Providence East Campus | Major Level II trauma center | On the east side |
| PAM Health Rehabilitation Hospital | Rehab hospital with 42 beds | 1600 East Cliff Drive, (915) 975-8630. Works in partnership with UMC |
Ask the trauma team who will lead your rehab plan and which doctors will track your recovery over months, not days.
What are the signs of a spinal cord injury after a crash or fall in El Paso?
Numbness, tingling or a loss of feeling in the hands and feet. About one-third of people with a spinal cord injury need help breathing, for a while or for good.
Some damage shows up later. Tell every doctor about new symptoms, even small ones, and ask that they go in your chart.
Is there state help for spinal cord rehab in El Paso?
Yes. Texas Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services is a state program for people with traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries. Call Texas Health and Human Services to ask whether you qualify and how long approval takes, since this page cannot answer that.
Families also often face a long road after the hospital. In one national study, about 29 percent of people with a traumatic spinal cord injury were re-hospitalized each year. Only 18 percent were employed one year after the injury.
What do you have to prove to recover costs in El Paso?
- Medical bills. You can recover only what was actually paid or owed, not the full sticker price. A sworn billing affidavit can show bills were reasonable and care was necessary.
- Lost income. It must be shown as a net loss after income tax.
- Other costs. Researchers put indirect costs, such as lost work and help at home, at an average of $97,787 a year in 2025 dollars. That is a national average, not an El Paso number or a promise.
A hospital lien only attaches if you were admitted within 72 hours of the accident. Keep every bill, even the ones insurance paid.
Who pays after a spinal cord injury in El Paso?
| What caused it | Who may pay | Time limit |
|---|---|---|
| A crash with a private driver | That driver's insurer, your own coverage | Generally 2 years to sue |
| A City of El Paso truck or a Sun Metro bus | The city, up to $250,000 per person. Sun Metro is a city department | Sworn notice to the Mayor in 90 days |
| A state or local government vehicle | The agency. Texas waives immunity for motor vehicle use | Notice in 6 months unless the agency knew |
| A job site fall | Workers' comp, or the employer if it opted out | Tell your employer in 30 days |
For a job-site injury, OSHA's El Paso Area Office is at 4849 N. Mesa, Suite 200, (915) 534-6251. The city cap does not limit a claim against a private driver or company.
Questions
How long do I have to sue after paralysis in El Paso?
Generally 2 years from the day the claim arises. A disability that starts later does not pause the clock.
What if my child has a spinal cord injury?
Texas does not count the time a child is under 18 against the deadline to sue. A sworn notice to a city still has to meet the 90-day rule, so ask a lawyer right away.
Can my family still get help if I cannot work?
Ask your hospital's social worker about benefits and the state rehab program.
Spinal cord injury or paralysis in El Paso? See if you are owed money.
A free case review. $0 upfront. No fee unless you win.
See if I’m owed moneySources (30)
- UMC El Paso, 2024 Annual Report, checked 2026-11-08. “UMC Receives Reverification as Level 1 Trauma Center”
- PAM Health El Paso, checked 2026-11-09. “Location: 1600 East Cliff Drive, El Paso, TX 79902”
- Texas HHS, checked 2026-11-09. “This program is for people who have traumatic brain and/or spinal cord injuries.”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
- City of El Paso City Attorney, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “shall within 90 days or within 6 months for good cause shown from the date the damage occurred or the injury was received, give notice in writing to the mayor”
- University Medical Center of El Paso, checked 2026-11-08. “Main Number: (915) 544-1200”
- City of El Paso City Attorney, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “shall be sworn to by the person claiming damages or by someone authorized by him to do so on his behalf”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-09. “A disability that arises after a limitations period starts does not suspend the running of the period.”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 18.091, checked 2026-11-09. “must be presented in the form of a net loss after reduction for income tax payments or unpaid tax liability”
- NINDS, checked 2026-11-09. “emergency personnel will place a rigid collar around the neck and carefully place the person on a backboard”
- El Paso County Hospital District Strategic Plan, checked 2026-11-09. “a public, nonprofit healthcare system dedicated to serving the residents of El Paso County”
- The Hospitals of Providence, Awards & Distinctions, checked 2026-11-08. “The Hospitals of Providence East Campus is recognized as a Major Level II Trauma Center”
- PAM Health El Paso, checked 2026-11-09. “42 Patient Beds”
- PAM Health El Paso, checked 2026-11-09. “In Partnership with University Medical Center”
- NINDS, checked 2026-11-09. “Numbness, tingling, or a loss of (or changes in) sensation in hands and feet”
- NINDS, checked 2026-11-09. “About one-third of people with an SCI will need temporary or permanent help with breathing”
- National SCI Statistical Center, checked 2026-11-09. “Since 2015, about 29% of persons with tSCI are re-hospitalized at”
- National SCI Statistical Center, checked 2026-11-09. “Since 2015, 18% of persons with tSCI are employed at year 1”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.0105, checked 2026-11-09. “recovery of medical or health care expenses incurred is limited to the amount actually paid or incurred by or on behalf of the claimant”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 18.001, checked 2026-11-09. “is sufficient evidence to support a finding of fact by judge or jury that the amount charged was reasonable or that the service was necessary”
- National SCI Statistical Center, checked 2026-11-09. “indirect costs averaged $97,787 per year in 2025 dollars”
- Tex. Prop. Code § 55.002, checked 2026-11-09. “For the lien to attach, the individual must be admitted to a hospital not later than 72 hours after the accident.”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.023, checked 2026-11-09. “Liability of a municipality under this chapter is limited to money damages in a maximum amount of $250,000 for each person”
- Sun Metro Suspension of Service Policy, checked 2026-11-08. “the City of El Paso's Mass Transit Department (Sun Metro)”
- Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 101.021, checked 2026-11-09. “arises from the operation or use of a motor-driven vehicle or motor-driven equipment”
- Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 101.101, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
- Texas Department of Insurance, checked 2026-11-09. “In Texas, private employers can choose to carry workers' compensation insurance coverage (subscribers), but it is not required in most cases.”
- Texas Labor Code 409.001, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than the 30th day after the date on which”
- OSHA, Texas area offices, checked 2026-11-09. “El Paso Area Office U.S. Dept. of Labor - OSHA 4849 N. Mesa, Suite 200 El Paso, TX 79912-5936 (915) 534-6251”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-08. “the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period”