Amputation injury in McAllen: care first, then costs, coverage and deadlines
If a limb was cut off, call 911 and tell the crew where the part is. Reattachment is sometimes possible. McAllen has a Level I trauma center, and DHR Health's rehab hospital says it is CARF-accredited in amputation care. If it happened on the job, the employer owes OSHA a report within 24 hours. The court deadline for most injury suits is 2 years.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (31)
What happens in the first hours after an amputation injury in McAllen?
Call 911 right away. The part that was cut off sometimes can be reattached, so tell the responders where it is and keep it with you if you can.
South Texas Health System McAllen is an ACS-verified Level I Trauma Center, and DHR Health in Edinburg runs a Level 1 Trauma Center. Surgeons decide what is possible. Ask a family member to write down what the doctors say, because those first days are hard to hold in your head.
Where can I get rehab and a prosthesis near McAllen?
DHR Health Rehabilitation Hospital says it is CARF-accredited in amputation, along with stroke, brain injury and spinal cord injury. UT Health RGV also has a multispecialty clinic at 205 E. Toronto Ave., (956) 296-3990.
- Fitting. A prosthesis fitting may happen when the wound is mostly healed and the skin around it is no longer tender.
- Learning. Using it takes time, and physical therapy can help you adapt.
- Phantom sensations. Some people feel the missing limb as if it were still attached.
- Life after. Most people can still be active.
Low mood and anger after limb loss are common. You do not have to carry that alone. Tropical Texas Behavioral Health runs a 24-hour crisis line at 1-877-289-7199.
What does an amputation cost over a lifetime?
| In the LEAP study (2002 dollars) | Amputation | Reconstruction |
|---|---|---|
| Projected lifetime health-care cost | $509,275 | $163,282 |
| Cost over the first two years | $91,106 | $81,316 |
The study is old and uses 2002 dollars, so today's costs are likely higher. It shows a pattern: most of the lifetime cost comes after the first two years. A life care plan from your own doctors is the better guide for your case.
Who pays for an amputation in McAllen?
| Cause | Who may pay | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Car crash | The at-fault driver's policy | The Texas minimum is $30,000 per person |
| Work accident | The employer's workers' comp, if it has it | Employers must say if they have coverage; Texas lists registered non-subscribers |
| Prosthetic device | Medicare Part B, if you qualify | You pay 20% of the approved amount |
Texas workers' comp pays lifetime income benefits for the loss of both feet at or above the ankle, or one foot and one hand. The Office of Injured Employee Counsel has a field office at 1108 West Pike Blvd. in Weslaco. A lost-pay claim counts earnings after income tax.
What if I lost a limb at work in McAllen?
Ask the employer whether the 24-hour OSHA report was made. OSHA cannot cite an incident that is more than 6 months old, so ask what was filed, and do it soon.
Save the work schedule, training records, photos of the machine and the name of any contractor on site.
How long do I have to sue over an amputation in McAllen?
You generally have 2 years. A government vehicle or property needs notice within 6 months. If the person who lost the limb is a child, the 2 years do not start until age 18. Texas bars recovery when a jury puts you above 50 percent of the blame. To bring a claim against the City of McAllen, start with the city's online claim form.
Questions
Should I decide quickly about a claim?
No. Your health comes first. Just keep the deadlines in mind: 24 hours for the employer's report, 6 months for OSHA, and 2 years to sue.
Will Medicare pay for my prosthesis?
Part B covers prosthetic devices a provider orders, and you pay 20% of the approved amount.
Is it normal to feel angry or sad?
Yes. Low mood and anger are normal after losing a limb, and help exists.
Amputation in McAllen? See if you are owed money.
A free case review. $0 upfront. No fee unless you win.
See if I’m owed moneySources (31)
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “the part sometimes can be reattached”
- South Texas Health System McAllen, Trauma Care, checked 2026-11-08. “South Texas Health System McAllen is an ACS-verified Level I Trauma Center”
- DHR Health, Rehabilitation Hospital, checked 2026-11-09. “CARF-accredited as specialists in treating stroke, brain injury, amputation, and spinal cord injury”
- OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “An in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or eye loss must be reported within 24 hours.”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Learning how to use it takes time. Physical therapy can help you adapt.”
- Medicare.gov, checked 2026-11-09. “Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers prosthetic devices when a doctor or other health care provider orders them”
- Medicare.gov, checked 2026-11-09. “you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount”
- Texas Department of Insurance, DWC Contact Us, checked 2026-11-08. “Call and speak to a customer assistant at 800-252-7031, option 1.”
- Texas Department of Insurance, DWC Contact Us, checked 2026-11-08. “Weslaco 1108 West Pike Blvd. Weslaco, TX 78596-4651”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Most people can still be active following amputation.”
- UT Health RGV, Multispecialty (McAllen), checked 2026-11-09. “UT Health RGV Multispecialty (McAllen) 205 E. Toronto Ave. McAllen, TX 78503 Phone: (956) 296-3990”
- DHR Health, Level I Trauma Center, checked 2026-11-08. “The DHR Health Level 1 Trauma Center provides the highest level of trauma care available”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Fitting for a prosthesis, a manmade part to replace your limb, may occur when your wound is mostly healed and the surrounding area is no longer tender to the touch.”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “you may feel as if the limb is still there”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Sadness, anger, and frustration are common.”
- Tropical Texas Behavioral Health, checked 2026-11-09. “TTBH 24-Hour Crisis Hotline 1-877-289-7199 — Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
- PubMed (NIH), MacKenzie et al., J Bone Joint Surg Am 2007, checked 2026-11-09. “The projected lifetime health-care cost for the patients who had undergone amputation was three times higher than that for those treated with reconstruction ($509,275 and $163,282, respectively).”
- PubMed (NIH), MacKenzie et al., J Bone Joint Surg Am 2007, checked 2026-11-09. “$81,316 for patients treated with reconstruction and $91,106 for patients treated with amputation”
- Tex. Transp. Code § 601.072(a-1), checked 2026-11-08. “(1) $30,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in one collision; (2) $60,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in one collision, subject to the amount provided by Subdivision (1) for bodily injury to or death of one of the persons; and (3) $25,000 for damage to or destruction of property of others in one collision.”
- Texas Labor Code 406.005, checked 2026-11-09. “An employer shall notify each employee as provided by this section whether or not the employer has workers' compensation insurance coverage.”
- Texas Department of Insurance, checked 2026-11-09. “Get a list of registered non-subscribers at Texas Open Data Portal”
- Texas Labor Code § 408.161, checked 2026-11-09. “loss of both feet at or above the ankle”
- Texas Labor Code § 408.161, checked 2026-11-09. “loss of one foot at or above the ankle and the loss of one hand at or above the wrist”
- Office of Injured Employee Counsel, OIEC Offices, checked 2026-11-08. “Weslaco Field Office 1108 West Pike Blvd. Weslaco, TX 78596-4651”
- 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”
- OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “OSHA can not issue violations for safety and health incidents that occurred more than six months prior”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-08. “the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001, checked 2026-11-08. “a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent”
- City of McAllen Risk Management, Submit a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Property Damage Personal Injury”