Back or neck injury in McAllen: the tests, the paper trail and the deadline

Doctors cannot confirm a herniated disk from an x-ray alone. An MRI or CT can. Texas takes you as it finds you, so old wear and tear does not end a claim. Get the McAllen police report for $6, tell the officer about pain at the scene, and remember you generally have 2 years to sue.

Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (27)

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Road map of McAllen with Nolana Ave and N Bicentennial Blvd, two corridors named in the city's Vision Zero priority list
An x-ray alone cannot diagnose a herniated disk. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Can I claim a back or neck injury in McAllen if I already had wear and tear?

Yes. The Texas Supreme Court says a wrongdoer takes the injured person as he finds him. If a crash made a quiet problem hurt, that can count.

Expect the argument anyway. One review found disk wear in 37% of people with no symptoms at age 20 and in 96% at age 80. So the question is what changed. Your doctor's notes from before and after the crash show it better than any argument.

What tests prove a back or neck injury?

TestWhat it showsLimit
X-rayBones onlyIt cannot diagnose a herniated disk by itself
MRIDisks, ligaments and nerve rootsA CT can also show a herniation
EMGWhich nerve root is affectedOrdered by a doctor, not by you

If your first visit ended with a normal x-ray and pain that keeps going, say so at the follow-up and ask what other test makes sense.

When should I see a doctor after a back or neck injury in McAllen?

Right away after a blow or fall. Go today if you have numbness, weakness, or bowel or bladder changes. For an emergency, South Texas Health System McAllen is a Level I Trauma Center, and DHR Health in Edinburg runs a Level 1 center. For follow-up, UT Health RGV has a multispecialty clinic at 205 E. Toronto Ave., (956) 296-3990.

Many disk problems improve over weeks to months. Pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks counts as chronic. Go to every appointment. Insurers look for gaps between visits, so keep each appointment. One local place to ask about specialist care is UT Health RGV's multispecialty clinic in McAllen, (956) 296-3990.

What do I need from the McAllen crash report?

A record that you said you hurt. TxDOT counted 2,798 crashes in McAllen in 2025, with 56 suspected serious injuries, so be clear with the officer. Tell the officer about neck or back pain even if it seems mild.

A McAllen Police report is $6, or $8 certified. Crime Records can tell you if it is ready at (956) 681-2080. The same report helps a whiplash or herniated disk claim alike.

How do I prove my medical bills in a Texas back injury case?

  1. Ask each provider for an itemized bill.
  2. A sworn billing affidavit can show the bills were reasonable and the care was necessary.
  3. Do not count on it to prove the crash caused the injury. The affidavit does not support causation.
  4. Get a doctor's note tying the injury to the crash.
  5. If you were admitted to a hospital within 72 hours, ask whether it filed a lien. For DHR Health medical records, call 956-362-3448.

Lost earnings are counted after income tax, so keep pay stubs and tax returns.

How long do I have to sue over a back or neck injury in McAllen?

You generally have 2 years. If a government vehicle was involved, give notice in 6 months. For a child with a neck or back injury, the clock waits until age 18. If a jury puts you above 50 percent of the fault for the crash, you recover nothing. If a City of McAllen vehicle or property was involved, start with the city's online claim form.

Questions

Does a normal x-ray mean I am fine?

No. An x-ray alone cannot diagnose a herniated disk, and it shows only bones.

Will my age hurt my claim?

It can come up, because disk wear grows with age. It does not end the claim.

What if my pain showed up the next day?

Report it and see a provider. Pain after a blow is a reason to go right away.

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Sources (27)

  1. MedlinePlus, checked 2026-11-09. “it is not possible to diagnose a herniated disk by a spine x-ray alone”
  2. MedlinePlus, checked 2026-11-09. “Spine MRI or spine CT to show where the herniated disk is pressing on the spinal canal.”
  3. Coates v. Whittington (Tex. 1988), checked 2026-11-09. “It is well settled that a tortfeasor takes a plaintiff as he finds him.”
  4. McAllen Police Department, FAQ, checked 2026-11-08. “All accident reports are $6.00 dollars and certified copies of accident reports are $8.00 dollars.”
  5. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
  6. NIAMS, checked 2026-11-09. “X-rays only show bones”
  7. National Library of Medicine, AJNR 2015, checked 2026-11-09. “Disk degeneration prevalence ranged from 37% of asymptomatic individuals 20 years of age to 96% of those 80 years of age”
  8. 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”
  9. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 18.001, checked 2026-11-09. “The affidavit is not evidence of and does not support a finding of the causation element”
  10. 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”
  11. McAllen Police Department, FAQ, checked 2026-11-08. “inquiry on the status of your report at (956) 681-2080”
  12. NIAMS, checked 2026-11-09. “MRI can help diagnose damage or disease of the soft tissues, such as the discs, ligaments, and nerve roots in and around the spine.”
  13. MedlinePlus, checked 2026-11-09. “Electromyography (EMG) to determine the exact spinal nerve root that is involved.”
  14. MedlinePlus, checked 2026-11-09. “Back pain after a severe blow or fall”
  15. MedlinePlus, checked 2026-11-09. “Any numbness, loss of movement, weakness, or bowel or bladder changes”
  16. South Texas Health System McAllen, Trauma Care, checked 2026-11-08. “South Texas Health System McAllen is an ACS-verified Level I Trauma Center”
  17. 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”
  18. MedlinePlus, checked 2026-11-09. “often goes away or improves a lot over weeks to months”
  19. NIAMS, checked 2026-11-09. “lasts longer than 12 weeks and occurs daily”
  20. TxDOT, 2025 Crashes and Injuries Cities and Towns, checked 2026-11-08. “MCALLEN 11 13 40 56 633 915 885 1,649 1,167 5,414 62 254 2,798”
  21. 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.”
  22. DHR Health, Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “you can reach us at 956-362-3448”
  23. 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”
  24. 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”
  25. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-08. “the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period”
  26. 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”
  27. City of McAllen Risk Management, Submit a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Property Damage Personal Injury”

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