Broken bone in McAllen: when to get help, who pays and how long you have

If you think a bone is broken, do not wait to be seen. A suspected hip, pelvis or upper leg break is a 911 call. McAllen has an ACS-verified Level I trauma center, and DHR Health in Edinburg has one too. Who pays depends on what broke the bone, and you generally have 2 years to sue.

Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (31)

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Road map of McAllen with N Bicentennial Blvd and N 10th St, two corridors on the city's Vision Zero priority list
Pain far beyond what is expected can signal a danger. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

When should I call 911 or go to the ER for a broken bone in McAllen?

Go to the ER if you think a bone is broken. For a hip, pelvis or upper leg, do not drive yourself. Call 911. South Texas Health System McAllen is a Level I Trauma Center, and DHR Health in Edinburg runs a Level 1 Trauma Center.

Warning signWhat it can mean
Pain far beyond what you would expectCompartment syndrome. A cast or bandage that is too tight can cause it
Muscle that stops workingCompartment syndrome can lead to muscle death and loss of function
Bone through the skinAn open fracture

Tell the team if a cast feels wrong. Do not wait for the next appointment. For follow-up care close by, UT Health RGV lists a multispecialty clinic at 205 E. Toronto Ave., McAllen, (956) 296-3990.

How do people break bones in McAllen crashes and falls?

On McAllen streets, people on foot and on motorcycles take the hardest hits. Of 380 pedestrians in crashes from 2018 to 2023, 43 were killed or seriously injured. Of 208 people in motorcycle crashes, 47 were, 23% compared with 1% in cars.

Falls are the other source. The city's Sidewalk Department maintains sidewalks and ramps, and city code requires a permit to build or repair one. Inside a rental, every stairway and porch must be safe and in good repair under the housing code.

Who pays for a broken bone in McAllen?

How you were hurtWho may payLocal note
Car crashThe at-fault driver's policy. The Texas minimum is $30,000 for one personPolice report: $6
Broken sidewalk or city roadThe City of McAllen, if the claim fits Texas rulesNotice within 6 months; city cap $250,000 per person
Bad stairs in a rentalThe landlord, if a known problem was not fixedThe housing inspector acts on complaints
On the jobThe employer's workers' comp, if it has itEmployers must say if they have coverage; Texas lists registered non-subscribers

For a job injury, the Office of Injured Employee Counsel has a field office at 1108 West Pike Blvd. in Weslaco.

What does a broken bone claim cover in Texas?

Medical care, lost pay and the harder-to-count losses. Mental anguish, disfigurement and physical impairment are listed separately under Texas noneconomic damages. For a broken bone, the impairment piece must be substantial and cannot just repeat another damage.

  • Surgery with plates, pins or screws adds cost and recovery time.
  • Cast time depends on the fracture and the bone.
  • A fracture into a joint can raise arthritis risk more than 20-fold, so ask about long-term effects.

Keep photos of the injury and the place where it happened, plus a log of work missed. If a broken sidewalk caused the fall, McAllen Public Works says its Sidewalk Department maintains existing sidewalks and ramps citywide.

How long do I have to sue over a broken bone in McAllen?

You generally have 2 years. With a government, notice comes first: 6 months. If the injured person is a child, the clock waits until age 18. A jury that puts more than 50 percent of the blame on you leaves you with nothing, even with a broken bone. A claim against the city goes through Risk Management at (956) 681-1410.

Questions

Do I need a lawyer for a simple break that healed?

Not always. If your costs were small and the insurer pays, you may be fine. If you had surgery or still have pain or stiffness, have someone read the offer first.

What if my cast was too tight?

Say so at once. A cast or bandage that is too tight can cause compartment syndrome.

Does a break in a joint matter more?

It can. Fractures into a joint can raise arthritis risk more than 20-fold, so keep the follow-up records.

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Sources (31)

  1. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “it's important to get medical care right away if you think you have a fracture”
  2. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “There is a suspected broken bone in the hip, pelvis, or upper leg.”
  3. South Texas Health System McAllen, Trauma Care, checked 2026-11-08. “South Texas Health System McAllen is an ACS-verified Level I Trauma Center”
  4. 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”
  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. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Pain that is much higher than expected with the injury”
  7. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Whether the bone breaks through the skin; if it does, it's called an open (or compound) fracture.”
  8. PubMed Central (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “articular fractures can increase the risk more than 20-fold”
  9. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.001(12), checked 2026-11-09. “physical pain and suffering, mental or emotional pain or anguish, loss of consortium, disfigurement, physical impairment”
  10. Golden Eagle Archery, Inc. v. Jackson, 116 S.W.3d 757 (Tex. 2003), checked 2026-11-09. “the effect of any physical impairment must be substantial and extend beyond any pain, suffering, mental anguish, lost wages or diminished earning capacity”
  11. 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”
  12. City of McAllen Risk Management, Submit a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Property Damage Personal Injury”
  13. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “If the pressure lasts long enough, the muscles may die and the arm or leg will no longer work.”
  14. 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”
  15. City of McAllen, Vision Zero Action Plan (August 2024), checked 2026-11-08. “Pedestrian 380 43 11%”
  16. City of McAllen, Vision Zero Action Plan (August 2024), checked 2026-11-08. “Motorcycle 208 47 23%”
  17. McAllen Public Works, Streets & Drainage, checked 2026-11-08. “maintains existing sidewalks, ramps and infrastructure repairs throughout the city”
  18. City of McAllen Code, Ch. 94, Art. III, Improvements, checked 2026-11-08. “No person shall construct, reconstruct, repair or otherwise improve any sidewalk, curb, gutter or any street paving within the city without first obtaining from the city building official a permit to do so.”
  19. City of McAllen Code, Ch. 22, Art. VIII, Housing Code, checked 2026-11-09. “Every inside and outside stairway, porch and any appurtenance thereto shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load that normal use may cause to be placed thereon, and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair.”
  20. 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.”
  21. 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.”
  22. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies 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 and $500,000 for each single occurrence”
  23. City of McAllen, Housing Enforcement, checked 2026-11-09. “The Housing Inspector shall enforce the provisions of the code by patrolling the neighbor or through nuisance complaints that are called in by our citizens.”
  24. 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.”
  25. Texas Department of Insurance, checked 2026-11-09. “Get a list of registered non-subscribers at Texas Open Data Portal”
  26. Office of Injured Employee Counsel, OIEC Offices, checked 2026-11-08. “Weslaco Field Office 1108 West Pike Blvd. Weslaco, TX 78596-4651”
  27. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “In some cases, you may need surgery to put in plates, pins, or screws to keep the bone in place.”
  28. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “How long you need to wear it will depend on the type of fracture and which bone is affected.”
  29. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-08. “the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period”
  30. 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”
  31. City of McAllen, Risk Management, checked 2026-11-08. “1300 Houston Ave. City Hall - 1st Floor McAllen, TX 78501 (956)681-1410”

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