Scars and disfigurement in McAllen: how to document them and watch the clock
A scar takes around 12 to 18 months to mature, and early revision gives poor results. That runs close to the 2-year Texas deadline to sue. Take dated photos at each stage. Texas counts disfigurement as its own kind of loss. DHR Health lists an outpatient burn clinic among its services.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (24)
When can anyone tell how bad a scar will be in McAllen?
Not for a long time. A scar needs roughly 12 to 18 months to mature. Immature scars tend to thicken, and revision done too early gives poor results.
That clashes with the clock. The general Texas deadline to sue is 2 years. If a scar needs 18 months to settle, you may have only about 6 months left to decide. Start the paperwork early, even while the scar is still changing. Suits in Hidalgo County are filed with the District Clerk at 100 N. Closner, Edinburg.
Revision helps a scar without erasing it. A scar usually fades with time but never fully disappears. Say that plainly when you talk with your lawyer, so the claim describes the scar as it will be.
What can a McAllen doctor do about a scar?
Treatments include revision, dermabrasion, laser, injections, peels and creams. Which one fits depends on the scar. DHR Health in Edinburg lists an outpatient burn clinic and scar management and rehabilitation. UT Health RGV has a multispecialty clinic at 205 E. Toronto Ave. in McAllen, (956) 296-3990.
Keloids are a special case. They are more common among Black people, Asians and Hispanics. Treatment, especially surgery, sometimes makes the keloid larger, so ask about the risk before you agree. For a referral close to home, UT Health RGV lists a multispecialty clinic in McAllen, (956) 296-3990.
How do I prove a scar in a Texas injury claim?
- Take photos on day one, then every month, in the same light and at the same distance.
- Include a ruler or coin for scale, and date every file.
- Ask your doctor to write down the scar's size, color and any loss of movement. For DHR Health records, call 956-362-3448.
- Keep a note of how the scar changes your days: avoiding photos, covering up, pain in the sun.
- Keep every receipt for creams, silicone sheets, laser or therapy.
Texas lists physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement and physical impairment as parts of noneconomic damages. Physical impairment has to be substantial and go beyond pain, suffering, mental anguish and lost earnings. A visible scar is usually argued as disfigurement, and a loss of movement as impairment.
Where do scars from injuries in McAllen come from, and who is responsible?
| Cause | Local contact or rule | Who may pay |
|---|---|---|
| Dog bite | McAllen Animal Care Services, (956) 681-1919. A biting animal must be confined at least ten days | The dog's owner, often through a home policy |
| Burn | DHR Health burn clinic and scar management | A landlord, a product maker or an employer |
| Car crash | From 2018 to 2023, 227 people were seriously injured on McAllen streets | The at-fault driver's policy |
| Surgery gone wrong | Texas caps pain and suffering against doctors at $250,000 per claimant | The doctor or hospital |
What if my child has a scar from an injury in McAllen?
A child's 2-year clock does not run until age 18. That gives time to see how the scar changes as the child grows. Still, keep photos and records from the start, because witnesses forget. Risk Management for the City of McAllen is at 1300 Houston Ave., City Hall, 1st Floor, (956) 681-1410.
A scar can weigh on a child. Texas crime victim compensation can help with counseling if a crime was involved. Tropical Texas Behavioral Health runs a 24-hour crisis line at 1-877-289-7199.
Questions
Should I wait for the scar to heal before I contact a lawyer?
No. Start early and let the lawyer plan around the 12 to 18 months a scar needs to mature.
Does Texas pay extra for disfigurement?
Texas lists disfigurement as its own kind of noneconomic loss. Texas does not set an amount for it.
Can plastic surgery fix a scar?
It can improve a scar but not erase it. DHR Health Edinburg gives inpatient burn care, including burns up to 35% of the body surface.
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See if I’m owed moneySources (24)
- PubMed Central (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “it takes around 12-18 months for the scar to mature”
- PubMed Central (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Immature scars are prone to hypertrophy and give poor results after scar revision.”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
- 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”
- DHR Health, checked 2026-11-09. “Outpatient Burn Clinic Services - Specialized Burn Management - Scar Management and Rehabilitation”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Scars usually fade over time but never go away completely.”
- PubMed Central (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “scar revision will improve and not erase the scar”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “These treatments, especially surgery, sometimes cause the keloid scar to become larger.”
- Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.001, checked 2026-11-09. “the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period”
- City of McAllen Risk Management, Submit a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Property Damage Personal Injury”
- Hidalgo County, District Clerk's Office, checked 2026-11-09. “Physical Address 100 N. Closner Edinburg, TX 78539 Phone: (956) 318-2200”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “These include surgical revision, dermabrasion, laser treatments, injections, chemical peels, and creams.”
- 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”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Black people, Asians, and Hispanics are more prone to developing keloids.”
- DHR Health, Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “you can reach us at 956-362-3448”
- 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”
- City of McAllen, Animal Care Services, checked 2026-11-08. “Monday - Friday 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM (956) 681-1919”
- City of McAllen, Animal Care Services, checked 2026-11-08. “The animal will then be confined for a period of not less than ten days from the date of such att”
- City of McAllen, Vision Zero Action Plan (August 2024), checked 2026-11-08. “Between 2018 and 2023, 42 people died and another 227 were seriously injured due to crashes on the streets of McAllen.”
- Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 74.301, checked 2026-11-09. “shall be limited to an amount not to exceed $250,000 for each claimant, regardless of the number of defendant physicians”
- City of McAllen, Risk Management, checked 2026-11-08. “1300 Houston Ave. City Hall - 1st Floor McAllen, TX 78501 (956)681-1410”
- Texas Attorney General, checked 2026-11-09. “covering costs like medical bills, counseling, lost wages, and more”
- 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.”
- DHR Health, checked 2026-11-09. “At DHR Health Edinburg, our specialists provide inpatient burn care for patients with more serious or complex burn injuries, including burns involving up to 35% Total Body Surface Area (TBSA), to any degree.”