Spinal cord injury in McAllen: where to get care, what it costs and how long you have
For a spinal cord injury near McAllen, the nearest Level I trauma care is South Texas Health System McAllen, with DHR Health in Edinburg also running a Level 1 center. DHR's rehab hospital lists spinal cord injury accreditation. You generally have 2 years to sue, but only 6 months to give notice if a government vehicle was involved.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (30)
Where can I get spinal cord injury care near McAllen?
| What you need | Where | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency and trauma care | South Texas Health System McAllen, an ACS-verified Level I Trauma Center | DHR Health in Edinburg runs a Level 1 Trauma Center too |
| Rehabilitation | DHR Health Rehabilitation Hospital | It says it is CARF-accredited in stroke, brain injury, amputation and spinal cord injury |
| State rehab help | Texas HHS Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services | You must be at least 15, a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and a Texas resident, among other rules |
| Your medical records | DHR records line, 956-362-3448 | Ask for the full chart, including therapy notes |
A physical medicine doctor usually leads a rehab team, which can also include vocational counselors. Roughly one-third of people with a spinal cord injury need temporary or permanent help to breathe. For clinic visits close to home, UT Health RGV lists a multispecialty clinic in McAllen at (956) 296-3990. Ask early what the team expects for your case. They will not always know, and that is normal.
What does a spinal cord injury cost over a lifetime?
More than most families expect. The National SCI Statistical Center's March 2026 table lists paraplegia at $705,131 in the first year and $93,409 each later year. Its lifetime estimate is $3,139,165 for someone hurt at 25 and $2,060,139 for someone hurt at 50.
- Indirect costs, such as lost work and help at home, averaged $97,787 a year in 2025 dollars.
- Only 18% of people with a traumatic spinal cord injury were employed at year 1.
- About 29% are back in the hospital in a given year.
Those are national figures, not a prediction for you. A doctor can write a life care plan for your own injury level and needs. A court can only count lost earnings as the amount left after income tax.
Who pays for a spinal cord injury after a crash in McAllen?
- The other driver's policy. The Texas minimum is only $30,000 for one person.
- Your own health insurance and any underinsured motorist coverage you did not reject in writing.
- Medicare, if it paid. It must be repaid when you receive a settlement.
- The state rehab program, only after personal insurance, Medicare or Medicaid have paid.
A hospital can place a lien on a claim, but in Texas that needs an admission within 72 hours of the injury. Keep every bill and every explanation of benefits. For DHR Health records, call 956-362-3448.
What if a government vehicle caused my spinal cord injury in McAllen?
Texas waives immunity when a government employee operates a motor vehicle. You then have 6 months to give notice. McAllen takes claims online, has a Spanish form called Aviso de Reclamo, and runs Risk Management at 1300 Houston Ave., (956) 681-1410.
Caps apply. A Texas city's limit is $250,000 per person, and a unit of local government's limit is $100,000 per person. Those limits are one reason to file the notice carefully and early. McAllen takes claims online for personal injury, and Risk Management is at 1300 Houston Ave., City Hall, (956) 681-1410.
How long do I have to sue over a spinal cord injury in McAllen?
You generally have 2 years. A disability that comes later does not pause the clock. For a child with a spinal cord injury, the clock does not start until age 18. If a jury puts you above 50 percent of the blame, you recover nothing, even after a catastrophic injury.
Questions
Can I still file a claim if my paralysis showed up days later?
Yes, if you can link it to the injury. Paralysis can develop over time after the first damage, and your 2 years still start at the injury.
Does the state rehab program replace a lawsuit?
No. It is a rehab service, and it pays only after your other coverage.
What should my family keep?
Keep the hospital bills, therapy notes, mileage to appointments and a daily note of what you can and cannot do. Ask DHR for records at 956-362-3448 if the care was there.
Spinal cord injury or paralysis 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 (30)
- 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, Level I Trauma Center, checked 2026-11-08. “The DHR Health Level 1 Trauma Center provides the highest level of trauma care available”
- DHR Health, Rehabilitation Hospital, checked 2026-11-09. “CARF-accredited as specialists in treating stroke, brain injury, amputation, and spinal cord injury”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
- 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”
- Texas Health and Human Services, checked 2026-11-09. “The Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services program assists eligible people who have a traumatic brain injury (TBI), traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI), or both, function independently in their home and community.”
- Texas Health and Human Services, checked 2026-11-09. “Participants must first use all available personal medical benefits, such as medical insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, before they can use CRS program funding to pay for services.”
- 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.”
- CMS, checked 2026-11-09. “because it must be repaid to Medicare when a beneficiary receives a settlement, judgment, award, or other payment”
- 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.”
- Texas HHS, Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services, checked 2026-11-09. “- Be at least 15 years of age. - Be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and a Texas resident”
- DHR Health, Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “you can reach us at 956-362-3448”
- NINDS, checked 2026-11-09. “A doctor specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation usually leads the rehabilitation team.”
- NINDS, checked 2026-11-09. “About one-third of people with an SCI will need temporary or permanent help with breathing”
- 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”
- National SCI Statistical Center, checked 2026-11-09. “Paraplegia AIS ABC $705,131 $93,409 $3,139,165 $2,060,139”
- National SCI Statistical Center, checked 2026-11-09. “indirect costs averaged $97,787 per year in 2025 dollars”
- National SCI Statistical Center, checked 2026-11-09. “Since 2015, 18% of persons with tSCI are employed at year 1”
- National SCI Statistical Center, checked 2026-11-09. “Since 2015, about 29% of persons with tSCI are re-hospitalized at”
- 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”
- Tex. Ins. Code § 1952.101(b)-(c), checked 2026-11-08. “unless the insurer provides uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage in the policy or supplemental to the policy. (c) The coverage required by this subchapter does not apply if any insured named in the insurance policy rejects the coverage in writing.”
- 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.”
- 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”
- City of McAllen Risk Management, Submit a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Property Damage Personal Injury”
- City of McAllen Risk Management, Aviso de Reclamo, checked 2026-11-08. “Daños a la Propiedad .. Lesiones Personales”
- City of McAllen, Risk Management, checked 2026-11-08. “1300 Houston Ave. City Hall - 1st Floor McAllen, TX 78501 (956)681-1410”
- 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”
- Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 101.023, checked 2026-11-09. “liability of a unit of local government under this chapter is limited to money damages in a maximum amount of $100,000 for each person and $300,000 for each single occurrence”
- 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”