Spinal cord injury in San Antonio: where care is, what it costs and who to call
San Antonio has two Level I trauma centers, University Hospital and BAMC. Reeves Rehabilitation inside University Hospital treats spinal cord injury. A claim has to cover care for decades. In Texas you generally have 2 years to sue, but only 90 days to give written notice to the City of San Antonio.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (39)
Where do people get spinal cord injury care in San Antonio?
| Place | What it offers |
|---|---|
| University Hospital | Level I trauma and Level I pediatric trauma center |
| Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) | The only Level I trauma center in the Department of Defense, and one of two in San Antonio as of January 2022 |
| Reeves Inpatient Rehabilitation | A certified unit inside University Hospital with an EksoNR robotic walking device and a transitional apartment for families |
| PAM Health Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hospital | Lists spinal cord injury care and prosthetic training at 5101 Medical Drive |
The Army said in 2022 that the trauma region served by BAMC and University Health covers 22 counties and 2.2 million people. University Health is also the Bexar County Hospital District, a public body. For its medical records, call 210-358-3532.
At the scene, emergency crews place a rigid collar and a backboard. If you are with someone hurt in San Antonio, do not move them unless there is danger.
How much does a spinal cord injury cost over a lifetime?
No one can promise a San Antonio family a number. The National SCI Statistical Center's March 2026 Facts and Figures lists these national estimates:
| Injury level | First year | Each later year |
|---|---|---|
| Paraplegia | $705,131 | $93,409 |
| Low tetraplegia, C5 to C8 | $1,045,459 | $154,128 |
| High tetraplegia, C1 to C4 | $1,446,827 | $251,246 |
Money is also lost at work. Indirect costs averaged $97,787 per year in 2025 dollars, and only 18 percent of people with a traumatic injury were employed at year 1. Each year, about 29 percent of people with the injury go back into the hospital.
What goes into a life care plan for a San Antonio spinal cord injury?
- A rehab team led by a doctor in physical medicine.
- Breathing help, which about one-third of people with a spinal cord injury need, for a time or for good.
- Doctors' prediction of the likely long-term outcome.
- Lost earning capacity, which Texas requires you to show as a loss after income tax.
In Texas you recover medical costs only for what was paid or owed. A sworn billing affidavit can prove bills were reasonable and the care necessary, and it is generally served within 90 days after the defendant answers.
What if a city, VIA or other government vehicle caused my injury in San Antonio?
| Who | What you do | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| City of San Antonio | Written notice to the city manager or City Clerk within 90 days. It must say when, where and how, how serious it is and the amount of damages | $250,000 per person |
| CPS Energy, SAWS or VIA | File with that agency, not the city | Ask the agency for its rules |
| Other Texas local governments | Written notice within 6 months | $100,000 per person |
Texas waives immunity for the operation or use of a motor vehicle, and that is the rule that matters for a bus or city truck claim.
How long do I have to sue for a spinal cord injury in San Antonio?
A San Antonio spinal cord suit must be filed within two years in most cases. If the injured person is a child, the 2-year clock does not run until age 18. In a spinal cord case, a jury that puts more than 50 percent of the blame on you leaves you with no recovery.
If you were hurt at work, the Office of Injured Employee Counsel offers free help, at 4440 S. Piedras Drive, Suite 205. A hospital can also claim a lien if you were admitted within 72 hours, and Medicare must be repaid from a settlement.
Questions
Can a spinal cord injury get worse after the crash?
Yes. Paralysis can develop over time after damage to the cord. Keep every follow-up visit with your San Antonio care team.
How often do crashes cause these injuries?
Motor vehicle crashes and serious falls are the most common causes. Bexar County had 759 suspected serious injuries in crashes in 2025.
Does a settlement pay for my lifetime care?
For a San Antonio family, it depends on the facts and what can be proved. That is why a life care plan and an economist matter. No page can promise an amount.
Can my child's case wait?
In a San Antonio case, the clock pauses while a child is under 18, but evidence fades, so records should be saved now.
Spinal cord injury or paralysis in San Antonio? See if you are owed money.
A free case review. $0 upfront. No fee unless you win.
See if I’m owed moneySources (39)
- University Health, Trauma Care, checked 2026-11-08. “verified by the American College of Surgeons as both a Level I trauma center and a Level I pediatric trauma center”
- U.S. Army, BAMC earns re-verification as Level I Trauma Center, checked 2026-11-09. “BAMC is the only Level I trauma center within the Department of Defense and one of two Level 1 trauma centers within San Antonio.”
- University Health, checked 2026-11-09. “Three hours of therapy, 5 days a week with physical, occupational and speech therapy”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
- San Antonio City Charter, Article XII, Sec. 150 (Municode), checked 2026-11-08. “notice in writing of such death, injury or destruction within ninety days after the injury has been sustained”
- University Health, checked 2026-11-09. “Transitional living apartment for overnight stays with families to prepare for discharge”
- PAM Health, checked 2026-11-09. “Prosthetic Training”
- U.S. Army, BAMC earns re-verification as Level I Trauma Center, checked 2026-11-09. “from an area that stretches across 22 counties in Southwest Texas and encompasses 2.2 million people”
- University Health, About Us, checked 2026-11-09. “we are officially the Bexar County Hospital District. While Bexar County is in our name, we are a separate governmental entity and a political subdivision of the State of Texas.”
- University Health, Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “For medical records, please call us at 210-358-3532”
- NINDS, checked 2026-11-09. “emergency personnel will place a rigid collar around the neck and carefully place the person on a backboard”
- 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. “Low Tetraplegia (C5–C8) AIS ABC $1,045,459 $154,128 $4,690,573 $2,885,122”
- National SCI Statistical Center, checked 2026-11-09. “High Tetraplegia (C1–C4) AIS ABC $1,446,827 $251,246 $6,419,617 $3,528,112”
- 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”
- 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”
- NINDS, checked 2026-11-09. “Doctors are now able to predict with reasonable accuracy the likely long-term outcome of an SCI.”
- 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. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.0105, checked 2026-11-09. “recovery of medical or health care expenses incurred is limited to the amount actually paid or incurred by or on behalf of the claimant”
- 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”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 18.001, checked 2026-11-09. “90 days after the date the defendant files an answer”
- San Antonio City Charter, Article XII, Sec. 150 (Municode), checked 2026-11-08. “stating in such written notice when, where and how the death, injury or destruction occurred”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. 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”
- City of San Antonio, Notice of Claim form, checked 2026-11-08. “No, you would need to file a claim with the corresponding entity.”
- 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 § 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”
- 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”
- 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”
- Office of Injured Employee Counsel, Contact Us, checked 2026-11-08. “Injured employees in Texas have the right to free services from OIEC”
- Office of Injured Employee Counsel, Offices, checked 2026-11-08. “San Antonio Field Office 4440 S. Piedras Drive, Suite 205”
- 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.”
- CMS, checked 2026-11-09. “because it must be repaid to Medicare when a beneficiary receives a settlement, judgment, award, or other payment”
- NINDS, checked 2026-11-09. “develop over time from bleeding and swelling in the spinal cord and cell death (secondary damage)”
- NINDS, checked 2026-11-09. “Motor vehicle accidents and serious falls are the most common causes of SCI in the U.S.”
- TxDOT, 2025 Crashes and Injuries by County, checked 2026-11-08. “Bexar 182 190 644 759 6,904 9,470 5,782 9,534 30,872 85,376 2,360 11,962 46,744”