Dallas-Fort Worth Trauma Centers and Emergency Rooms After an Accident

Parkland Memorial Hospital — Rees-Jones Trauma Center, 5200 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75235. Phone: (214) 590-8000. Parkland is Dallas County's public hospital and one of the busiest trauma centers in the nation. It is a Level I trauma center verified by the American College of Surgeons and designated by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Parkland also operates a verified burn center. The trauma center provides 24/7 coverage by trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and all surgical subspecialties. Parkland treats patients regardless of ability to pay.

Baylor University Medical Center — 3500 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, TX 75246. Phone: (214) 820-0111. Part of Baylor Scott & White Health, the largest not-for-profit health system in Texas. Baylor University Medical Center is a Level I trauma center with 24/7 trauma surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, and critical care coverage. The center is a major teaching hospital affiliated with Texas A&M University College of Medicine.

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas — 8200 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas, TX 75231. Phone: (214) 345-6789. Texas Health Dallas is a Level I trauma center that serves the northern Dallas area. The emergency department and trauma center provide comprehensive surgical capabilities including neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, and vascular surgery.

Methodist Dallas Medical Center — 1441 North Beckley Avenue, Dallas, TX 75203. Phone: (214) 947-8181. Methodist Dallas is a Level I trauma center serving the southern Dallas area. The hospital provides 24/7 trauma surgery, neurosurgery, and critical care. It is part of Methodist Health System. Children's Medical Center Dallas — 1935 Medical District Drive, Dallas, TX 75235. Phone: (214) 456-7000. Children's is the only pediatric Level I trauma center in the DFW metroplex, providing specialized trauma care for patients from birth through age 17.

John Peter Smith Hospital (JPS) — 1500 South Main Street, Fort Worth, TX 76104. Phone: (817) 927-1231. JPS is Tarrant County's public hospital and safety-net provider. It has been a Level I trauma center for decades and is one of the busiest trauma centers in Texas. JPS provides 24/7 coverage by trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and critical care physicians. The hospital operates the JPS Health Network, which includes community health centers throughout Tarrant County. JPS treats patients regardless of ability to pay through its JPS Connection financial assistance program.

Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth — 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76104. Phone: (817) 250-2000. Texas Health Fort Worth was designated as a Level I trauma center by the Texas DSHS in January 2023, making it the second Level I facility in Tarrant County. The hospital provides comprehensive trauma services including 24/7 trauma surgery, neurosurgery, and orthopedic surgery. It is the third-busiest trauma center in Texas by patient volume.

Beyond the Level I centers, the DFW metroplex has several Level II trauma centers that provide comprehensive surgical care. Level II trauma centers have 24/7 availability of essential trauma care specialists and can manage most trauma patients. They may transfer the most critically injured patients to a Level I center if needed.

Medical City Dallas Hospital — 7777 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75230. Phone: (972) 566-7000. Level II trauma center serving the northern Dallas and Richardson area. Medical City Plano — 3901 West 15th Street, Plano, TX 75075. Phone: (972) 596-6800. Level II trauma center serving the northern suburbs. Medical City Arlington — 3301 Matlock Road, Arlington, TX 76015. Phone: (817) 465-3241. Level II trauma center positioned between Dallas and Fort Worth.

The DFW metroplex also has numerous Level III and Level IV trauma facilities and freestanding emergency rooms. However, for serious injuries from car accidents, truck accidents, or other high-energy trauma, you should be treated at a Level I or Level II center. EMS triage protocols ensure the most seriously injured patients go to the highest-level facility within a reasonable transport time.

After a serious accident in Dallas-Fort Worth, you generally will not choose which hospital you go to. EMS paramedics follow triage protocols established by the Regional Advisory Council (RAC) for Trauma Service Area E (Dallas) and Trauma Service Area C (Fort Worth/Tarrant County). These protocols consider injury severity, transport time, and each facility's capabilities.

For the most critical injuries — penetrating trauma, severe head injuries, multiple fractures, spinal cord injuries, major burns, or traumatic amputations — EMS will transport you to the nearest Level I trauma center. For moderate injuries, EMS may transport to the nearest Level I or Level II center. For less severe injuries, a general emergency department may be appropriate.

If you are conscious and able to communicate, tell the paramedics about all of your symptoms, even ones that seem minor. Mention any loss of consciousness, numbness or tingling, difficulty breathing, or abdominal pain. This information helps EMS make the right triage decision and helps the trauma team prepare for your arrival.

Your medical records from the trauma center are among the most important evidence in a personal injury case. They document the immediate severity of your injuries, the diagnostic tests performed (CT scans, MRIs, X-rays), the treatments administered, and the medical professionals' assessments of your condition. This contemporaneous medical documentation is difficult for insurance companies to dispute.

Key records to obtain include: the emergency department report (triage notes, physician assessment, treatment plan), diagnostic imaging reports and images, surgical reports if you had surgery, anesthesia records, nursing notes, consultation reports from specialists (neurosurgery, orthopedics, etc.), and the discharge summary with follow-up instructions. Request a complete copy of your medical records from the hospital's Health Information Management (medical records) department.

Texas law gives you the right to obtain copies of your medical records (Tex. Health & Safety Code § 241.154). Hospitals may charge a reasonable fee for copying — up to $25 for the first 20 pages and $0.15 per page thereafter for paper copies, or a flat fee for electronic records. Request your records promptly after discharge. Most personal injury attorneys will handle medical records requests as part of their case management.

If you were injured in an accident and do not have health insurance, you still need medical treatment. Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas and JPS Hospital in Fort Worth are public safety-net hospitals that provide care regardless of ability to pay. Both offer financial assistance programs — Parkland's Financial Assistance Program and JPS's Connection program — that can reduce or eliminate medical bills for qualifying patients.

If the other driver caused the accident, their auto liability insurance should ultimately pay for your medical treatment. Texas is a fault-based state, so the at-fault driver is responsible for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. However, insurance payments often take months or years to resolve. In the meantime, you still need treatment.

Many personal injury attorneys in Dallas-Fort Worth work with medical providers who treat accident victims on a lien basis — the provider agrees to wait for payment until your case settles. This allows you to get the treatment you need without paying out of pocket. Ask a personal injury attorney about medical liens and letters of protection when you consult about your case.

Trauma center treatment addresses your immediate, life-threatening injuries. But many accident injuries require ongoing care: physical therapy for fractures and soft-tissue injuries, follow-up imaging to monitor healing, pain management, and sometimes additional surgeries. Follow every instruction in your discharge summary.

See your primary care physician or the specialists recommended in your discharge paperwork within the timeframe specified — usually within 1 to 2 weeks. If you skip follow-up appointments, the insurance company will argue that your injuries were not serious. Gaps in treatment are one of the most common ways insurance adjusters devalue personal injury claims.

Keep a detailed record of every medical appointment, prescription, therapy session, and out-of-pocket medical expense. This documentation directly supports the damages calculation in your injury claim. Pain journals — daily notes about your pain levels, limitations, and how injuries affect your daily life — can also be powerful evidence.

If you were treated at a Dallas-Fort Worth trauma center or emergency room after an accident, take our free 2-minute assessment. You will answer a few quick questions about your accident and injuries, and we will give you a personalized report that includes Texas's filing deadline for your specific claim, how your medical treatment affects the value of your case, and whether connecting with a personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Getting medical treatment was the right first step. Understanding your legal options is the next one. Our assessment is free, confidential, and gives you the information you need to decide what comes next.