San Antonio Trauma Centers and Emergency Rooms for Accident Injuries

University Hospital — 4502 Medical Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229. Phone: (210) 358-4000. University Hospital is the only civilian Level I trauma center in San Antonio and serves as the primary teaching facility for UT Health San Antonio. The trauma center manages approximately 4,000 Level I trauma activations per year. The Emergency Center averages 70,000 emergency patient visits annually. University Hospital is a 604-bed acute care facility with specialized units for neurosurgery, orthopedic trauma, burn care, and surgical critical care. If you are in a severe car accident in San Antonio, EMS will likely transport you here.

Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) — 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234. Phone: (210) 916-4141. BAMC is a 425-bed academic medical center and the Department of Defense's largest facility and only Level I trauma center. BAMC's trauma center treats over 6,000 military and civilian trauma patients each year from a 22-county area encompassing 2.2 million people in Southwest Texas. BAMC operates the U.S. Army Burn Center, the only burn center in the DoD, treating approximately 750 burn patients per year. BAMC accepts civilian trauma patients — if you are in a crash near Fort Sam Houston, EMS may transport you to BAMC.

Level I trauma centers provide the highest level of surgical care for trauma patients. They have 24/7 availability of surgeons, anesthesiologists, and specialists in orthopedics, neurosurgery, critical care, and other disciplines. They also have dedicated trauma research programs and serve as regional referral centers for complex cases that lower-level facilities cannot handle.

Methodist Hospital — 7700 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229. Phone: (210) 575-4000. Methodist Hospital is a Level II trauma center located in the South Texas Medical Center, adjacent to University Hospital. Methodist Hospital is a 1,536-bed facility (the largest private hospital in Bexar County) with a full-service emergency department, trauma surgery, and a comprehensive range of medical specialties.

Methodist Hospital Metropolitan — 1310 McCullough Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212. Phone: (210) 757-2200. Methodist Metropolitan is a Level II trauma center serving downtown San Antonio and the south side. Its emergency department handles a high volume of trauma cases from some of the city's busiest corridors, including I-35, I-10, and US-281.

Level II trauma centers provide comprehensive trauma care and can manage most injured patients. They have 24/7 availability of key surgical and critical care specialists. The primary difference from Level I is the volume of trauma research and certain subspecialty requirements. For most car accident injuries, a Level II trauma center provides equivalent emergency care to a Level I facility.

Methodist Hospital Northeast — 12412 Judson Road, Live Oak, TX 78233. Phone: (210) 757-5000. Serves the northeast suburbs including Live Oak, Converse, and Schertz. Methodist Hospital Stone Oak — 1139 E. Sonterra Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78258. Phone: (210) 638-2100. Serves the rapidly growing Stone Oak and far north side area.

Methodist Hospital South — 1905 S.W. Military Drive, San Antonio, TX 78224. Phone: (210) 757-3000. Serves south San Antonio and the surrounding communities. Baptist Medical Center — 111 Dallas St., San Antonio, TX 78205. Phone: (210) 297-7000. Located downtown near the River Walk, Baptist Medical Center is a full-service hospital with a 24/7 emergency department.

San Antonio Military Medical Center (formerly Wilford Hall) at Lackland AFB and other military-affiliated facilities are available to eligible beneficiaries. For civilian accident victims, the primary options are University Hospital, BAMC, and the Methodist system hospitals.

San Antonio EMS and the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) coordinate trauma triage across the region. When paramedics arrive at a crash scene, they assess your injuries using standardized trauma triage criteria. Patients with the most severe injuries — multi-system trauma, traumatic brain injury, penetrating wounds, or hemodynamic instability — are transported to the nearest Level I trauma center (University Hospital or BAMC).

For less critical but still serious injuries — isolated fractures, moderate lacerations, or stable but injured patients — EMS may transport to the nearest Level II trauma center or appropriate emergency room based on proximity and bed availability. STRAC maintains real-time hospital capacity data so EMS can route patients to facilities that can accept them.

If you are conscious and able to communicate, tell the paramedics about all your symptoms — headache, neck pain, numbness, difficulty breathing, or abdominal pain. Do not downplay your symptoms. Some serious injuries, particularly internal bleeding and traumatic brain injuries, may not be immediately obvious. Let the paramedics make the transport decision based on their clinical assessment.

When you arrive at the ER after a car accident, you will be triaged — assessed for the severity of your injuries and prioritized accordingly. Life-threatening injuries are treated first. If your injuries are not immediately life-threatening, you may wait to be seen. Use this time to call a family member or friend and notify your insurance company.

The ER team will conduct a physical examination and order diagnostic imaging as needed — X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs depending on your symptoms. Common car accident injuries include whiplash and cervical spine injuries, concussions and traumatic brain injuries, fractured bones, internal organ damage, and soft tissue injuries. Some of these injuries, particularly concussions and internal bleeding, require imaging to diagnose.

Be honest and thorough about every symptom you are experiencing. Mention everything — headache, dizziness, neck stiffness, back pain, numbness in your hands or feet, abdominal pain, or changes in vision. ER documentation is some of the most important evidence in your personal injury case because it establishes the link between the crash and your injuries at the earliest possible moment.

Your emergency room medical records are the foundation of the damages portion of your personal injury case. They document what injuries you sustained, how severe those injuries were at the time of the crash, what diagnostic tests were performed, what treatment was provided, and what follow-up care was recommended. Insurance adjusters and defense attorneys will scrutinize these records.

Gaps in your medical records create problems. If you wait days or weeks to seek medical attention, the insurance company will argue that your injuries were not caused by the crash or were not serious. Go to the ER immediately after the accident, follow up with your primary care doctor or a specialist within a few days, and attend all recommended follow-up appointments. This creates a continuous medical record that links your injuries to the crash.

Keep copies of all medical bills, explanation of benefits (EOBs) from your insurance company, and receipts for out-of-pocket expenses (prescriptions, medical devices, travel to appointments). These documents establish the economic damages component of your claim. Texas allows recovery for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of earning capacity (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.001).

Emergency rooms in Texas are required to stabilize and treat you regardless of your ability to pay under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). You will not be turned away. However, you will receive a bill. ER visits for car accident injuries commonly range from $2,000 to $20,000 or more depending on the severity of your injuries and the imaging and procedures required.

Your health insurance is typically the first payer for your medical treatment after a car accident. Your auto insurance personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, if you carry it, can also help cover medical expenses. If you hire a personal injury attorney on contingency, they can often work with medical providers to defer billing until your case resolves through a medical lien arrangement.

Do not let concerns about cost prevent you from seeking emergency medical care. Your health is the priority. The cost of your medical treatment becomes part of your damages claim against the at-fault driver. Failing to seek treatment, on the other hand, damages both your health and your legal case.

If you were injured in a San Antonio car accident and received emergency medical treatment, 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 supports your case, and whether connecting with a personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Your medical records are powerful evidence — but understanding your legal options is equally important. Our assessment is free, confidential, and gives you the information you need to decide what comes next.