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After a serious accident, the most important thing is getting the right medical care quickly. Knowing the difference between a trauma center, an emergency room, and an urgent care clinic can help you or a loved one get to the right place, and the records created there often become the foundation of an injury claim.
If someone is seriously hurt, always call 911. Emergency responders decide where to take patients based on their injuries.
A trauma center is a hospital equipped to treat the most severe injuries, such as those from high-speed crashes, serious falls, and gunshot wounds. Georgia designates trauma centers by level. A Level I center provides the highest level of care, with trauma surgeons and specialists available around the clock.
The Georgia Department of Public Health’s list of designated trauma centers identifies Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah as a Level I trauma center.
Memorial Health is the region’s Level I trauma center, and it receives the most critically injured patients from across coastal Georgia. Emergency crews often take people there after serious crashes on I-16, I-95, and the area’s busiest corridors.
Patients with severe head injuries, spinal trauma, multiple fractures, or internal bleeding are typically treated here. If you or a family member has a traumatic brain injury or another life-threatening injury, this is likely where care begins.
St. Joseph’s/Candler operates emergency departments at two Savannah hospitals, St. Joseph’s Hospital on the southside and Candler Hospital. Both treat a wide range of emergencies 24 hours a day.
These emergency rooms are a common first stop for people hurt in car crashes, falls, and other accidents who need prompt evaluation, imaging, and treatment. If a patient needs a higher level of trauma care, they can be transferred.
Not every injury needs an emergency room. Urgent care clinics can handle minor sprains, small cuts, and mild soreness. But after an accident, it’s better to err on the side of caution.
Go to the emergency room or call 911 for:
For milder symptoms, an urgent care clinic or your primary care doctor may be appropriate. Just don’t wait too long. Pain from whiplash and soft tissue injuries often gets worse over the following days.
Some injuries need care beyond the first emergency visit. Severe burns, spinal cord injuries, and major brain injuries often require specialized units, surgery, and long rehabilitation. In some cases, patients are transferred to facilities with specialized programs.
These injuries often lead to the most complex claims. Catastrophic injury claims must account for a lifetime of care, brain injury claims often involve years of cognitive therapy, and burn injury claims frequently involve grafts and reconstructive surgery.
The records created in the first hours after an accident are some of the most important evidence in an injury claim. They document:
Insurance companies review these records closely. Gaps between the accident and your first medical visit are a common reason insurers question whether injuries were caused by the crash. Be honest and thorough when describing your pain, even if it seems minor at the time.
Emergency care can be expensive, and bills often arrive before an insurance claim is resolved. A few things to know:
Our guide to economic vs. non-economic damages explains how medical expenses fit into a claim. A car accident lawyer can also work to reduce liens so more of your settlement goes to you.
Follow your discharge instructions, keep every follow-up appointment, and save all paperwork. Our guide on what to do immediately after a car accident in Savannah covers the other steps that protect your claim.
Founding attorney Benjamin Clary has spent 13 years helping injured Georgians recover the cost of their medical care and much more. He holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating and handles every case on a contingency fee basis.
If you or a loved one is recovering from a serious crash, a truck accident lawyer or a personal injury lawyer at our firm can review your case for free.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
