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Key Takeaways
- Tampa is a large region, so fortunately, it is filled with great options for high-level emergency medical treatment after a car accident or other personal injury, such as TGH, BayCare, and AdventHealth.
- Whether you go to an urgent care or an emergency room will depend on the extent of your injuries after a car accident in Tampa. There are many standalone ERs now available in the area.
- Hiring a Tampa car accident lawyer like Hancock Injury Attorneys will take away some of the stress that comes after a car accident, so you can focus on healing.
Tampa is home to some of Florida's busiest roads, and with heavy traffic comes a high volume of crashes. After a car accident in Tampa, knowing the landscape of trauma centers in the area and where it is best for you to seek care after a car accident is vital. Our Tampa car accident lawyers know the best medical expert to get you taken care of.
Where to Seek Emergency Care in Tampa Bay
Tampa offers a wide range of facilities, but the level of care you need depends on the severity of the auto accident.
- Tampa General Hospital (TGH): As the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, TGH is for the most critically injured patients.
- St. Joseph’s Hospital: Located near Raymond James Stadium, they offer robust emergency and pediatric ER services.
- AdventHealth Tampa: Known for advanced surgery centers and emergency medicine.
- HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital: A convenient option for those in the South Tampa or Soho area.
Should I Go To The ER or Urgent Care After a Car Accident in Tampa?
Many victims ask, “Should I go to the ER or urgent care after a car accident in Tampa?” If you are experiencing head trauma or chest pain, go to the ER.
For minor "fender benders," a Tampa-based urgent care may suffice. That being said, you must be evaluated quickly to comply with Florida’s 14-day PIP rule after an auto accident.
There are many urgent care centers to get treatment after a car accident in Tampa, including:
- Family Express Urgent Care (Lutz): Offers on-site digital X-rays, EKGs, and a wide variety of rapid lab testing. They are frequently cited in reviews for having some of the shortest wait times in the North Tampa/Lutz area and a "no-wait" philosophy.
- GuideWell Emergency Doctors (North Tampa): This is a high-acuity center with capabilities beyond standard urgent care. They feature on-site CT scans, Ultrasound, X-rays, and "Moderate Complexity" labs. It is a middle ground between urgent care and the ER, staffed by Board-Certified Emergency Physicians.
- TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track: With over 20 locations across Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco, this facility offers on-site X-ray, EKG, and comprehensive lab services. They are also integrated with the Tampa General Hospital network, making referrals for advanced imaging or specialist follow-ups very seamless.
- South Tampa Immediate Care: With consistently high patient ratings, this walk-in urgent care center is a great option. They provide on-site X-ray, EKG, and laboratory testing. They are known for high-quality bedside manner and a convenient "call-ahead" waitlist system.
- BayCare Urgent Care (South Tampa): Provides on-site X-ray and basic lab services. A major benefit of this location is its proximity to the BayCare Outpatient Imaging Center, which does offer CT and MRI if the urgent care physician determines you need advanced imaging during your visit.
Video Transcript:
You didn't go to the ER right after the crash. Did you kill your case by not doing so?
We often see this in car accident cases where our clients call us and tell us that they haven't gone to the emergency room yet. They tell us that immediately after the accident, they felt a little bit sore, but they didn't feel like they had any life-threatening injuries where they felt they needed to go by ambulance to the emergency room.
And does this kill your case? The short answer is no, but it does have an effect. It's just a logical effect. We go on a spectrum of minor accidents that don't need emergency room care to traumatic accidents where we have a helicopter performing life flight to the trauma center.
When an insurance adjuster looks at your case, they're going to look at how the accident happened, the damages involved in the accident, the damages involved to each car, and whether you sought immediate medical attention. So, does it ruin your case? No. But it does affect the value of your case.
Now, here's what we can add as your lawyer. When you call us, we will assess what your injuries are based upon what you're telling us your symptoms are. We will give you advice on what doctors to go to. That advice might be you should still go to the emergency room. It might be you should go to an urgent care, or it might be that you can follow up with an orthopedic doctor or a chiropractor or a physical therapist after the accident. It all depends on the severity of your symptoms.
We want to make sure that you are getting the proper medical treatment. We can provide that advice not only on where to go, but we also can provide advice on what specific doctors actually have the specialty to treat our clients who've been involved in these types of injuries.
So, does it affect or kill the value of your case? No. But it does have an effect. So, if you are on the fence and you haven't spoken to a lawyer yet and you think you might need to go to an emergency room, I would suggest by all means do so.
And if you don't want to go to the emergency room and take one step down, go to an urgent care that's convenient for you. And then at the very end of that, go ahead and call us. We're happy to give you more help on what you should do immediately after the accident and within the day or two or three after the accident. Those things that you're doing within those few days after the accident can make or break the value of your case.
If you have any more questions, give us a call at Hancock Injury Attorneys at 813-915-1110. We'll be happy to answer any questions you have.
Your Post-Car Accident Specialist Team
While the hospital stabilizes you after a car accident in Tampa, specialized care is often where the real healing begins.
- Physical Therapists & Chiropractors: Going to physical therapy or seeing a chiropractor is often essential for managing soft-tissue injuries and ensuring your range of motion returns after an auto injury.
- Orthopedists: Orthopedic surgeons can help manage bone and joint injuries common in high-impact crashes, such as truck accidents, and perform necessary surgeries if indicated.
- Neurosurgeons: If your MRI shows a complex spinal issue, a neurosurgeon may be necessary to prevent long-term disability.
The Legal Importance of Medical Documentation
To protect your personal injury claim after a car accident in Tampa, you must understand why medical records are critical evidence. Even if you walked away from the scene, you still need to go to the hospital if you feel fine. Latent injuries are a common reality of injuries sustained in Tampa car accidents.
Focus on Your Recovery, We’ll Handle the Law
At Hancock Injury Attorneys, we manage everything to do with your personal injury claim after a car accident in Tampa, from calls with your insurance company, the filings, and negotiations, while you focus on recovering and going to doctors' appointments.
You never need to step foot into our office. If you would rather do everything by video meeting or phone, we always welcome clients in the office. We know the Tampa medical community well and can provide personalized recommendations for ongoing care.
If you've been hurt in a Tampa auto accident, reach out to Hancock Injury Attorneys by calling 813-915-1110 today.