What to Do After a Car Accident in Florida?

If you are involved in a car accident in Florida, move to a safe location, call 911 if needed, seek medical evaluation, photograph the accident scene, exchange information, report the accident to your insurance company, preserve evidence, and consult an experienced personal injury attorney before giving recorded statements or accepting a settlement offer. The actions you take during the first hours after a crash may significantly affect your health, your insurance claim, and your legal rights.

A. Protect Yourself and Report the Accident:​

Move to a safe location and turn on hazard lights.  Be cautious, especially if road rage or a potential crime is involved.

Check for injuries.  When you are in a safe location, check for injuries and call 911 to report the accident.  

Call 911. If you used another person’s phone to call 911, remember their phone number.  Your attorney may need the number to request a copy of the 911 tape. 

Document the scene and take photos.  Photograph any bruises, crash damage, shattered glass, and road debris.

Stay at the Scene: Never leave until police complete their report.

Obtain your Florida Driver Exchange from the police.  The full police report should be available in ten days or less.  If for some reason police failed to create a report for the accident, use this portal.  https://www.flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/

Seek immediate medical care!

Show your car insurance to all First Responders.

Remember: Florida is a no-fault state for insurance purposes. Provide your car insurance information to any medical providers, including paramedics, and ambulance company.

Florida’s 14-day rule. Florida’s 14-day rule requires medical treatment within two weeks to claim no-fault (PIP) benefits.

B. Preserve evidence:

Save contact information for everyone involved.  Note names and badge numbers.

Take down vehicle license plate numbers.

Photograph damages and the scene.

Write down eyewitness names and statements.

Note road and weather conditions.

Save any hospital discharge paperwork, wristbands, neck braces, or arm slings.

Save prescription bills and any receipts related to your medical care and recovery.

Keep a diary of treatment and appointments after the accident.

Did someone record the accident on video?  Save the name and number.​​

C. Protect Your Rights:

Don't handle any calls with the insurance companies, even your own.Allow your attorney to notify your insurance company of the loss and handle the process of obtaining compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and car repair. Your attorney should be able to obtain a verbal disclosure of policy limits within 24-48 hours.  If an attorney makes you wait 30-days to learn policy information, proceed with caution.​

Final Thoughts:

Stay calm, be organized, and protect your rights. Seek legal or medical help when in doubt. Being informed empowers you to recover both physically and financially.​​​

Sources

• Florida Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Law – 14-Day Rule: Florida Statutes § 627.736 (Personal Injury Protection Benefits). Requires initial medical services and care within 14 days after a motor vehicle accident to qualify for PIP medical benefits. Official Source: Florida Statutes § 627.736

• What to Do After a Car Accident: The Insurance Information Institute (III) – What to Do at the Scene of an Accident provides practical recommendations for protecting your safety, documenting the scene, and reporting the crash.

• Florida Crash Reports: The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) Crash Reports Portal allows drivers to obtain eligible Florida traffic crash reports and related information.

• Florida Crash Reporting Requirements: Florida Statutes § 316.066 governs crash reporting requirements and the submission of traffic crash reports by law enforcement. Official Source: Florida Statutes § 316.066