What to Do After a Car Accident in Florida

Daniel Reinfeld
Aug 24
6 min read

Updated: 7 hours ago

Hollywood Car Accident Lawyer | Daniel B Reinfeld, PA

Last updated: August 29, 2026

If you've just been in a crash, what you do in the next few minutes — and the next fourteen days — can shape your health, your insurance claim, and your legal options for months to come. This guide walks through exactly what to do immediately after a car accident in Florida, step by step, and flags the deadlines that trip up even careful drivers.

Why the First Hour After a Florida Car Accident Matters

The first hour after a Florida car accident shapes the rest of your case more than almost any other point in the process. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and Florida law imposes real deadlines — some measured in days, not months — that determine whether you can recover medical costs and lost wages at all. The steps below are organized in the order you'll actually need them, from the moment of impact through the first weeks of your claim.

Step 1: Stop, Stay at the Scene, and Move to Safety

Florida law requires every driver involved in a crash to stop and remain at the scene. Fla. Stat. § 316.062 makes leaving before exchanging information a serious offense — this isn't optional, even for a minor fender-bender.

If your vehicle is drivable and blocking traffic, move it to the shoulder or a nearby safe location and turn on your hazard lights. If it isn't safe to move the vehicle, or if anyone is injured, stay put and wait for law enforcement rather than risking further injury.

Step 2: Check for Injuries and Call 911

Check yourself and everyone else involved for injuries before doing anything else. Request medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor — adrenaline routinely masks pain from soft-tissue and internal injuries in the minutes after a crash.

If you're using someone else's phone to call 911, get that person's name and contact information before they leave. You may need to reach them again, and their call may become part of the official record.

Step 3: Know When You're Legally Required to Report the Crash

Under Fla. Stat. § 316.065, any crash involving injury, death, or property damage of at least $500 must be reported to law enforcement immediately by the quickest means available. In practice, that covers nearly every collision worth documenting — when in doubt, report it. If police don't respond to the scene, Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) offers a self-reporting portal for drivers who need to file their own crash report.

Step 4: Exchange Information — Not Opinions

Fla. Stat. § 316.062 requires you to exchange your name, address, and vehicle registration number with anyone injured, any driver or occupant of a damaged vehicle, and any officer at the scene — and to show your license on request.

Share only what the law requires. Don't discuss fault, don't apologize, and don't speculate about who caused the crash — even an offhand "I'm sorry" can be used against you later. Give your insurance information to the other driver and to first responders, but let the facts speak for themselves.

Step 5: Get the Officer's Information and Your Crash Report

If police respond, get the responding officer's name, badge number, and instructions for accessing the official crash report once it's filed — you'll need it for your insurance claim and, if you hire an attorney, for your case file. If your accident happened in Hollywood, here's exactly how to get a copy of your Hollywood, FL police report and how long it takes.

Step 6: Document Everything at the Scene

Photograph vehicle damage from multiple angles, license plates, the full accident scene, road and weather conditions, any visible injuries, and debris or skid marks. Get names and contact information for every witness — their account may matter far more later than it seems in the moment.

Beyond your own photos, several other evidence sources often exist and disappear quickly if you don't move fast:

Body-worn camera footage from responding officers
911 call recordings, which agencies typically retain for only a limited window
Ring, Nextdoor, and other nearby surveillance footage from homes or businesses near the crash site
Red-light and intersection camera footage, where applicable

Keep every record afterward, too: medical discharge paperwork, prescriptions, bills, appointment records, and any video or photo evidence you or anyone else captures. A folder — physical or digital — started on day one saves real headaches later.

Step 7: Get Medical Attention Within 14 Days — No Exceptions

This is the deadline that quietly costs Florida accident victims the most money. Under Fla. Stat. § 627.736, you must receive initial medical services and care within 14 days of the crash to qualify for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits — regardless of how you feel in the moment or when symptoms actually appear. Miss that window, and PIP coverage for your treatment can be denied outright, no matter how legitimate the injury.

If your accident happened in Hollywood, here's how to get your EMS/fire-rescue report and have your bill sent to PIP.

Step 8: Notify Your Own Insurance Company

Report the crash to your own insurer promptly — this is what activates your PIP claim regardless of fault, since Florida is a no-fault state. Stick to the basic facts of what happened; you're not required to speculate or offer an opinion on fault to your own carrier any more than you are at the scene.

Step 9: Be Careful What You Say — To Anyone

Avoid posting about the accident on social media; insurance adjusters routinely search for posts that can be used to argue your injuries aren't as serious as claimed. Be especially cautious with recorded statements requested by the other driver's insurance company — their adjuster's job is to minimize what they pay, not to protect your interests. You're generally better off letting an attorney handle those conversations, and a competent one should be willing to disclose the at-fault driver's policy limits early in the process, typically within 24–48 hours of being retained.

Step 10: Consult a Florida Car Accident Attorney Before You Sign Anything

Talk to an attorney before signing any settlement offer, medical authorization, or recorded statement — especially in the early days, when the full extent of an injury often isn't clear yet. An early settlement offer is frequently far less than a claim is actually worth, and once you sign a release, it's final.

If a motorcycle or e-bike was involved in your crash, a few things work differently — see our guides on Florida motorcycle accident settlements and Florida e-bike laws and local ordinances.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do immediately after a car accident in Florida? Stop and stay at the scene, check everyone for injuries, call 911 if the damage exceeds $500 or anyone is hurt, exchange information (not opinions) with the other driver, document the scene thoroughly, and get medical care within 14 days to protect your PIP benefits.

What if the other driver refuses to let me call the police? Call anyway if the damage appears to meet the $500 threshold under Fla. Stat. § 316.065 — you're legally obligated to report regardless of what the other driver wants.

Do I need medical attention if I feel fine after the accident? Yes. Soft-tissue and other injuries frequently don't present symptoms for hours or days. Because Florida's PIP 14-day rule runs from the date of the crash — not from when symptoms appear — waiting to "see how you feel" can cost you coverage even for a legitimate injury.

Should I give a statement to the other driver's insurance company right away? No. Their adjuster's goal is to minimize what they pay on the claim. Speak with an attorney before giving any recorded statement to an insurer that isn't your own.

How long do I have to file a car accident injury claim in Florida? Florida's statute of limitations for most car accident negligence claims is two years from the date of the crash under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a), for claims accruing on or after March 24, 2023. That said, some deadlines — like the 14-day PIP window — are far shorter, so don't wait to start protecting your claim.

Do I need a lawyer for a minor fender-bender? Not always — but it's worth a free consultation before you sign anything or accept a quick settlement offer, since injuries and vehicle damage aren't always obvious right away, and an early lowball offer can close off options you didn't know you had.

Talk to Dan Directly — Not a Call Center

The days after a car accident require careful preparation — every step above protects a claim that insurance companies are, from day one, looking for reasons to minimize. When you call Reinfeld Law, you speak directly with Dan Reinfeld, an attorney with more than 25 years of experience — including years spent on the insurance company's side of the table, which is exactly why he knows how they evaluate claims.

Call Dan 📞 (954) 923-6110