What to Do After a Car Accident in Florida
A Practical Florida Car Accident Checklist
A car accident can leave you shaken, injured, and uncertain about what to do next. Your first priorities should be safety and appropriate medical care. Once immediate dangers have been addressed, the information you collect and the decisions you make can affect your insurance benefits and legal options.
This guide explains what to do at the scene, during the first 24 hours, and over the following days. Save this page on your phone so it is available if you or someone you care about is involved in a crash.
Healing First. Justice Always.
Do These Things First
- Stop and remain at or near the scene.
- Check yourself and your passengers for injuries.
- Call 911 for injuries, immediate danger, or a serious collision.
- Report the crash to the appropriate law-enforcement agency when required.
- If the crash caused only property damage and a vehicle is blocking traffic, move it to a safe location when reasonably possible.
- Exchange driver, vehicle, registration, and insurance information.
- Photograph the vehicles, damage, roadway, signals, license plates, and surrounding area.
- Obtain the names and telephone numbers of witnesses.
- Be truthful, but do not guess, speculate, argue, or accept blame.
- Obtain appropriate medical attention for new or worsening symptoms.
Call The Law Firm of Douglas G. Jackson, P.A.: 1-800-704-6045
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What to Do at the Accident Scene
1. Stop, Check for Injuries, and Protect the Scene
Florida law requires a driver involved in a crash to stop and fulfill certain responsibilities. Check yourself and your passengers before leaving the vehicle. If someone appears seriously injured, do not move that person unless an immediate danger requires it or a dispatcher or emergency professional instructs you to do so.
Turn on your hazard lights if appropriate. If the crash involves only property damage and a damaged vehicle is blocking traffic, Florida law requires reasonable efforts to move it so that it does not obstruct the regular flow of traffic. Moving a vehicle from the roadway under these circumstances does not, by itself, establish fault for the crash. See section 316.061, Florida Statutes.
Do not stand between vehicles or walk into an active traffic lane to inspect damage or take photographs.
2. Call 911 or the Appropriate Law-Enforcement Agency
Call 911 when anyone may be injured or the crash presents an emergency. Florida law also requires immediate notice to the appropriate law-enforcement agency when a crash involves injury, death, or apparent damage of at least $500. Because even relatively modest vehicle damage may exceed $500, reporting a crash is often prudent. See section 316.065, Florida Statutes.
Give the responding officer a truthful and concise account. If you do not know an answer, say that you do not know rather than guessing. Ask for:
- The officer’s name and agency;
- The officer’s badge or identification number;
- The crash-report or event number; and
- Instructions for obtaining the completed report.
Do not leave merely because the other driver asks to “handle it privately.”
3. Exchange and Photograph Important Information
Florida drivers involved in a crash generally must provide their name, address, and vehicle-registration number and, upon request and if available, display their driver’s license. They must also render reasonable assistance to an injured person when necessary. See section 316.062, Florida Statutes.
Collect or photograph:
- The other driver’s name, address, and telephone number;
- Driver’s license information;
- Vehicle registration;
- License-plate number;
- Vehicle make, model, and color;
- Insurance company, policy number, and insured’s name;
- The driver’s relationship to the vehicle owner, if different;
- The names and contact information of passengers; and
- The name and employer of a driver operating a commercial or company vehicle.
If the other person will not cooperate, do not argue or attempt to take documents by force. Notify the responding officer.
4. Document the Vehicles and Surrounding Area
If it is safe, take more photographs and video than you think you will need. Capture:
- Wide views showing the entire scene;
- Each side of every involved vehicle;
- Close views of the vehicle damage;
- License plates;
- Debris, tire marks, fluid, or damaged property;
- Traffic lights, stop signs, lane markings, and warning signs;
- Weather, lighting, and roadway conditions;
- The intersection, street names, or recognizable landmarks;
- Visible physical injuries;
- Deployed airbags and the inside of your vehicle;
- The position of the vehicles before they are moved, when it is safe to document it; and
- Any obstruction that may have affected visibility.
Do not delete photographs merely because they seem unhelpful. Preserve the original files with their date and location information.
5. Identify Witnesses and Potential Video
Ask witnesses for their names, telephone numbers, and email addresses. Do not rely entirely on the police officer to identify every witness.
Look for nearby:
- Businesses with exterior cameras;
- Homes with security or doorbell cameras;
- Traffic or transportation cameras;
- Parking facilities;
- Buses or commercial vehicles with onboard cameras; and
- Vehicles with dashcams.
Write down the address or description of each potential camera. Video may be overwritten quickly, so serious crashes may require prompt preservation requests.
6. Communicate Carefully Without Being Confrontational
Cooperate with law enforcement and provide required information. Do not argue with the other driver or attempt to decide fault at the roadside.
A statement such as “I did not see you” or an unnecessary guess about speed, distance, or distraction may later be interpreted differently than you intended. Remain factual. You may express concern for another person without accepting legal responsibility.
Do not post photographs, accusations, medical information, or commentary about the crash on social media.
What to Do During the First 24 Hours
Obtain Appropriate Medical Care
Your health comes first. Seek emergency assistance for serious symptoms, including loss of consciousness, confusion, difficulty breathing, severe pain, weakness, numbness, uncontrolled bleeding, or other symptoms that may indicate an emergency. For less urgent symptoms, contact an appropriate licensed medical provider and explain that the symptoms followed a motor-vehicle crash.
Some injuries are not immediately apparent. Adrenaline, stress, and shock may temporarily mask pain or other symptoms. Describe your symptoms accurately and completely without minimizing or exaggerating them.
Understand Florida’s 14-Day PIP Requirement
Florida Personal Injury Protection, commonly called PIP, generally requires an injured person to receive qualifying initial services and care within 14 days after the motor-vehicle accident. Missing that period may prevent payment of PIP medical benefits for the crash.
The 14-day period is an insurance-benefit deadline—not a recommendation to wait for treatment. The type of provider delivering the initial care also matters. In addition, medical benefits may be available up to $10,000 when a qualifying provider determines that the injured person had an emergency medical condition, while reimbursement may be limited to $2,500 when the person is determined not to have such a condition. Deductibles, exclusions, policy terms, medical necessity, and other limitations may also affect payment. See section 627.736, Florida Statutes.
Do not select or reject medical treatment merely to increase the value of a legal claim. Treatment decisions should be made with qualified medical professionals based on your health.
Notify Your Automobile Insurer
Report the crash to your insurer promptly. Your policy may impose duties involving notice, cooperation, medical examinations, documents, or statements.
Provide basic, accurate information and obtain:
- A claim number;
- The adjuster’s name and contact information;
- Confirmation of the coverages that may apply;
- Instructions for vehicle inspection and repair;
- Information about rental-vehicle coverage;
- PIP claim information; and
- Instructions for submitting medical bills or lost-income documentation.
Do not ignore a request from your own insurer. However, before giving a recorded statement, determine which insurance company is requesting it, whether you have a contractual obligation to provide it, and the subjects the company intends to address. Your obligations to your own insurer may differ substantially from your obligations to the other driver’s insurer.
Protect Your Vehicle and Personal Property
Take complete photographs of the vehicle before repairs begin. Remove personal property if the vehicle is being towed, but do not discard damaged child-safety seats, helmets, electronic devices, or other items that may be relevant.
Record:
- The tow company’s name;
- The storage location;
- The date the vehicle arrived;
- Daily storage charges;
- The insurer’s inspection instructions; and
- Any deadline relating to moving or releasing the vehicle.
Do not authorize destruction or disposal of a vehicle involved in a serious or disputed crash before determining whether it should be inspected or preserved.
What to Do During the Following Days
Preserve an Accurate Record
Keep a single folder—paper or electronic—for information relating to the crash. Preserve:
- The driver-exchange form and crash-report number;
- Photographs and videos;
- Witness information;
- Insurance correspondence;
- Medical records, instructions, and bills;
- Prescription and medical-equipment receipts;
- Towing, storage, repair, rental, and transportation expenses;
- Employment records showing missed work or reduced earnings; and
- Notes showing how your injuries affect work and ordinary activities.
A brief, factual record, in the form of a letter to a lawyer, can help you remember dates, symptoms, appointments, and expenses. Do not exaggerate or attempt to create a record that does not accurately reflect your experience.
Follow Appropriate Medical Advice
Attend recommended appointments or promptly communicate with the provider if you cannot attend. Tell providers about changes in symptoms, prior injuries, and relevant medical history. A prior condition does not necessarily prevent a claim, but incomplete or inaccurate medical information can create avoidable disputes.
Keep copies of work restrictions, referrals, diagnostic orders, and discharge instructions.
Be Careful With Releases and Early Settlement Offers
An insurer may request a medical authorization, property-damage release, bodily-injury release, or settlement agreement. Understand exactly what the document covers before signing it.
A final release may prevent additional recovery even if injuries worsen, additional treatment becomes necessary, or other insurance is later discovered. Repair checks and property-damage documents should also be reviewed to determine whether they contain broader release language.
Obtain the Crash Report
Follow the instructions provided by the investigating agency. Florida crash reports may also be available through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Crash Report Portal.
Review the report for the identity of the drivers, vehicles, insurers, witnesses, investigating agency, and crash-report number. A report can provide important information, but it does not necessarily resolve every question of legal responsibility.
Crashes That May Require Particularly Prompt Attention
Early investigation may be especially important when the crash involves:
- A hit-and-run driver;
- An uninsured or underinsured motorist;
- A commercial truck, delivery vehicle, or company vehicle;
- Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare service;
- Multiple vehicles;
- A pedestrian, bicyclist, or motorcyclist;
- A child or legally incapacitated person;
- A fatality or catastrophic injury;
- A government-owned vehicle or public employee;
- A dangerous roadway or defective traffic-control device;
- A possible mechanical or vehicle defect;
- A driver who was working at the time of the crash;
- Disputed responsibility;
- Missing or threatened video evidence; or
- A request to dispose of a severely damaged vehicle.
Commercial, rideshare, governmental, and defective-product cases can involve additional responsible parties, insurance policies, evidence, and deadlines. Important electronic or video evidence may also be lost through ordinary data-retention practices.
When Should You Speak With a Car-Accident Attorney?
Every collision does not require an attorney, and every injury does not create a viable legal claim. A prompt legal consultation may nevertheless be important when:
- You suffered more than minor or temporary symptoms;
- You required emergency care, diagnostic testing, rehabilitation, specialist treatment, or surgery;
- Fault is disputed;
- The insurer is denying or delaying coverage;
- The other driver has insufficient insurance;
- More than one person or business may be responsible;
- You lost wages or can no longer perform your usual work;
- You are asked to give a recorded statement or sign a release;
- An insurer makes an early settlement offer;
- A commercial, rideshare, or government vehicle was involved;
- Evidence may disappear;
- The crash aggravated an earlier medical condition; or
- You do not understand which insurance coverage or deadline applies.
Florida generally provides a two-year limitations period for an action founded on negligence, but the applicable deadline depends on the claim, the crash date, the parties, and other circumstances. Some notice or filing requirements can be substantially shorter. See section 95.11, Florida Statutes. Do not use the general limitations period as a reason to delay medical care, insurance notice, evidence preservation, or legal advice.
How Our Firm Approaches Car-Accident Claims
At The Law Firm of Douglas G. Jackson, P.A., we believe in Healing First. Justice Always.
Medical decisions should be based on your health, not pressure from an insurance company or the perceived needs of a lawsuit. While you concentrate on appropriate care and recovery, our role is to evaluate responsibility, preserve evidence, identify available insurance, document the effects of the injury, communicate with insurers, and protect your legal options.
We seek a fair resolution when a claim can be resolved appropriately. When an insurer disputes responsibility, minimizes an injury, undervalues the losses, or refuses to make a reasonable offer, we are prepared to pursue personal-injury litigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I call the police after a minor Florida car accident?
Florida requires immediate notice to law enforcement when a crash involves injury, death, or apparent property damage of at least $500. Because modern vehicle repairs can exceed $500 even when the damage initially appears modest, reporting the crash is often prudent. Call 911 for injuries or immediate dangers; otherwise, contact the agency with jurisdiction and follow its instructions.
What if I do not feel injured at the scene?
Do not claim symptoms you do not have, but do not assume that the absence of immediate pain means you were not injured. Monitor your condition and obtain appropriate medical care if symptoms appear. Florida’s PIP statute generally requires qualifying initial care within 14 days for medical benefits arising from the crash.
What if the other driver says the crash was my fault?
Do not argue at the scene. Preserve photographs, witness information, video sources, vehicle damage, and the crash report. Legal responsibility should be evaluated from the complete evidence rather than roadside accusations.
Should I give the insurance adjuster a recorded statement?
Your own insurance policy may require reasonable cooperation, including a statement or examination under oath. You generally do not have the same contractual relationship with the other driver’s insurer. Before giving a recorded statement, understand which insurer is requesting it, why it is requested, and what obligations apply.
Does Florida’s no-fault system mean the other driver is never responsible?
No. PIP generally provides certain medical and disability benefits without initially deciding who caused the crash. Responsibility can still matter for property damage and for bodily-injury claims that fall outside PIP’s protections and satisfy applicable legal requirements.
What if the other driver left the scene?
Call law enforcement immediately. Provide the vehicle’s description, license plate or partial plate, direction of travel, driver description, and any photographs or video. Look for witnesses and nearby cameras. Prompt notice may also be important to uninsured-motorist or other insurance coverage.
What if I already spoke to an adjuster or did not take photographs?
Do not assume that your claim is lost. Preserve what remains, write down what you remember, obtain the crash report, and gather existing messages, photographs, medical records, and insurance correspondence. An attorney can evaluate the effect of what occurred.
Talk With Our Legal Team
If you were injured in a Florida car accident, contact The Law Firm of Douglas G. Jackson, P.A. to request a consultation. We can evaluate the available information, explain the process, and help you determine the appropriate next step.
Call 1-800-704-6045
Request a Consultation
Before sending detailed information, please provide the names of the drivers, vehicle owners, passengers, businesses, and other potentially involved parties so the firm can conduct a conflict check. Do not send confidential communications, extensive medical records, or other sensitive documents unless requested.
Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Representation begins only after the firm confirms that it can accept the matter and both the client and firm sign an engagement agreement.
This page provides general information about Florida law and is not legal advice. The appropriate response to a crash depends on the particular facts, insurance policies, medical circumstances, and applicable law.
Take The First Step Toward Legal Recovery
Contact the firm’s St. Petersburg office online or over the phone at 1-800-704-6045. Our legal team is ready to evaluate your injury claim, explain the process, and help you determine the appropriate next step.
