What to Do After a Car Accident in Florida: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you have been involved in a car accident in Florida, what you do next can affect your health, your insurance claim and your ability to recover compensation.
Start by checking for injuries, calling for help when necessary, documenting the accident and exchanging information with the other driver. Seek medical attention promptly, notify your insurance company and be careful about giving recorded statements or accepting a settlement before you understand the extent of your injuries.

Florida attorney Alisha Taylor answers this question in the video below.Lawggle AnswerWhat should I do after a car accident to protect my claim?Alisha Taylor · Video answerWhat should you do immediately after a car accident in Florida?

After a Florida car accident, take the following steps if you can do so safely:

1. Stop your vehicle and remain at the scene.

2. Check yourself and others for injuries.

3. Call 911 if anyone is injured or the accident needs to be reported.

4. Move to a safe location if remaining where you are creates another danger.

5. Exchange contact, driver’s licence, vehicle and insurance information.

6. Photograph the vehicles, damage, road conditions and surrounding area.

7. Collect the names and contact information of witnesses.

8. Avoid arguing about who caused the accident.

9. Seek medical attention if you are injured or experiencing pain.

10. Report the accident to your insurance company.

You may not be able to complete every step, especially if you are seriously injured. Your immediate safety and medical needs should come first.

When should you call the police after a Florida car accident?

Florida law requires a driver to immediately notify law enforcement when a crash causes an injury or death, or when there appears to be at least $2,000 in vehicle or property damage.

It can be difficult to estimate the cost of vehicle damage at the scene. Calling the police also creates an official record of the accident and allows the responding officer to document the drivers, vehicles, insurance information and apparent circumstances.

Stay at the scene unless you need emergency medical assistance or law enforcement directs you otherwise.

What information should you collect after the crash?

Evidence can disappear quickly after a car accident. Vehicles are moved, road conditions change and witnesses leave.

If possible, collect:

- The other driver’s name and contact information
- Driver’s licence and licence-plate information
- Vehicle make, model and colour
- Insurance company and policy information
- Names and contact information for witnesses
- Photographs of every vehicle involved
- Close-up and wide photographs of the damage
- Photographs of skid marks, debris and road conditions
- Nearby business or residential surveillance-camera locations
- The responding officer’s name, agency and report number

Take more photographs than you think you need. A wide image may establish where the vehicles were located, while a close-up may help document the severity and direction of the impact.

Should I admit fault after a Florida car accident?

Do not guess about who caused the accident or make statements such as “I’m sorry” or “It was my fault.”

Immediately after a crash, you may not know everything that contributed to it. Another driver may have been speeding, distracted or violating a traffic rule that you did not see.

Give the police accurate factual information, but avoid speculation. Describe what you personally saw, heard and experienced.

Should I see a doctor if I do not feel seriously injured?

Some car-accident injuries are not immediately obvious. Pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness and other symptoms may develop or become more noticeable after the initial shock wears off.

Florida’s personal injury protection rules also make timing important. To qualify for applicable PIP medical benefits, initial medical services and care generally must be received within 14 days after the motor-vehicle accident.

Do not delay necessary medical attention simply because you hope the pain will disappear. Tell the medical provider when the accident occurred, describe every symptom accurately and follow the recommended treatment plan.

The 14-day PIP rule is not a guarantee that treatment or a claim will be covered. Eligibility and available benefits depend on the facts and the applicable insurance policy.

Should I report the accident to my insurance company?
Notify your insurance company promptly, even if you believe the other driver caused the collision.

Provide accurate basic information about when and where the accident happened, the vehicles involved and whether anyone was injured. Review your policy for any applicable notice requirements.

Be careful about guessing, minimizing your injuries or giving a detailed recorded statement before you understand what is being requested. An insurance adjuster’s job is to investigate and resolve the claim for the insurance company.

Should I speak to the other driver’s insurance company?

The other driver’s insurer may contact you shortly after the accident and request a recorded statement.

You are not required to speculate about the accident or the severity of injuries that have not yet been fully assessed. Before providing a detailed statement, signing a medical authorization or accepting a settlement, consider speaking with a Florida car accident lawyer about your rights and obligations.

An early settlement may require you to release future claims. That can become a serious problem if additional injuries, treatment costs or lost income appear later.

How can I protect my Florida car accident claim?

Protecting a claim is largely about preserving accurate information.

Keep copies of:

- The police or crash report
- Photographs and videos
- Medical records and bills
- Prescription and treatment information
- Insurance correspondence
- Vehicle-repair estimates
- Towing and rental-car expenses
- Proof of missed work or lost income
- Notes describing your symptoms and recovery

Avoid posting details, photographs or opinions about the accident on social media. Insurance companies and opposing parties may review public posts when investigating a claim.

You should also avoid deleting relevant messages, photographs or electronic records. Preserve the original evidence whenever possible.

When should I contact a Florida car accident lawyer?

Not every minor accident requires an attorney.

 However, consider getting legal advice promptly when:

- You or a passenger was injured
- Responsibility for the accident is disputed
- Several vehicles were involved
- A commercial truck or rideshare vehicle was involved- The driver was uninsured or underinsured
- The insurance company is requesting a recorded statement
- The insurer denies the claim or stops responding- You are offered a settlement before treatment is complete
- The accident caused substantial medical expenses or lost income
- You are unsure which deadlines apply

A lawyer can review the accident, insurance coverage, available evidence and applicable deadlines based on your circumstances.

Watch Alisha Taylor’s answer

Florida attorney Alisha Taylor explains the practical steps someone can take after a car accident to help protect a potential claim.
Lawggle AnswerWhat should I do after a car accident to protect my claim?Alisha Taylor · Video answer
View Alisha Taylor's Profile

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to report a car accident in Florida?

Certain crashes must be reported to law enforcement immediately, including crashes involving injury, death or apparent vehicle or property damage of at least $2,000. Other reporting and insurance-notice requirements may also apply depending on the circumstances.

Do I have to see a doctor within 14 days after a Florida car accident?

Florida’s PIP law generally requires initial medical services and care within 14 days of the accident for applicable PIP medical benefits. You should not wait for the deadline if you need medical attention.

What if I did not take photographs at the accident scene?

Your claim is not automatically lost. Other evidence may exist, including the crash report, witness statements, vehicle damage, surveillance footage, medical records and electronic data. Try to preserve and obtain available evidence as soon as possible.

What if I was partly responsible for the accident?

Being partly responsible does not necessarily mean that no claim is possible. The effect of shared responsibility depends on Florida law and the specific facts. A lawyer can assess how responsibility may affect the claim.

Should I accept the insurance company’s first settlement offer?

Do not accept an offer until you understand what it covers and whether accepting it requires you to release further claims. It may be difficult or impossible to seek additional compensation after signing a release.

The bottom line

After a car accident in Florida, focus first on safety and medical care. Report the accident when required, exchange information, preserve evidence, notify your insurer and avoid making guesses or signing documents you do not fully understand.

The strongest time to protect a potential car accident claim is immediately after the crash - before evidence disappears and important decisions are made.

Have a legal question after a car accident?

Every accident is different. You can explore more answers from personal injury lawyers on Lawggle, find a lawyer who handles car accident claims in your area or ask a general legal question.

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This page provides general legal information and is not legal advice. Laws and insurance requirements may change, and the outcome of any matter depends on its particular facts. Watching this video or reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.