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

What to Do After a Car Accident in Florida

Car accidents happen fast. One moment you're driving, the next you're dealing with airbags, broken glass, and shock. What you do in the minutes and hours after a crash in Florida can significantly affect your health, your legal rights, and your ability to recover fair compensation.

This guide walks you through every step.

1. Check for Injuries and Call 911

Your safety comes first. Before anything else, check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Call 911 immediately — even if the accident seems minor. A police report creates an official record that is critical for insurance claims and any future legal action.

In Florida, you are legally required to report any accident that results in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $500.

2. Move to Safety if Possible

If the vehicles are drivable and it is safe to do so, move them out of traffic. Turn on your hazard lights and set up flares or warning triangles if you have them. Stay off the road while you wait for police.

3. Document Everything at the Scene

Once you are safe, start documenting:

• Take photos and video of all vehicles, license plates, damage, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signs, and any visible injuries
• Get the other driver's information: name, license number, insurance company and policy number, vehicle registration
• Talk to witnesses: get names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the crash
• Note the time, date, and exact location

Do not apologize or admit fault — even casually. Anything you say can be used against you later.

4. Seek Medical Attention Immediately

This is one of the most important steps Florida accident victims get wrong. Even if you feel fine, see a doctor within 14 days of the accident. Why? Florida's Personal Injury Protection (PIP) law requires you to seek medical treatment within 14 days to qualify for PIP benefits — no exceptions.

Beyond PIP, many serious injuries (concussions, internal bleeding, soft tissue damage) have delayed symptoms. A medical record created close to the accident date is also far stronger evidence than one created weeks later.

5. Notify Your Insurance Company

Report the accident to your own insurance company promptly. Florida is a no-fault state, meaning your own PIP coverage pays for your initial medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the accident. However, if your injuries are serious, you may be able to step outside the no-fault system and pursue a claim against the at-fault driver.

Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company without first consulting an attorney.

6. Preserve All Evidence

• Keep a folder with all accident-related documents: police report, medical bills, repair estimates, correspondence with insurance companies
• Save all texts, emails, and voicemails related to the accident
• Photograph your injuries regularly as they develop and heal
• Keep a daily journal of your pain, limitations, and how the injury affects your daily life

7. Understand Florida's No-Fault Insurance System

Florida requires all drivers to carry:

• $10,000 Personal Injury Protection (PIP) — covers 80% of medical bills and 60% of lost wages up to $10,000, regardless of fault
• $10,000 Property Damage Liability (PDL) — covers damage you cause to another person's property

If your injuries are serious — defined under Florida law as significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, permanent injury, significant scarring, or death — you can pursue a claim against the at-fault driver for damages beyond your PIP coverage.

8. Consult a Florida Car Accident Attorney

If you suffered any injury beyond minor cuts and bruises, speaking with a personal injury attorney is in your best interest — and most offer free consultations. An experienced Florida car accident lawyer can:

• Investigate the accident and preserve evidence before it disappears
• Handle all communication with insurance adjusters
• Calculate the full value of your claim including future medical costs and pain and suffering
• Negotiate a settlement or take your case to trial if necessary

Most Florida personal injury attorneys work on contingency — you pay nothing upfront, and they only collect a fee if you win.

Florida Statute of Limitations

In Florida, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline almost always means losing your right to compensation entirely. Do not wait.

Find a Car Accident Lawyer Near You

If you were involved in a car accident in Florida, our directory connects you with experienced car accident attorneys across the state.