What to Do After a Car Accident in Florida

Immediately after a car accident, move your vehicle out of traffic if it is safe to do so, check yourself and any passengers for injuries, and call 911. Florida law requires a police report any time an accident involves injury, death, or at least $500 in vehicle damage, so an officer should be dispatched to the scene in almost every case.

Steps to Take at the Scene

• Call 911 and request medical assistance if anyone is hurt.
• Exchange names, phone numbers, insurance information, and license plate numbers with the other driver.
• Photograph the vehicles, license plates, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible injuries.
• Get names and phone numbers for anyone who witnessed the crash.
• Avoid discussing fault or apologizing at the scene, since these statements can be used later.

See a Doctor Within 14 Days

Florida’s no-fault insurance law requires you to seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident to remain eligible for Personal Injury Protection benefits. Waiting longer than that, even if you are still in pain, can result in your PIP claim being denied outright. This is one of the most common and costly mistakes people make after a crash, particularly when injuries like whiplash or soft tissue damage do not feel serious right away.

Be Careful With Insurance Companies

Notify your own insurance company that the accident happened but be cautious about everything you say and sign after that. Adjusters are trained to ask questions in a way that minimizes what they eventually pay, and early statements or paperwork signed before you know the full extent of your injuries can be used against you later.

Don’t Give a Recorded Statement

Avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurer, including your own, until you have spoken with an attorney. These statements feel routine, but adjusters use them to lock in early details about your injuries, often before you have seen a specialist or fully understood how serious the damage is. A recorded statement made in the first few days after a crash can end up limiting what you are able to claim months later.

Don’t Accept a Quick Settlement Offer

Insurance companies sometimes offer a fast settlement within days of the accident, before you know the full cost of your treatment. These early offers are almost always lower than what the claim is worth, and once you accept and sign a release, you give up the right to ask for more later, even if you later need surgery or additional treatment.

Don’t Sign a Blanket Medical Records Authorization

Insurers often ask you to sign an authorization giving them access to your entire medical history, not just records related to the accident. This can open the door to the adjuster combing through unrelated past conditions to argue your current injury isn’t as serious or wasn’t caused by the crash at all. Any authorization you sign should be limited to the treatment connected to this accident.

Keep Records and Know Your Deadline

Save copies of medical bills, repair estimates, missed work documentation, and any correspondence with insurance companies. Florida generally gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, but that does not mean you should wait. Evidence disappears, witnesses become harder to reach, and insurers use delay to their advantage.