Accident Help
Florida Accident Checklist
A printable, step-by-step checklist for South Florida drivers. Keep it in your glove box. If you are ever in a crash, work through this list top to bottom — it covers safety, documentation, insurance, and repair in the exact order they matter.
- The 305CarCare Editorial Team
- Updated recently
- 5 min read
Key Takeaways
- Work top to bottom — the order matters when adrenaline is high.
- Photograph everything: vehicles, plates, IDs, insurance cards, and the scene.
- Call police for any crash with injury or noticeable damage — Florida requires it.
- Notify your insurer the same day and seek medical care within 14 days.
- You choose the repair shop, always.
Overview
The moments after a crash are stressful and easy to fumble. This checklist keeps you focused: safety first, then documentation, then insurance, then repair. Print it, fold it, and store it with your registration.
1. Safety First
- ☐ Stop the vehicle. Put it in park. Turn on hazard lights.
- ☐ Take a breath. Check yourself for injuries.
- ☐ Check passengers, then check the other driver.
- ☐ Call 911 if anyone is hurt or vehicles are heavily damaged.
- ☐ If safe and vehicles are drivable, move to the shoulder or a parking lot.
- ☐ Set up flares or hazard triangles if you have them, especially at night.
2. Call the Police
- ☐ Call 911 or the local non-emergency line.
- ☐ Give your exact location — mile marker, cross street, or address.
- ☐ Stay at the scene until an officer releases you.
- ☐ Get the officer's name, badge number, and the crash report number.
- ☐ Never admit fault or apologize — stick to facts.
3. Information to Collect
From every driver involved:
- ☐ Full name, address, and phone number
- ☐ Driver's license number and state
- ☐ Insurance company, policy number, and claims phone number
- ☐ Vehicle year, make, model, color, and license plate
- ☐ VIN (found on the dashboard or door jamb)
- ☐ Names and contact info for passengers
- ☐ Names and contact info for any witnesses
4. Photos to Take
- ☐ Wide shots of the entire scene from multiple angles
- ☐ Position of both vehicles before anything is moved
- ☐ Every point of damage — close-up and mid-range
- ☐ License plates of all vehicles
- ☐ The other driver's insurance card and driver's license
- ☐ Skid marks, debris, glass, and fluid trails
- ☐ Traffic signs, signals, and lane markings
- ☐ Weather, lighting, and any road hazards
- ☐ Any visible injuries (yours and passengers')
- ☐ The interior — deployed airbags, damage, personal items
5. Documents to Keep
- ☐ Police crash report number (request the full report within 10 days)
- ☐ Names and badge numbers of responding officers
- ☐ Tow receipt and destination of your vehicle if towed
- ☐ Medical visit summaries and receipts
- ☐ Rental car agreements and receipts
- ☐ Every estimate, invoice, and repair authorization
- ☐ All correspondence with insurers — email, letters, texts
6. Insurance Reminders
- ☐ Call your insurance company the same day.
- ☐ Report only the facts — do not speculate on fault.
- ☐ Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer.
- ☐ Ask about rental coverage, towing, and glass coverage.
- ☐ Confirm your deductible and how it will be collected.
- ☐ Get every promise in writing (or via email).
7. Medical Reminders
- ☐ See a doctor within 14 days — Florida PIP requires it.
- ☐ Report every symptom, even minor ones.
- ☐ Follow through on all recommended imaging and follow-ups.
- ☐ Keep every receipt and after-visit summary.
8. Repair Reminders
- ☐ You choose the repair shop — not the insurance company.
- ☐ Get a written estimate and a written warranty.
- ☐ Ask about OEM vs. aftermarket parts before work begins.
- ☐ Approve any supplements (additional repairs) in writing.
- ☐ Do a walk-around inspection before you take delivery.
- ☐ Save the final invoice — it matters at resale time.
Important Reminders
- Do not admit fault. Let insurers and police determine responsibility.
- Do not leave the scene until police release you — leaving is a serious offense in Florida.
- Do not sign a release from any insurer until repairs and medical care are complete.
- Do not accept the first offer until a shop has looked for hidden damage.
Practical Example
A driver is rear-ended on the Palmetto Expressway. She turns on her hazards, checks herself and her child in the back seat, and — since traffic is heavy — carefully moves to the shoulder. She calls 911, photographs both vehicles from four angles, snaps the other driver’s insurance card and license, and gets the officer’s badge number. That evening she calls her insurer, and the next day she visits her primary care doctor for a headache. Within a week her chosen shop begins repairs, insurance covers the rental, and her PIP handles the medical bills. Every step above earned her that outcome.
Printing This Checklist
Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or ⌘ + P (Mac) to print. Fold it in half and keep it with your registration and insurance card. A five-minute preparation today prevents hours of hassle after a crash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this checklist legally required in Florida?
No — it is a practical guide, not a legal document. But every step reflects Florida law or best practice: reporting requirements under Florida Statute 316.065, the 14-day PIP medical rule, and your legal right to choose your own repair shop.
What information do I need to collect at the scene?
Names, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, insurance company and policy numbers, license plates, and vehicle details for every driver involved, plus contact info for any witnesses and the responding officer’s name, badge, and crash report number.
How many photos should I take?
Take more than you think you need — 30 to 50 is not too many. Wide scene shots, close-ups of every dent and scratch, license plates, VINs, insurance cards, road conditions, signs, weather, and any visible injuries.
How long do I have to report the accident to my insurer?
Most Florida policies require ‘prompt’ notification. Same-day is the safest standard, and it also starts the clock on rental coverage and repair authorization.
Can I print this checklist and keep it in my car?
Yes. Use your browser’s print function (Ctrl/⌘ + P) to save or print this page. Keeping a printed copy plus a pen in the glove box is one of the best five-minute investments a Florida driver can make.
Recommended Resource
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