Accident Help
What To Do After a Car Accident in Florida
A car accident is disorienting, even a minor one. This guide walks you through exactly what to do at the scene and in the hours that follow — how to stay safe, protect your legal position, document the crash, notify your insurer, and choose the right repair shop under Florida law.
- The 305CarCare Editorial Team
- Updated recently
- 9 min read
Key Takeaways
- Stop immediately, turn on hazards, and check everyone for injuries before doing anything else.
- Call 911 for injuries or significant damage — Florida law requires police reports for most crashes.
- Photograph everything: vehicles, damage, license plates, road, signs, weather, and injuries.
- Exchange names, license, insurance, and plate numbers — but do not admit fault at the scene.
- Notify your insurer the same day and start medical care within 14 days to protect Florida PIP benefits.
- You choose the repair shop — not the insurance company.
Overview
A car accident happens fast — your response afterward should be slow, deliberate, and by the book. What you do in the first hour has an outsized effect on your safety, your health, your insurance claim, and how quickly your vehicle gets back on the road. This guide is written for South Florida drivers and reflects Florida’s no-fault insurance rules, reporting laws, and repair rights.
Why This Matters
Florida is a no-fault state with some of the highest crash rates in the country. Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties consistently report tens of thousands of collisions per year. Two decisions in particular — whether to call police and how quickly you seek medical care — determine whether your insurance benefits fully apply. Handled well, most claims resolve smoothly. Handled poorly, they turn into months of paperwork and out-of-pocket costs.
Step 1: Stop and Check for Injuries
Come to a controlled stop, put the vehicle in park, and turn on your hazard lights. Take a breath. Check yourself first, then your passengers, then anyone in the other vehicle. Adrenaline can mask injuries — pain from whiplash, soft-tissue damage, or a concussion often appears hours later, which is why medical follow-up matters even if you feel fine.
- Call 911 immediately if anyone is injured, unconscious, or complaining of neck or back pain.
- Do not move an injured person unless they are in immediate danger (fire, traffic).
- If you smell fuel or see smoke, exit the vehicle and move a safe distance away.
Step 2: Move to Safety (If You Can)
If the vehicles are drivable, no one is injured, and it is safe to do so, move to the shoulder, a parking lot, or the nearest safe area. This is consistent with Florida’s Move Over guidance and prevents dangerous secondary collisions on busy roads like I-95, the Palmetto, and the Turnpike. If a vehicle cannot be moved, stay inside with your seatbelt fastened until help arrives — it is safer than standing next to traffic.
Step 3: Call the Police
In Florida, you are legally required to report any accident involving injury, death, or apparent property damage of at least $500 (Florida Statute 316.065). In practice, that includes almost every collision. Call 911 or the local non-emergency line, provide your exact location, and wait for an officer to arrive.
- Ask for the crash report number or the officer's name and badge before you leave.
- You can request a copy of the official Florida Traffic Crash Report from the responding agency or FLHSMV, usually within 10 days.
- Never admit fault, apologize, or speculate about what happened — stick to facts.
Step 4: Exchange Information
Collect the following from every driver involved. Take a photo of their documents — it is faster and more accurate than handwriting.
- Full name, address, and phone number
- Driver's license number and state
- Insurance company, policy number, and claim/phone number on the card
- Vehicle make, model, year, color, and license plate
- Names and contact info for any passengers or witnesses
Step 5: Document the Scene
Photos and video are the single most valuable evidence in a claim. Take more than you think you need.
- Wide shots showing the position of all vehicles and the roadway
- Close-ups of every point of damage on every vehicle
- License plates, VIN plates, and insurance cards
- Skid marks, debris, traffic signs, signals, and lane markings
- Weather, lighting conditions, and any road hazards
- Visible injuries — for yourself and your passengers
If witnesses stopped, ask them briefly what they saw and get their contact info. Their statement can settle a disputed claim.
Step 6: Contact Your Insurance Company
Call your insurer from the scene, or as soon as you are safe. Most policies require “prompt” notification, and Florida’s PIP coverage — which pays up to $10,000 for medical expenses regardless of fault — requires you to seek medical care within 14 days of the crash. Miss that window and you may forfeit PIP benefits entirely.
- Report only the facts: date, time, location, other driver's information, and police report number.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance before speaking with your own agent.
- Ask about rental coverage, towing, and how to submit photos and estimates.
Step 7: Choose Your Own Repair Shop
This is where many drivers give up rights they didn’t know they had. In Florida, you choose the repair facility — not your insurance company. An insurer may recommend a “preferred” or “direct repair program” (DRP) shop, and those shops can be fine, but you are never obligated to use them. A DRP relationship exists to control the insurer’s costs, which sometimes means aftermarket parts and shortcuts you didn’t authorize.
A quality shop will:
- Provide a written estimate and a written warranty on repairs
- Use manufacturer repair procedures and OEM parts when appropriate
- Handle insurance communication and supplements on your behalf
- Show you the damage in person and explain what needs to happen
Step 8: Follow Up on Medical Care
Even if you feel fine, book a same-week visit with your primary care doctor, an urgent care clinic, or a chiropractor. Delayed-onset injuries — whiplash, concussion, back and shoulder strain — are extremely common. Documenting the visit inside the 14-day PIP window protects your health and your ability to be reimbursed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Admitting fault at the scene. Let the police report and insurance investigation determine fault.
- Skipping the police report. Without one, insurers may dispute or delay the claim.
- Waiting to see a doctor. After 14 days, Florida PIP no longer covers your medical bills.
- Letting the other driver's insurer control the process. You are not their customer.
- Accepting the first settlement offer before the shop has inspected for hidden damage.
- Signing a release before you know the full extent of injuries and repairs.
Practical Tips
- Keep a printed Florida Accident Checklist and a pen in your glove box.
- Store your insurance card as a photo on your phone as a backup.
- Save your insurer's claims number in your contacts today — not the day of a crash.
- If you drive for work, know your employer's reporting rules before an incident.
Florida-Specific Guidance
- No-fault state: Your own PIP pays your medical bills first, regardless of who caused the crash.
- $10,000 PIP minimum is required on every registered vehicle in Florida.
- 14-day rule: Seek medical treatment within 14 days or lose PIP eligibility.
- Reporting threshold: Report crashes involving injury, death, or property damage of $500 or more.
- Hit-and-run: Leaving the scene of an accident with injury is a felony under Florida law.
- Your repair choice is protected — no insurer can force you into a specific shop.
When Professional Help Makes Sense
Once the immediate emergency is behind you, the next decision is where to have your vehicle inspected and repaired. Look for a shop with certified technicians, transparent estimates, and direct experience handling insurance claims — the difference between a properly repaired vehicle and a cosmetically patched one often shows up only years later, in resale value or in the next collision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do immediately after a car accident?
Stop right away, turn on your hazard lights, check yourself and passengers for injuries, and call 911 if anyone is hurt or if there is significant damage. If the vehicles are drivable and it is safe, move them out of active traffic. Then exchange information with the other driver, document the scene with photos, and notify your insurance company.
Do I have to call the police after a car accident in Florida?
Yes, in most cases. Florida Statute 316.065 requires drivers to report any crash that involves injury, death, or apparent property damage of at least $500 — and virtually every collision meets that threshold today. Calling the police creates an official crash report, which insurers rely on to process claims.
Should I move my vehicle after an accident?
If the crash is minor, everyone is uninjured, and the vehicles can be driven, Florida’s ‘Move Over’ guidance and most law enforcement agencies recommend moving to the shoulder or a nearby parking lot to prevent secondary crashes. If anyone is injured, if a vehicle is disabled, or if fluids are leaking, leave the vehicles in place and wait for police.
When should I contact my insurance company after an accident?
Call your insurer as soon as you are safe — ideally from the scene once police have been notified. Prompt reporting is required by most policies and speeds up your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, which in Florida must be used within 14 days of the accident for medical treatment to be covered.
Can I choose my own repair shop in Florida?
Yes. Under Florida law, the vehicle owner — not the insurance company — has the right to choose the collision repair facility. Insurers may suggest a ‘direct repair program’ shop, but you are never required to use it. Pick a shop you trust and that stands behind its work with a written warranty.
Recommended Resource
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