One moment you are driving to work or picking up your kids. The next, you hear metal crunch and feel your heart pounding. A car crash can leave you hurt, shaken, and unsure of what to do next. On top of the pain, you may already be worrying about medical bills and missed paychecks.
Knowing what to do after a car accident can protect your health, your finances, and your right to compensation. This step-by-step checklist walks you through what to do at the scene, the mistakes to avoid, how Florida’s PIP insurance system works, and the deadlines that apply to your claim.
At Florida Lawyers 360, our car accident lawyers help injured people in Tampa and throughout the state. We gather the evidence and fight for fair compensation so you can focus on getting better.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Florida
The steps you take right after a car accident can affect both your physical recovery and your ability to get compensation. Not every step will be possible if you are seriously hurt, and that is okay. Your safety always comes first. If you can, work through this checklist at the scene and in the days that follow.
Move to Safety and Check for Injuries
If your car can be driven and no one is badly hurt, move it out of traffic to the shoulder or a nearby parking lot. Turn on your hazard lights. Then check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If it is safe, check on the people in the other vehicle too.
Do not move anyone unless they are in immediate danger, such as from a fire. Florida law also requires you to stop and stay at the scene of a crash, so do not drive away.
Call 911 and Report the Crash
Call 911 to request police and medical help. Under Florida law, you must report any crash that causes injury, death, or at least $500 in property damage. Today, almost every crash meets that $500 mark. If police do not come to the scene and no officer writes a report, you must file your own written crash report within 10 days.
A police report is one of the most important records you can have after a car accident. It documents the date, time, location, the people involved, and what the officer saw. When you talk to the officer, stick to the facts and avoid guessing. Before you leave, ask for the report number and how to get a copy.
Exchange Information With the Other Driver
Florida law requires drivers involved in a crash to share information. Get the other driver’s name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, insurance company, and policy number. Write down the make, model, color, and license plate number. If the driver does not own the car, get the owner’s name too. Stay calm, be polite, and keep the conversation short.
Gather Evidence and Talk to Witnesses
Evidence starts to disappear quickly after a car accident. Cars are towed away, debris is cleared, and memories fade. If you are able, use your phone to take photos and videos of:
- All vehicles involved, including damage and license plates
- The overall scene, plus close-ups of key details
- Traffic lights, stop signs, skid marks, and road conditions
- Weather and lighting conditions
- Any visible injuries
Ask witnesses for their names and phone numbers. Witness statements can help support your case. Look for nearby homes or businesses. These may have security cameras. As soon as you can, write down everything you remember about how the crash happened.
Seek Medical Attention
See a doctor even if you feel fine. Adrenaline can hide pain, and injuries like whiplash, concussions, and internal bleeding may not show symptoms for hours or days.
Under Florida’s 14-day rule, you must get initial medical care within 14 days to use your PIP benefits. Getting checked out soon after a car accident also creates medical records that connect your injuries to the crash. Follow your doctor’s treatment plan and keep every appointment.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Tell your own insurance company about the crash as soon as possible. Most policies require prompt notice, and in Florida, your PIP claim goes through your own insurer. Give the basic facts: date, time, location, and vehicles involved.
Be careful when the other driver’s insurance company calls. You do not have to give them a recorded statement. Keep a folder with your claim numbers, adjuster names, and copies of every letter and email.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
Talking to a lawyer soon after a car accident helps protect your rights before evidence is lost and before an insurer pressures you into a low offer. A car accident lawyer can collect evidence and calculate the full value of your claim.
At Florida Lawyers 360, your first consultation is free, and you pay no attorney fees unless we recover money for you.
Mistakes to Avoid After a Car Crash
Even careful people make choices after a car accident that can hurt their health or weaken their claim. Most of these mistakes happen because people are shaken up, in a rush, or just trying to be polite.
- Leaving the scene too soon. Wait for police and exchange information before you go.
- Apologizing or guessing about what happened. Adjusters may use a simple “I’m sorry” against you. Stick to the facts.
- Skipping or delaying medical care. Waiting can make injuries worse and may cost you PIP benefits under the 14-day rule.
- Posting on social media. Insurers look at your posts and photos. Stay offline about the crash and your injuries.
- Accepting a settlement without talking to a lawyer. Early offers are often far less than your claim is worth.
- Signing documents from the other driver’s insurer without legal guidance. Medical releases and settlement forms can limit your rights.
- Missing appointments or stopping treatment early. Gaps in care can make it look like you were not really hurt.
- Waiting too long to call a lawyer. Evidence fades, and deadlines keep running.
How Car Accident Claims Work in Florida
Florida is a no-fault state. Every driver with a Florida-registered vehicle must carry at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection, or PIP. After a car accident, your own PIP coverage pays first, no matter who caused the crash. PIP can also cover passengers and, in some cases, pedestrians and cyclists.
PIP generally pays 80% of your reasonable medical bills and 60% of your lost income, up to the $10,000 limit. To get the full $10,000, a qualified medical provider must find that you have an “emergency medical condition.” Without that finding, your medical benefits may be capped at $2,500. PIP also includes a $5,000 death benefit. For anyone with a serious injury, these limits can run out fast.
You may file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering and other losses if your injury meets Florida’s legal threshold. That means a significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, a permanent injury, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death. A lawyer can review your medical records and tell you whether your injuries qualify.
Deadlines in Florida Car Accident Cases
The legal clock starts ticking right after a car accident. In Florida, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. This two-year deadline applies to crashes that happened on or after March 24, 2023, when the law changed from four years. Wrongful death claims also generally must be filed within two years of the person’s death.
Claims involving a government vehicle, such as a city bus or county truck, involve special notice rules. If you miss the statute-of-limitations deadline, you can lose your right to recover compensation in a lawsuit. Waiting also gives evidence time to disappear and witnesses time to forget. That is why it pays to act quickly and speak with a lawyer as early as you can.
Contact Florida Lawyers 360 for a Free Case Review
The hours and days after a car accident can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to face the process alone. Florida Lawyers 360 helps injured people in Tampa and across the state pursue compensation.
We gather evidence and deal with adjusters. Contact Florida Lawyers 360 today for a free, no-obligation case review. Call us at 954-448-7355 or fill out our online form. We are ready to listen, answer your questions, and help you take the next step toward recovery.
