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

A car accident can leave you trying to make several decisions at once.

Is everyone okay? Should you move the car? Do you need to call the police? What should you photograph? And if you feel fine right now, do you still need to see a doctor?

Those decisions can matter more than they seem at the moment.

What you do at the scene and during the days that follow can affect your safety, your access to insurance benefits, the evidence available later, and how an injury claim is evaluated.

If you have just been involved in a crash, you do not need to understand every part of Florida insurance law immediately. Start with what needs to happen now.

This guide walks through the process in order.

Why Do the First Hours After a Florida Car Accident Matter?

Some evidence is easy to collect immediately and difficult—or impossible—to recover later.

Cars are moving. Debris is cleared. Witnesses leave. Nearby surveillance systems may eventually record over old footage. Even your memory of small details can become less clear as time passes.

Medical timing matters too. Florida’s PIP statute generally requires qualifying initial medical services and care within 14 days after the accident for medical benefits under PIP.

That does not mean you should panic after a minor crash. It means the early hours and days are worth taking seriously.

Here is what to do next.

What Should You Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Florida?

Step 1: Stop, Check for Injuries, and Get Somewhere Safe

Do not simply drive away after a collision.

Stop and check yourself, your passengers, and, when it is safe to do so, others involved in the crash. If someone may be seriously injured, call 911 and avoid moving the person unless leaving them where they are would create a more immediate danger.

Then look at your surroundings.

If the crash involves only property damage and the vehicles are blocking traffic, Florida law requires drivers to make a reasonable effort to move an obstructing vehicle out of the regular flow of traffic when that can be done safely.

Importantly, moving a vehicle under those circumstances does not by itself make the driver responsible for causing the crash.

On a busy highway, safety comes before getting the perfect photograph.

If possible, take a few quick pictures of the vehicles’ positions before moving them, then get yourself out of active traffic.

Step 2: Call the Police and Report the Crash

Under current Florida law, a driver must immediately notify the appropriate law-enforcement agency when a crash causes an injury or death, or apparent damage to a vehicle or other property of at least $2,000.

There is an obvious practical problem: most drivers cannot accurately estimate repair costs while standing beside a damaged vehicle.

A bumper, sensor, headlight, camera, or internal component can cost much more to repair than the damage appears to be worth.

For that reason, calling law enforcement can still be a sensible step when there is meaningful damage, a disagreement about what happened, or any possibility that someone is injured.

An officer’s response can also help identify the drivers, vehicles, insurance information, witnesses, and basic circumstances surrounding the collision.

Step 3: Exchange Driver and Insurance Information

Before leaving the scene, collect enough information to identify the other driver and vehicle later.

That normally includes:

• The driver’s full name and contact information
• Driver’s license information
• Vehicle make, model, and color
• License plate number
• Vehicle registration
• Insurance company and policy information
• Name of the vehicle owner if someone else owns the car

When practical, use your phone to photograph the documents rather than relying only on handwritten notes.

Check the photographs before everyone leaves. A blurry insurance card is not very useful three days later.

Keep the interaction calm and focused on exchanging information. You do not need to debate who caused the collision at the roadside.

Step 4: Document What the Scene Actually Looks Like

Take photographs and video if you can do so safely.

Start wide, then move closer.

Useful images may include:

• All vehicles involved
• Damage to each vehicle
• License plates
• The overall accident scene
• Lane markings
• Traffic signals and signs
• Skid marks or debris
• Road and weather conditions
• Obstructions that may have affected visibility
• Visible injuries

If a witness saw the collision, ask for their name and contact information.

Also look around.

Was there a gas station, apartment building, store, dashcam, traffic camera, or other possible source of video? You may not be able to obtain that footage yourself at the scene, but knowing it exists can matter later.

In more serious crashes, electronic evidence from a vehicle’s Event Data Recorder may also become relevant.

What Should You Do During the First 24 Hours?

Step 5: Get Medical Attention if You May Be Injured

Not every injury is obvious while you are standing beside the road.

You may notice pain immediately, or symptoms may become clearer after the initial shock of the collision wears off. If you are hurt, experiencing symptoms, or concerned about an injury, seek appropriate medical evaluation rather than guessing that everything will disappear on its own.

There is also a Florida insurance reason not to ignore medical care.

Florida’s PIP law generally requires qualifying initial services and care within 14 days after a motor vehicle accident for PIP medical benefits. PIP generally covers 80% of qualifying medical expenses, subject to the policy and statutory requirements.

There is an important detail many simplified accident guides leave out.

The statute allows reimbursement for qualifying medical services up to $10,000 when an authorized medical professional determines that the injured person had an emergency medical condition. If a qualifying provider determines that there was no emergency medical condition, medical reimbursement is generally limited to $2,500.

So the “14-day rule” should not be understood as an automatic guarantee of $10,000 in medical benefits.

Your actual benefits depend on the circumstances, medical findings, policy terms, and applicable law.

Step 6: Notify Your Insurance Company

Report the crash to your own automobile insurer promptly and follow the notice requirements in your policy.

Keep the report factual.

You can explain where and when the crash happened, identify the vehicles involved, and provide information you actually know. Avoid guessing about things you do not know, such as an exact speed or the full extent of an injury that has not yet been evaluated.

There is also an important difference between communicating with your own insurer and speaking with the other driver’s liability insurer.

Your own carrier may have contractual rights and obligations under your policy. An adjuster for another driver’s insurer is evaluating a claim against its insured.

If another insurer wants a detailed recorded statement, medical authorization, release, or quick settlement and you are unsure what signing or saying something could mean, consider getting legal advice before proceeding.

Step 7: Start One File for Everything Related to the Crash

Accident paperwork becomes scattered surprisingly quickly.

Create one physical folder, digital folder, or both and keep:

• The crash report number
• Scene photographs and videos
• Witness information
• Insurance correspondence
• Medical records and bills
• Prescription receipts
• Repair estimates
• Tow and storage bills
• Rental-car expenses
• Transportation costs
• Records showing missed work or lost income

You may never need every document.

But it is much easier to save something now than to recreate it months later.

What Should You Do in the Days After the Accident?

Step 8: Preserve Evidence Before It Disappears

Taking pictures at the scene is only the beginning in a serious or disputed crash.

Other evidence may have a short life.

A nearby business may overwrite surveillance video. A damaged vehicle may be repaired or sent to salvage. Dashcam footage can be deleted. Electronic vehicle information may become harder to obtain after the vehicle changes hands.

This becomes especially important when drivers disagree about how the collision occurred.

Do not alter, dispose of, or intentionally destroy evidence that may be relevant to a claim. If the crash resulted in serious injuries or disputed liability, legal advice early in the process may help identify evidence that needs to be preserved.

Step 9: Follow Appropriate Medical Care and Track Your Losses

If a medical provider recommends reasonable follow-up treatment, keep track of your appointments and documents.

Do the same with the financial effects of the accident.

For example, keep records if you miss work because of the injury, pay for transportation because your vehicle cannot be driven, purchase prescribed medication, or have other accident-related expenses.

This is not about receiving unnecessary treatment to make a claim look larger.

It is about creating an accurate record of what the accident actually changed.

Step 10: Be Careful With Early Decisions

Some mistakes made after a crash are difficult to undo.

Be careful about:

• Admitting fault when you do not yet know all the facts
• Guessing when answering questions
• Posting photographs or detailed accident updates on social media
• Signing broad releases you do not understand
• Accepting a settlement before you understand the extent of your injuries
• Discarding documents, photographs, or damaged property that may matter

An early settlement can sound appealing when medical bills or repair costs are arriving.

But once a valid release is signed, reopening the claim later may not be possible simply because an injury turned out to be more serious than expected.

How Do Florida’s Car Accident Laws Affect What Happens Next?

Florida’s No-Fault System Does Not Mean Nobody Was at Fault

Florida requires qualifying vehicle owners to carry PIP coverage, which can provide certain benefits regardless of who caused the collision.

But “no-fault” does not mean responsibility for the accident disappears.

Fault can still matter when determining liability for losses beyond available no-fault benefits, evaluating claims against another driver, and deciding how damages should be allocated.

That is why evidence about how the collision happened can remain important even when PIP initially pays part of the medical expenses.

What If You Were Partly Responsible for the Crash?

Do not automatically assume you have no claim because you may have contributed to the accident.

Florida uses a modified comparative-fault rule for negligence actions covered by the statute. Damages can be reduced according to a claimant’s percentage of responsibility.

Under the current rule, a party found greater than 50% at fault for their own harm generally cannot recover damages in a negligence action to which that provision applies.

For example, disagreements over lane changes, speed, traffic signals, following distance, or distracted driving can make photographs, witnesses, video, and electronic vehicle data particularly important.

How Long Do You Have to File a Florida Car Accident Lawsuit?

Florida’s current statute of limitations generally provides two years for an action founded on negligence.

That does not mean every possible claim arising from every accident has the same deadline.

Different defendants, claims, insurance issues, or circumstances may involve different requirements. And waiting until a deadline approaches can create another problem: evidence may already be harder to locate.

When Should You Consider Talking to a Florida Car Accident Lawyer?

Not every minor collision automatically requires an attorney.

But getting legal advice may make more sense when:

• Injuries are serious or ongoing
• Fault is disputed
• Several vehicles or responsible parties are involved
• A commercial truck or rideshare vehicle is involved
• The other driver has little or no insurance
• Important video or vehicle evidence needs to be preserved
• An insurer denies or undervalues the claim
• You are being asked to give a detailed recorded statement
• You receive an early settlement offer
• Medical expenses or lost income are becoming significant
• You are unsure which insurance policies may apply

A lawyer can review the specific facts and explain which options actually apply rather than forcing every accident into the same formula.

Why Choose Cohen Injury Law After a Florida Car Accident?

At Cohen Injury Law, we help people injured in Florida car accidents understand their options, deal with insurance issues, preserve important evidence, and evaluate potential claims.

Our founding attorney, Zach Cohen, previously represented insurance companies in personal injury matters, giving our firm insight into how insurers evaluate claims.

We also handle motorcycle and truck crashes, slip and falls, negligent security, daycare injuries, workers’ compensation, and other serious injury matters.

We offer free consultations to clients in South Florida. Call us at 954-246-3999 to discuss your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Move My Car After an Accident in Florida?

Yes. If the crash involves only property damage and your vehicle is blocking traffic, Florida law allows you to move it when safe. Moving the vehicle in that situation does not, by itself, mean you caused the crash.

What Happens If I Do Not See a Doctor Within 14 Days?

Florida’s PIP law generally requires qualifying initial medical care within 14 days of the crash. Missing that window can affect access to PIP medical benefits, so do not delay appropriate care if you have symptoms or concerns.

Should I Give the Other Driver’s Insurance Company a Recorded Statement?

Be careful. The other driver’s insurer may ask questions that affect how it evaluates your claim. If you are unsure about your obligations or the effect of a recorded statement, consider getting legal advice first.

What If the Other Driver Does Not Have Insurance?

If the at-fault driver has little or no bodily injury coverage, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may become important, depending on your policy. Other available insurance sources may also need to be reviewed.

Final Thoughts

You do not need to solve the entire insurance and legal process while standing beside a damaged car.

Start with the basics.

Make sure everyone is safe. Report the crash when required. Gather accurate information before it disappears. Get appropriate medical attention, remember Florida’s 14-day PIP rule, and keep your records organized.

If the injuries are significant, fault is disputed, evidence may disappear, or insurance coverage becomes complicated, legal guidance may help you understand what comes next.

Cohen Injury Law represents injured people in Fort Lauderdale and throughout South Florida. Call 954-246-3999 for a free consultation.