What to Do After a Car Accident in Florida: Your Step-by-Step Guide
After a car accident in Florida, do these things in order: get to safety and check for injuries, call 911 if anyone is hurt or the damage looks over $500, photograph the scene before cars are moved, collect names and numbers from drivers and witnesses, see a doctor within 14 days to keep your PIP benefits, and report the crash to your own insurer. Do not admit fault, and do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company.
The steps below expand on each one, in the order you should actually do them, followed by the mistakes that quietly reduce what your claim is worth.
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What to do after a car accident in Florida, in order
Step 1: Get to safety and check everyone for injuries first
If the cars are drivable and you are able, move them out of the travel lane and turn on your hazard lights. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries before you worry about the vehicles. Adrenaline hides pain, so a person who feels "fine" at the scene can still be seriously hurt. If anyone cannot move safely, leave them where they are and wait for paramedics.
Step 2: Call 911, because Florida law requires a report for injuries or damage over $500
Under Florida Statute 316.065, the driver of a vehicle in a crash that causes injury, death, or apparent property damage of at least $500 must immediately report it to law enforcement. In practice, almost every real collision clears that $500 line, so call the police. A responding officer writes the crash report that documents the scene, and that report becomes a core piece of evidence for your insurance claim.
Step 3: Photograph the scene before any car is moved
Pictures taken at the scene cannot be recreated later. Photograph all vehicles from several angles, the damage on each one, the position of the cars, skid marks, traffic signals and signs, the other driver's license plate, and any visible injuries. Wide shots that show how the cars came to rest matter as much as close-ups. As Vladimir Tsirkin puts it, "Most people don't realize how critical visual evidence is. Preserve your dashcam recordings, take as many photos as you can, and always get witness names and numbers. Those details can make or break your case before it even begins."
Step 4: Collect names and numbers from every driver, passenger, and witness
Get the other driver's name, phone number, driver's license number, license plate, and insurance information. Then get contact details for any passengers and, most importantly, independent witnesses who stopped. Witnesses leave quickly and are almost impossible to find afterward, so a name and cell number captured at the scene can decide who is believed later.
Step 5: See a doctor within 14 days, or you lose your Florida PIP benefits
Florida's no-fault system runs on Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Under Florida Statute 627.736, you must get initial medical care within 14 days of the crash to be eligible for PIP benefits at all. Miss that window and you can forfeit the coverage. Beyond the deadline, prompt treatment protects your health and your claim. As Vladimir Tsirkin explains, "Insurance companies love to argue that if you didn't get checked out right away, you must not have been hurt. The truth is, soft-tissue injuries like whiplash or herniated discs don't always show symptoms immediately. That's why medical documentation from day one is critical."
Step 6: Report the crash to your own insurer, but say nothing to the other driver's insurer
Notify your own insurance company promptly, because your PIP claim runs through your own policy regardless of fault. The other driver's insurer is a different matter. Its adjuster may call within a day or two, sounding friendly, and ask for a recorded statement. You are not required to give one. On dealing with insurers, Vladimir Tsirkin's advice is direct: "Don't talk to the insurance company, don't sign anything, and don't accept anything from them. See a doctor, call a lawyer, and let someone who knows the system fight for you while you focus on getting better."
Step 7: Write down what happened while it is still fresh
Within the first day, write out everything you remember: the sequence of events, the weather, road conditions, what each driver said, and the names of any officers. Memory fades and details blur within days. A contemporaneous note keeps your account consistent, which matters if the other side later disputes how the crash happened.
Step 8: Talk to a Florida car accident lawyer before you accept any offer
An early settlement offer often arrives before you know the full extent of your injuries, and once you sign a release you cannot reopen the claim. A Florida injury attorney values the claim correctly, handles the insurers, and preserves evidence before it disappears. At Vladimir Tsirkin & Associates, the first moves are concrete. As the firm describes its opening steps for a new client: "Lock down all evidence: photos, footage, reports. Coordinate medical care. Notify all insurance carriers and property owners so they can't manipulate the record."
What NOT to do after a Florida car accident
These are the mistakes that most often shrink a claim:
Steer clear of every one of these
- Do not admit fault at the scene, even a reflexive "I'm sorry." Fault is a legal conclusion for the investigation, not something to concede on the roadside.
- Do not give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement or sign any release before you understand your injuries.
- Do not accept the first settlement offer without knowing what your claim is actually worth.
- Do not skip or delay medical care. Waiting past 14 days can end your PIP eligibility and hands the insurer an argument that you were not hurt.
- Do not post about the crash on social media. Photos, check-ins, and comments get pulled into the claim and used against you.
- Do not leave the scene before police arrive when the law requires a report.
How Florida's insurance and fault rules affect your claim
PIP and the $10,000 no-fault benefit
Florida requires most drivers to carry PIP, which pays a portion of your own medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash, generally up to $10,000 under Florida Statute 627.736. Those benefits can run out fast as medical costs add up, which is why serious injuries often reach beyond PIP into a claim against the at-fault driver.
Comparative negligence and the 50% cutoff
Florida uses modified comparative negligence. Being partly at fault does not automatically bar you from recovering, but a person found more than 50% responsible for the accident generally cannot recover damages in a negligence action. If you carry a smaller share of the blame, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault rather than erased.
The deadline to file a lawsuit
In Florida, the deadline to file a negligence lawsuit for most car accidents is generally two years from the crash. Missing that deadline can permanently bar your recovery, which is why it is worth speaking with an attorney early rather than waiting. Filing suit is not always the goal in itself. Asked about his approach to settling versus litigating, Vladimir Tsirkin keeps it simple:
Settle when it's fair and fight when it's not.
Frequently asked questions after a Florida car accident
Do I have to call the police after a minor accident in Florida?+
If the crash caused any injury, death, or apparent property damage of at least $500, Florida Statute 316.065 requires you to report it to law enforcement. Most collisions meet that threshold, so calling 911 is the safe choice, and the officer's report supports your claim.
How long do I have to see a doctor after a car accident in Florida?+
You must seek initial medical treatment within 14 days of the accident to qualify for PIP benefits under Florida Statute 627.736. Missing that window can forfeit the coverage, so see a doctor promptly even if you feel only mildly sore.
What is the biggest mistake people make after a car accident?+
In Vladimir Tsirkin's words, "The biggest mistake people make after an accident is trusting the insurance company to do the right thing. They sound helpful, but their job is to protect their shareholders, not you." Do not give a recorded statement, sign anything, or accept an offer before you talk to your own doctor and a lawyer.
Can I still recover money if the accident was partly my fault?+
Yes. Under Florida's modified comparative-negligence law, you can still recover as long as you are not found more than 50% responsible. Your compensation is reduced by your share of fault. Proving the other driver's share is the attorney's job.
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Florida?+
For most Florida car accidents the deadline to file a negligence lawsuit is generally two years from the date of the crash. Because missing the deadline can prevent any recovery, speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the accident.
Do I have to pay a lawyer up front after a car accident?+
Vladimir Tsirkin & Associates works on contingency. As the firm puts it, "You don't pay us anything unless we win. We front all the costs and only get paid if you get compensated. If there's no recovery, there's no fee."
Talk to a Hallandale Beach car accident lawyer
If you were injured in a crash in Hallandale Beach or anywhere in South Florida, you can speak with attorney Vladimir Tsirkin directly about your options. Consultations are free and the firm works on a no fee unless we win basis. Call 800-99-CRASH (800-992-7274) or request a free case evaluation below.
Vladimir Tsirkin & Associates, personal injury lawyer in Hallandale Beach, serving all of Florida.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Contact our office to discuss your specific situation.