Being involved in a car accident is overwhelming. Knowing exactly what steps to take in the moments, hours, and days following a collision can protect your health, preserve your legal rights, and strengthen any future insurance claim or lawsuit. This comprehensive guide walks you through the seven critical things you need to do after a car accident in Florida.
Quick Answer: The 7 Essential Steps After a Car Accident
If you’ve just been in an accident and need immediate guidance, here are the seven essential steps:
- Stop your vehicle, check for injuries, and call 911
- Move to safety if possible
- Call law enforcement to report the accident
- Exchange information with all involved parties
- Document everything with photos, notes, and witness information
- Seek medical attention within 14 days
- Report to your insurance company and contact a Florida car accident attorney
Need immediate legal help after a Florida car accident? Call Lowman Law Firm now at (352) 607-7777 for a free consultation.
Step 1: Stop Your Vehicle, Check for Injuries, and Call 911
The moment an accident occurs, your first actions are critical. Florida law requires all drivers involved in a crash to stop immediately at the scene or as close to it as safely possible. Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offense under Florida Statutes 316.061 and 316.027, with penalties ranging from misdemeanor charges for property damage to felony charges if injuries are involved.
Once stopped, immediately assess whether anyone needs emergency medical attention. Check yourself for injuries, then check on your passengers and occupants of other vehicles if you can safely do so.
Call 911 immediately if:
- Anyone appears injured, even if injuries seem minor
- Anyone is unconscious, unresponsive, or complains of pain
- There is significant vehicle damage suggesting high-impact collision
- Fluids are leaking from any vehicle or anyone is trapped
When speaking with the 911 dispatcher, provide your exact location, the number of vehicles involved, and a description of any visible injuries. Stay on the line and follow their instructions.
Important: Many car accident injuries, including whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, and internal bleeding, may not present immediate symptoms. The adrenaline surge following an accident can mask pain and other warning signs. This is why seeking medical attention promptly is critical, even if you feel fine at the scene.
Step 2: Move to Safety When Possible
If the accident is minor and all vehicles are drivable, Florida law requires you to move vehicles out of the travel lanes to prevent additional collisions and traffic congestion.
Move your vehicle when:
- No one appears seriously injured
- Vehicles are operational
- Moving would not cause additional injury
- The road is safe to exit your vehicle
Do NOT move your vehicle when:
- Someone is seriously injured or trapped
- Moving the vehicle could cause further injury
- Your vehicle is inoperable
- Emergency services have instructed you to stay put
If you cannot move your vehicle, turn on your hazard lights to alert approaching traffic. If you have road flares or emergency triangles, place them behind your vehicle to warn other drivers.
When exiting your vehicle on a busy road, always exit away from traffic when possible and move to a safe location such as a sidewalk, median, or grassy area. Your safety remains the top priority.
Step 3: Call Law Enforcement to Report the Accident
In Florida, you are required to report any car accident that results in injury, death, or property damage of $500 or more to law enforcement. Given that even minor vehicle repairs often exceed this threshold, it is wise to call police for virtually any accident.
Why a police report matters:
- Creates an official record of the accident
- Documents the responding officer’s observations and preliminary findings
- May include a determination of fault based on evidence at the scene
- Provides critical documentation for insurance claims
- Establishes a timeline of events
- Can be used as evidence in legal proceedings
When the officer arrives, provide factual information about what happened. Stick to the facts you observed and avoid speculating about fault, speeds, or other details you are uncertain about. Do not admit fault or apologize for the accident, as these statements can be used against you later.
Request a copy of the accident report or ask the officer how you can obtain one. In Florida, you can typically obtain a copy from the local law enforcement agency that responded or through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Step 4: Exchange Information With All Parties
Florida law requires drivers involved in an accident to exchange certain information with each other. Collect the following from every driver involved:
Required information to exchange:
- Full legal name and current address
- Phone number
- Driver’s license number and state of issuance
- License plate number and state
- Vehicle make, model, year, and color
- Insurance company name and policy number
- Vehicle owner’s name (if different from driver)
If the other driver is uncooperative or hostile:
- Do not engage in arguments
- Take photos of their license plate and vehicle
- Note any details you can observe
- Report the situation to the responding officer
- Let your insurance company and attorney handle the investigation
If the accident involved a commercial vehicle, also collect the name of the company operating the vehicle and any identifying numbers on the truck or trailer.
Step 5: Document Everything With Photos, Notes, and Witness Information
Thorough documentation at the accident scene is one of the most valuable things you can do to protect your claim. Evidence can disappear quickly as vehicles are moved, weather changes, and memories fade.
Photograph:
- All vehicles involved from multiple angles
- Close-ups of all damage to every vehicle
- Skid marks, debris, and road conditions
- Traffic signs, signals, and road markings
- Weather and lighting conditions
- Your visible injuries
- The overall accident scene showing vehicle positions
- The other driver’s license, registration, and insurance card
Write down or record notes about:
- The exact time of the accident
- Weather, lighting, and road surface conditions
- Traffic conditions and approximate speeds
- What you were doing immediately before the collision
- What you observed the other driver doing
- The direction each vehicle was traveling
- Any statements made by the other driver
- Any unusual circumstances you observed
Gather witness information:
Independent witnesses can provide crucial third-party accounts of how an accident occurred. Their testimony often carries significant weight with insurance companies and in court.
- Ask witnesses for their names, phone numbers, and email addresses
- Ask if they would be willing to provide a statement
- Note their general location when they observed the accident
Do all of this as soon as possible while details are fresh. Your documentation from the scene can be invaluable weeks or months later when memories have faded.
Step 6: Seek Medical Attention Within 14 Days
This step is critical for both your health and your legal rights in Florida.
From a health perspective: Many serious injuries from car accidents do not produce immediate symptoms. Conditions like whiplash, concussions, herniated discs, and internal injuries can take hours or even days to become apparent. Prompt medical evaluation can identify these injuries before they worsen.
From a legal perspective: Florida law requires that you seek initial medical treatment within 14 days of an accident to qualify for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits under your auto insurance policy. If you fail to see a medical provider within this window, you may lose your right to PIP coverage entirely.
Where to seek medical attention:
- Emergency room for severe or potentially serious injuries
- Urgent care for non-emergency evaluation
- Your primary care physician
- A specialist if referred by another provider
Be completely honest with medical providers about all symptoms you are experiencing, even ones that seem minor. Tell them the symptoms began after your car accident. These medical records create a critical link between the accident and your injuries.
Follow all treatment recommendations, attend all follow-up appointments, and keep detailed records of your medical care, including receipts for all out-of-pocket expenses.
Step 7: Report to Insurance and Contact a Florida Car Accident Attorney
The final critical step actually involves two important actions: notifying your insurance company and consulting with a qualified attorney.
Reporting to Your Insurance Company
Florida is a no-fault insurance state, which means your own insurance company’s PIP coverage typically pays for your initial medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of who caused the accident.
When contacting your insurance company:
- Report the accident promptly, as most policies require timely notification
- Provide basic facts about what occurred
- Do not provide a recorded statement until you have spoken with an attorney
- Do not speculate about fault
- Do not accept any settlement offers immediately
Your insurance company is not your advocate. Their goal is to minimize payouts. Be cautious about what you say, and remember that anything you tell them can potentially be used to reduce your claim.
Do not speak with the other driver’s insurance company without first consulting an attorney. Their goal is to get you to make statements or accept a settlement that protects their insured and minimizes their payout.
Contacting a Florida Car Accident Attorney
Consulting with an experienced car accident lawyer is one of the smartest decisions you can make after a collision, especially if you have suffered injuries.
An attorney can help you:
- Understand your legal rights under Florida law
- Navigate Florida’s no-fault insurance system
- Deal with insurance companies on your behalf
- Investigate the accident and gather evidence
- Identify all potentially liable parties
- Calculate the full value of your claim, including future damages
- Negotiate a fair settlement
- File a lawsuit if necessary and meet important legal deadlines
You should definitely consult an attorney if:
- You or a passenger suffered any injuries
- The other driver was uninsured or underinsured
- Liability is disputed or unclear
- The insurance company is denying your claim or pressuring you to accept a quick settlement
- The accident involved a commercial vehicle or government entity
Most Florida car accident attorneys, including Lowman Law Firm, offer free initial consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless they recover compensation for you.
Call Lowman Law Firm today at (352) 607-7777 to discuss your accident with an experienced Florida personal injury attorney.
Bonus: What NOT to Do After a Car Accident
Avoiding certain mistakes is just as important as taking the right steps:
- Never leave the scene. This is a crime in Florida, even if the accident seems minor.
- Never admit fault or apologize. These statements can be used against you later. Stick to factual statements only.
- Never refuse medical treatment. If emergency responders recommend you go to the hospital, accept the recommendation.
- Never post about the accident on social media. Insurance companies routinely monitor claimants’ accounts.
- Never give a recorded statement to any insurance company without attorney advice. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize your claim.
- Never sign anything from an insurance company without attorney review. Documents may contain releases that waive your right to additional compensation.
- Never accept a quick settlement. The full extent of your injuries may not be apparent for weeks or months.
Why Choose Lowman Law Firm for Your Florida Car Accident Case
Lowman Law Firm has been serving accident victims throughout Florida for decades. Our experienced personal injury attorneys understand the challenges you face after a car accident and are committed to fighting for the full compensation you deserve.
We offer:
- 24/7 Free consultations
- No fees unless we win your case
- Personalized attention from experienced attorneys
- Aggressive representation against insurance companies
- A track record of successful settlements and verdicts
- Multiple convenient office locations throughout Florida
Contact Lowman Law Firm today at (352) 607-7777 for a free, no-obligation consultation about your Florida car accident case.
