What to do next · Florida

What To Do After a Car Accident in Florida (2026)

Florida's PIP system catches people off guard. Here's the actual playbook, step by step, before you make a mistake you can't undo.

The Injury Literacy desk Last reviewed May 25, 2026

Not legal advice. This is journalism, not representation. If you've been hurt, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

This is not legal advice. We're not your lawyer, and nothing here creates an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice specific to your situation, talk to a licensed Florida attorney. What we're giving you is context — so you walk into whatever comes next with your eyes open.

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Right now. The next 60 minutes.

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If you're still at the scene, stop moving around. Adrenaline is a liar. You may feel fine and have a fractured vertebra. Sit down. If anyone is seriously hurt, call 911 and stay on the line. Don't try to move an injured person unless there's fire or immediate danger of it.

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Call the police even if the crash looks minor. Florida law requires you to report any accident involving injury, death, or property damage over $500 — which is basically every crash, since a bumper replacement alone clears that threshold. Get a crash report number before you leave. You'll need it.

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Take photos before anything moves. The other car's plate. Both vehicles from four angles. The point of impact. Any skid marks. The intersection or road sign. Your injuries, right now, even if they just look like redness. Courts and insurance adjusters work from evidence, not memory, and memory degrades fast.

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Exchange information with the other driver: name, license number, insurance company, policy number, and the registered owner's name if it's different from the driver. Don't discuss fault. Don't say you're sorry. Don't say you're fine. You don't know either of those things yet.

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If there are witnesses, get their phone numbers. Not just names. Numbers.

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Today. Before you go to sleep.

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Go get checked out. Florida's no-fault law gives you 14 days to seek initial medical treatment after an accident, or you lose access to your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits entirely. That's not a soft deadline. Miss it and your own insurance won't pay your medical bills, regardless of who caused the crash. Fourteen days sounds like plenty of time. It disappears fast when you're dealing with shock, a totaled car, kids, and a job.

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Go to an emergency room, urgent care, or your primary care doctor. Tell them you were in a car accident. Tell them every symptom, even the ones that seem small — neck stiffness, a headache, tingling in your hands. These get documented. Documentation matters more than you think it will right now.

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Call your own insurance company and report the accident. You're required to do this under your policy, usually promptly. In Florida, your own PIP coverage pays first regardless of fault — that's what

Common questions

I didn't call the police at the scene. Can I still file a report?

Yes. In Florida, you can file a self-report with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles if law enforcement didn't respond to the scene. You have 10 days to do this. Go to flhsmv.gov and look for the crash report form. The report matters for your insurance claim and, if it comes to it, any legal action.

The other driver's insurance already offered me a settlement. Should I take it?

Almost certainly not yet, especially if you're still treating or haven't finished treatment. You don't know the full value of your medical bills, your lost wages, or your long-term prognosis. Once you accept and sign a release, that claim is closed permanently. A settlement offer that comes in the first week is almost never the right number.

What if the other driver had no insurance?

This is where your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage becomes critical. If you have it, your own insurer steps into the at-fault driver's shoes and covers your damages up to your UM policy limits. If you don't have UM coverage, your options are limited to your PIP benefits and potentially suing the uninsured driver directly, which usually isn't worth much if they have no assets.

My injuries showed up two days after the crash. Does that hurt my claim?

Delayed onset is extremely common with soft-tissue injuries, whiplash, and some head injuries — and insurance companies know this. What matters is that you seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident and that you tell your doctor the symptoms started after the crash. Don't wait to see if the pain goes away on its own. Get it documented.

Florida's two-year statute of limitations — does that clock start from the date of the accident?

For most car accident injury claims in Florida, yes, it runs from the date of the crash. There are narrow exceptions, like cases involving minors or situations where an injury wasn't discoverable immediately, but don't count on an exception applying to you. If you're approaching two years and haven't resolved your claim or filed suit, talk to an attorney immediately.

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