Call 911 if anyone is hurt or damage looks like $500 or more, photograph everything before vehicles move, and see a doctor within 14 days — Florida's PIP rule cuts off up to $10,000 in no-fault benefits if you wait longer. You have two years to file a lawsuit, but the evidence that wins cases disappears in the first month.
The first hour: what to do at the scene
The first 72 hours after a Florida car accident decide more cases than the courtroom ever does. Start at the scene: stop, move to a safe spot if the car can be driven, and check on everyone involved — Florida law requires drivers to stop, give their name, address, and registration, and help anyone who is injured (Fla. Stat. § 316.062).
Then call 911. This is not optional in most crashes: under Fla. Stat. § 316.065, a crash involving injury, death, or apparent damage of $500 or more must be reported to police immediately — and at today's repair prices, almost any visible dent clears $500. While you wait, photograph vehicle positions, damage, skid marks, traffic signs, and the other driver's license, tag, and insurance card, and get a name and phone number for every witness.
Just as important is what you should not do: don't apologize or say the crash was your fault — even polite reflexes like "I'm so sorry" show up later in insurance files. Fault in Florida is decided by evidence, not by what a shaken driver says at the roadside.
The first 24 hours: reports and records
If police responded, they file the crash report — ask the officer for the report number and how to get a copy (Florida crash reports are available through the FLHSMV Crash Portal). If police did not investigate, Florida gives the drivers themselves 10 days to submit a written report to the state (Fla. Stat. § 316.066). Don't skip it: an official report anchors the date, location, and parties before stories start to change.
Notify your own insurance company the same day if you can. Reporting a crash to your insurer is not the same as accepting blame — your policy requires prompt notice, and the call protects your accident claim later. Start one folder — photos, the report number, medical papers, receipts — and put everything in it from day one.
Why you must see a doctor within 14 days
Florida's most unforgiving deadline is medical, not legal. Under Fla. Stat. § 627.736, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage — the no-fault benefits every Florida driver carries — only pays if you receive initial medical care within 14 days of the crash. Miss that window and up to $10,000 in benefits is gone, no matter how hurt you are.
PIP pays 80% of reasonable medical bills and 60% of lost wages up to that $10,000 limit — but unless a qualified physician determines you had an emergency medical condition, benefits are capped at $2,500. That's one more reason to be seen by a doctor, urgent care, or ER promptly and to describe every symptom, however minor it feels.
Adrenaline masks injuries. Whiplash, concussions, and soft-tissue damage routinely surface two or three days after a crash — inside your 72-hour window, and well inside the 14 days. Getting checked early creates the medical record that connects your injuries to the crash; waiting creates the gap insurers use to deny them.
Days 2 to 30: protect the claim you may not know you have
Expect a call from the other driver's insurance adjuster within days — sometimes hours. Be polite, confirm the basic facts, and decline to give a recorded statement until you've spoken with an attorney. You are not required to give one to the other side's insurer, and early statements are taken while injuries are still developing.
Evidence has its own clock: intersection and business camera footage is often overwritten within 30 days, vehicles get repaired or scrapped, and witnesses become hard to reach. An attorney can send preservation letters before any of that happens. At Dream Team Law, our Coral Gables and Hialeah teams review Florida crash cases free, and you pay nothing unless we win.
The final deadline is the statute of limitations: for most Florida crashes you have two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit. It sounds like plenty of time — until you remember that the case itself is built out of what you preserved in the first 72 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to call the police after a minor car accident in Florida?+
Yes, in almost every real collision — Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 316.065) requires immediate notice to police when a crash involves any injury, death, or apparent damage of $500 or more, which nearly any visible damage meets. If police don't investigate, the drivers must self-report to the state within 10 days.
What happens if I don't see a doctor within 14 days of my accident?+
You lose your PIP benefits — the no-fault coverage that pays 80% of medical bills up to $10,000 under Fla. Stat. § 627.736. Late-appearing symptoms are common, so getting examined within the window protects both your health and your claim even if you feel fine.
Should I give the other driver's insurance company a recorded statement?+
No — you're not required to, and it rarely helps you. Recorded statements taken in the first days are used to lock in your account before injuries fully develop. Report the crash to your own insurer, and let an attorney handle communications with the other side.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice; reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines depend on the specific facts of your case — consult a licensed attorney in your state about your situation. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.