What to Do After a Car Accident in Florida: Step-by-Step Checklist (2026)

# What to Do After a Car Accident in Florida: Your Complete Checklist

> **QUICK SUMMARY — After an accident in Florida (NEW rules since 2023):**
> 1. Check for injuries and call 911
> 2. Move to safety
> 3. Exchange information — **do not admit fault** (fault matters more than ever)
> 4. Document everything thoroughly
> 5. Report if $500+ damage (within 10 days)
> 6. Notify your insurance company
> 7. Seek medical attention — PIP is still required, so documentation is critical

**Important:** Florida’s car accident laws changed dramatically in 2023 under **HB 837**. HB 837 changed comparative fault rules and reduced the statute of limitations. Florida remains a **no-fault state** with mandatory PIP. These steps reflect the current law.

—

## Step 1 — Check for Injuries and Call 911

– Check yourself and all passengers
– **Call 911** if anyone is hurt
– Do not move seriously injured people unless there is immediate danger
– Florida law requires you to stop and render aid

—

## Step 2 — Move to Safety

Florida’s Move-Over law encourages moving vehicles out of traffic if safe to do so.

– Move to the shoulder or a nearby safe area
– Turn on hazard lights
– Stay out of traffic lanes

—

## Step 3 — Exchange Information

Collect from the other driver:
– Full name and contact information
– Driver’s license number
– Insurance company and policy number (they should now have **bodily injury liability**)
– License plate number
– Vehicle make, model, and color

Get witness names and phone numbers.

**Critical under the new law: Do not admit fault.** Under Florida’s modified 51% comparative fault rule, being assigned even slightly too much fault can eliminate your entire claim.

—

## Step 4 — Document Everything

**This matters more than ever** under the current system (with HB 837 tort reforms). Proving the other driver’s fault is now the foundation of your claim.

Take photos and videos of:
– All vehicle damage from multiple angles
– Road conditions, traffic signs, signals
– Skid marks, debris
– License plates
– Your injuries
– Weather and lighting

Write down time, date, location, and your detailed account.

—

## Step 5 — File a Report

### When Required
Florida requires reporting if:
– Property damage exceeds **$500** (lower threshold than most states)
– Anyone is injured or killed

### How to Report
– **At the scene:** Call 911. The officer will file a crash report.
– **FLHSMV:** If police did not respond, self-report within **10 days**

—

## Step 6 — Notify Your Insurance Company

Contact your insurer promptly.

**What changed under HB 837:**
– **PIP is still required** — you no longer file a no-fault claim with your own insurance for medical bills
– Florida is now a **fault state** — you pursue the at-fault driver’s insurance
– Your **bodily injury liability** coverage (PIP $10,000 + PDL $10,000 minimum) protects others if you caused the accident
– **UM/UIM coverage** is now your safety net if the other driver is uninsured

—

## Step 7 — Seek Medical Attention

**More important than ever with PIP covering only $10,000.** Under the old system, PIP automatically covered $10,000 in medical bills. That coverage no longer exists.

– See a doctor even if you feel fine
– Whiplash, concussions, and internal injuries may have delayed symptoms
– Medical records connect your injuries to the accident
– You will need these records to pursue the at-fault driver’s insurance

—

## Your Rights Under Florida’s New Law

– **Fault state** (changed from no-fault in 2023)
– **Modified 51% comparative fault:** If you are 51%+ at fault, you recover nothing
– **Statute of limitations:** 2 years for PI (reduced from 4), 4 years for PD
– **Minimum insurance:** PIP $10,000 + PDL $10,000 bodily injury liability
– **PIP:** Required ($10,000 minimum)

For the full breakdown: [Florida Car Accident Laws](/florida/car-accident-laws/)

—

## What NOT to Do

– **Do not leave the scene** — felony if injuries are involved
– **Do not admit fault** — the 51% bar makes this especially risky in Florida
– **Do not post on social media**
– **Do not accept the first settlement offer**
– **Do not delay medical treatment** — with PIP covering only $10,000, gaps in treatment can weaken your claim
– **Do not assume the old rules apply** — everything changed in 2023

—

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does Florida still have PIP?
**No.** PIP remains in effect in 2023 under HB 837. Florida now requires PIP and property damage liability coverage instead.

### How long do I have to file a claim?
**2 years** for personal injury (reduced from 4 years by HB 837). 4 years for property damage.

### What if the other driver has no insurance?
Your **UM/UIM coverage** is your primary protection. Because PIP only covers $10,000 as a safety net, UM/UIM coverage is more important than ever in Florida.

### What if I was partly at fault?
Under Florida’s new **modified 51% rule**, if you are 51%+ at fault, you recover nothing. At 50% or less, your recovery is reduced by your fault percentage.

—

## Related Guides

– [How to File an Insurance Claim in Florida](/florida/insurance-claim/)
– [Do You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Florida?](/florida/do-i-need-a-lawyer/)
– [Florida Car Accident Laws](/florida/car-accident-laws/)
– [Rear-End Collision in Florida](/florida/rear-end-collision/)

—

**DISCLAIMER:** This website is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page provides general educational information only. Laws vary by state and change frequently. Always consult a licensed attorney in your state for advice specific to your situation. This is not medical advice. If you have been injured, seek immediate medical attention. Last updated: March 2026.