What to Do in the First 48 Hours After a Florida Car Accident
Written by Simon Nicholson, Founding Attorney · Published August 12, 2026 · Updated September 3, 2026 · 7 min read
Quick answer
After a car accident in Florida, get to safety, call 911, photograph everything, exchange information, and see a doctor within 14 days so you keep your PIP benefits. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company before you talk to a lawyer. The first two days shape the rest of your claim.
Key takeaways
- See a doctor within 14 days of the crash. Miss that window and Florida's no-fault law can cut off your PIP medical benefits.
- Florida requires a crash report when anyone is hurt or damage looks like $500 or more. Call 911 and get the report number.
- Photos, witness names, and the other driver's insurance card are worth more in hour one than in week one.
- You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. Politely decline.
- Florida's deadline to file most injury lawsuits can be as short as two years. Timing matters from day one.
A crash takes seconds. What you do in the next 48 hours can decide whether your medical bills get paid, whether your car gets fixed, and whether the insurance company takes your claim seriously.
Insurance companies start working the moment they get the call. You should too. Here is the order we walk our own clients through, with the Florida-specific rules that trip people up.
Hour 0: Get safe and get it on the record
If your car can move and it is safe to do so, pull it out of traffic. Florida law asks drivers to move vehicles out of the roadway when the crash is minor and the car is drivable. Turn on your hazards. Check on everyone in your car, then the other car.
Call 911 even for a fender bender. Florida requires a crash to be reported when someone is injured or when the damage appears to be $500 or more, which is almost every crash today. The responding officer writes the crash report that every insurance company will rely on later. Ask for the report number before you leave.
Stay calm and stick to facts. Do not apologize, do not guess about speed or distance, and do not say you are fine. You do not know that yet.
- Move to safety, hazards on
- Call 911 and request medical help if anyone is hurt
- Get the crash report number from the officer
- Exchange names, phone numbers, license plates, and insurance cards
Hour 1: Collect evidence before it disappears
Evidence is a perishable thing. Skid marks fade, cars get towed, and witnesses drive away. Your phone is the best tool you have.
Photograph both vehicles from every side, the damage up close, the position of the cars in the road, traffic signs and signals, weather, road conditions, and any injuries you can see. Take a short video walking around the scene. Get names and numbers for anyone who saw what happened. Witnesses who are not in either car are the most valuable people at the scene.
If there is a nearby business or intersection camera, note it. Footage is often overwritten within days, and a lawyer can send a preservation letter fast.
- Wide shots of the scene, then close-ups of damage
- The other driver's license, plate, and insurance card
- Witness names and phone numbers
- Nearby cameras, businesses, or dash cams
- Your own notes about what happened while it is fresh
Day 1: See a doctor, even if you feel fine
Adrenaline hides injuries. Neck, back, and concussion symptoms often show up a day or two later. That is normal, but insurers use any delay as an argument that you were not really hurt.
Florida has a specific rule here. Under the state's no-fault system, you must receive initial medical treatment within 14 days of the crash to use your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. PIP is the coverage on your own policy that pays a portion of your medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash. Wait longer than 14 days and that coverage can be denied.
Go to the ER, urgent care, or your doctor. Tell them every symptom, even the small ones. Follow the treatment plan and keep every appointment. Gaps in care are the number one reason claims get lowballed.
The 14-day rule is not a suggestion. If you are reading this and it has been more than a few days since your crash, get seen today.
Not sure where you stand? Free case review, 24/7.
Call (844) SUN-SHINEDay 1 to 2: Report the crash to your own insurer, briefly
Your own policy requires you to report a crash promptly. Do that. Give the basics: date, time, location, the other driver's information, and the crash report number. You do not need to describe your injuries in detail or speculate about fault.
If the other driver's insurance company calls, you can take the call, confirm your name, and tell them your attorney will be in touch. You are not required to give them a recorded statement, and we recommend you do not. That call is covered in our guide on the recorded statement trap.
What not to do in the first 48 hours
Most claims are not lost at trial. They are weakened in the first few days by small, understandable mistakes.
- Do not post about the crash on social media. Adjusters look.
- Do not sign anything from an insurance company without reading it, including medical release forms.
- Do not accept a quick settlement check. Once you sign, the claim is closed even if your injuries get worse.
- Do not skip follow-up appointments or stop treatment early.
- Do not repair or dispose of your vehicle before it is photographed and inspected.
Why Florida's rules make timing matter
Florida is a no-fault state. Your own PIP coverage is the first source of payment for medical bills, and you generally need a serious or permanent injury to step outside the no-fault system and pursue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering. Documentation from day one is what proves that threshold.
Florida also uses a modified comparative negligence rule. If you are found more than 50 percent at fault, you recover nothing. If you are 50 percent or less, your recovery is reduced by your share of fault. That is why an offhand apology at the scene or a careless recorded statement can cost real money.
Finally, deadlines apply. For most negligence claims arising after March 2023, Florida's statute of limitations is two years from the date of the crash. Insurance policies have their own notice requirements that can be shorter. The safest move is to talk to a lawyer early, not at the deadline.
When to call a lawyer
Call when there is an injury, when fault is disputed, when the other driver was uninsured or fled, when an adjuster is pressuring you, or when you simply do not want to deal with insurance companies while you recover. Earlier is better. We can preserve evidence, handle every insurer, and make sure you are treated and documented properly.
A case review at Sunshine State Law Firm is free, there is no fee unless there is a recovery, and we speak Spanish. Call (844) SUN-SHINE any time, day or night.
Frequently asked questions
Related practice areas
About the author
Simon Nicholson, Founding Attorney, Sunshine State Law Firm
Simon Nicholson is the founder of Sunshine State Law Firm. Before returning to Florida to practice law, he spent about 15 years in Guatemala and Mexico doing community outreach and humanitarian work — an experience that shaped how he treats every client: with patience, empathy and respect.
His practice focuses on personal injury, wrongful death and homeowners insurance claims. Clients describe him as personable, responsive and honest — and he leads a team that treats your case as if it were their own.
This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Every case is different. Talk to an attorney about your situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
