Free checklist · Sunshine State Law Firm
After a Florida crash: your first 14 days
The days right after a car accident decide a lot: whether your own insurance pays your medical bills, what evidence still exists and what the insurer can use against you. This Florida car accident checklist walks you through all 16 steps. Check them off here, or print it and keep it in your glovebox.
Day 0
At the scene
If anyone is hurt, call 911 first. If the cars can move and it’s safe, get out of traffic.
Ask the officer for their name and the crash report number. It’s the first thing insurers and lawyers will ask for.
The other driver’s name, phone number, driver’s license, license plate, insurance company and policy number. A photo of their license and insurance card works.
Every car from every side, the license plates, the road, traffic signs and signals, skid marks, the weather, and any cuts or bruises.
Get the names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the crash. Witnesses are hard to find later.
Stick to the facts. Even a polite “I’m sorry” can be used to argue the crash was your fault.
Days 1–3
The first few days
Go to the ER, urgent care or your doctor. Whiplash, concussions and back injuries often show up a day or two later, and the visit creates a record that ties your injuries to the crash.
Should you go to the hospital after a crash?Your policy requires prompt notice. Give the basic facts: when, where and who was involved. You don’t need to guess about your injuries.
You don’t have to. Adjusters use recorded calls to argue fault or downplay injuries. Say you’ll get back to them.
Why the insurance company isn’t on your sideThe report number, photos, claim numbers, medical bills, receipts, mileage to appointments and the days of work you miss. A folder on your phone counts.
Days 4–14
Before day 14
Florida PIP only pays if you get initial treatment within 14 days of the crash. Miss the window and your own insurance may not cover your medical bills.
How medical bills are paid after a crashPIP pays up to $10,000 when a qualified provider finds an emergency medical condition. Without that finding, medical benefits can be capped at $2,500.
Keep every follow-up and therapy appointment. Insurers point to gaps in treatment to argue you weren’t really hurt.
Don’t post about the crash, your injuries or your weekend. Insurers look, and a single photo can be used against you.
How social media affects your caseA quick offer from the other driver’s insurer usually comes with a release that ends your claim, even if you need surgery later.
Should you accept the first offer?A free call can show you which insurance pays, what your claim may be worth and which deadlines apply. We’ll be honest if you don’t need us.
This checklist is general information about Florida car accidents, not legal advice for your situation, and reading it doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines and coverage depend on your policy and the facts of your crash.
After day 14
Keep treating and keep your folder up to date. Most Florida injury claims must be filed within two years of the crash, but evidence fades long before that. See how a car accident claim works from here.
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