What to Do After a Car Accident in Florida: Police Reports and the 14-Day PIP Rule

Whether it’s a rear-end crash on I-4 between Tampa and Orlando or a scrape in a Lakeland parking lot, nobody plans for a car accident. The steps you take in the first hour, and the first two weeks, shape how smoothly your claim goes.

Here’s what Florida law requires after a crash as of November 2026, what it doesn’t require but your claim will need, and the deadlines that are easy to miss.

What should you do at the scene of a car accident in Florida?

Stop, check for injuries, and get out of traffic if you can do it safely. Florida law requires every driver in a crash to stop at or as close as possible to the scene and stay until they’ve exchanged information.

In order:

1. Stop. Leaving the scene of a crash with only property damage is a misdemeanor under section 316.061. Leaving a crash where someone is injured or killed is a felony under section 316.027.
2. Check on everyone. Section 316.062 requires drivers to give reasonable help to anyone injured, including arranging transport to medical care when it’s needed or the person asks. Call 911 for injuries.
3. Move the cars if they’re blocking traffic. Section 316.061 says a driver whose damaged car is obstructing traffic must make every reasonable effort to move it. Moving it doesn’t make you at fault: the statute says a driver isn’t liable solely because they moved the vehicle. If anyone is hurt, stay at the scene.
4. Call police when the law requires it (next section).
5. Exchange information and take photos before anyone leaves.

Do you have to call the police after a car accident in Florida?

Yes, if anyone is injured or killed, or the damage appears to be at least $2,000. Section 316.065, Florida Statutes, requires the driver to report those crashes immediately by the quickest means available. Some older state web pages still show a $500 figure; the 2026 statute says $2,000.

Who you call depends on where the crash happened. Inside a city, such as Lakeland, Winter Haven or Bartow, the statute says to notify the local police department. Outside city limits, in unincorporated Polk County, you notify the sheriff’s office or the nearest Florida Highway Patrol office.

When an officer does respond, section 316.066 requires a long-form crash report if:

• anyone died, was injured, or complained of pain or discomfort,
• a car had to be towed from the scene,
• a commercial motor vehicle was involved, or
• the crash involved leaving the scene or impaired driving.

Other crashes on a public road get a short-form report or a driver exchange-of-information form from the officer.

The exception to know: if no officer reports a crash that damaged a vehicle or other property, section 316.066 requires each driver to send the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) a written report within 10 days. FLHSMV’s “Driver Report of Traffic Crash (Self Report)” form is on its website. Keep a copy for your claim.

What information should you exchange after a crash?

The law sets a short minimum, and your claim needs more. Here’s the difference:

If the other driver won’t share insurance details, you can still get them later. FLHSMV says a person involved in the crash, their attorney or an insurer’s representative can request the other party’s insurance information under section 324.242(2) with Form HSMV 83392 and a copy of the crash report or self-report.

What if you hit a parked car?

Stop, then find the owner or leave a note in a visible place with your name, address and registration number. Section 316.063 also requires you to notify the nearest police office without unnecessary delay.

Why the 14-day PIP rule matters

See a doctor within 14 days, even if you feel fine. Under section 627.736, Florida Statutes, personal injury protection (PIP), the coverage every Florida driver carries for their own injuries, pays medical benefits only if you receive initial services and care within 14 days after the crash. The Florida Department of Financial Services points to the same 14-day requirement.

Two details change what PIP pays:

• The $10,000 limit applies when a physician, dentist, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse determines you had an emergency medical condition.
• The $2,500 cap applies when a qualifying provider determines you did not.

PIP also includes a $5,000 death benefit per person. Our Florida car insurance requirements guide explains how PIP pays and what it doesn’t cover.

How do you get the crash report?

Through the Florida Crash Portal, run by FLHSMV. As of November 2026, FLHSMV lists the fee as $10 per report plus a $2 convenience fee per transaction, and says reports can take up to 10 days to appear online.

Crash reports with personal information are confidential for 60 days after they’re filed under section 316.066. The people involved, their lawyers, their insurers and licensed insurance agents can get them during that window. If you request one by mail or in person in the first 60 days, FLHSMV asks for a sworn statement.

What to do in the days after the crash

Report the claim to your insurance company as soon as you safely can, by its claims line or app, and keep a short log of every call. A few things help:

1. Report it even if you weren’t at fault. Section 627.736 makes PIP benefits primary, so your own PIP is the first payer for your medical bills, and your collision coverage, if you carry it, can pay for your car’s repairs after your deductible while fault is sorted out.
2. Send the crash report number or your self-report to both adjusters.
3. Be careful with releases. FLHSMV advises talking to your insurer before signing a release from the other party, because your insurer may have the right to recover what it paid you.
4. Check your other coverages. Rental reimbursement, towing and uninsured motorist coverage only help if they’re on your policy, so look at your declarations page.
5. If a claim stalls, the Florida Department of Financial Services runs a free Insurance Consumer Helpline for questions and complaints about insurers.

Our claims guide lists how to reach each carrier and the other Florida deadlines for home, auto and business claims.

What to have ready before you request a quote

An accident is a good moment to check whether your coverage fits. To compare auto insurance options, have these ready:

1. Your current declarations page, showing your limits, deductibles and any rental or towing coverage.
2. Each driver’s license number and date of birth.
3. Each vehicle’s VIN, or the year, make and model.
4. The date and a short description of any accidents or claims in your household, including this one.
5. How each car is used, such as commuting, business or occasional driving.

As an independent agency in Lakeland, we can compare the carriers we represent for you. You can start a quote online any time. Coverage can’t be bound or changed through a website submission; a licensed agent will confirm the details with you first.