Post-Accident Quick Checklist

Reviewed by Thomas E. Flanagan, III, Esq. | Updated November 2026 | Plantation & Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney

In the minutes right after a car crash, adrenaline and shock make it hard to think clearly. Yet the steps you take—and the mistakes you avoid—in the first 24 hours to 14 days determine whether your Florida insurance claim succeeds or gets denied.

Use this practical Florida car accident checklist to protect your physical safety, preserve crucial roadside evidence, and avoid costly insurance adjuster traps from the moment the collision happens.

Step 1: Immediate Safety Actions at the Crash Scene

Before worrying about paperwork or vehicle repairs, protect yourself and your passengers from secondary traffic hazards:

• Check for Injuries Immediately: Assess yourself and every passenger before unbuckling. If anyone has neck, back, or head pain, dizziness, or visible bleeding, stay still and call 911 right away.
• Move Out of Active Traffic If Safe: Under Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 316.061), if your vehicle is drivable and blocking travel lanes, move it to the shoulder or nearest safe parking area—after taking a quick photo of where the vehicles came to rest if it is safe to step out.
• Never Leave the Scene Early: Remain at the scene until law enforcement completes their investigation and clears you to leave, or you risk criminal hit-and-run penalties.
• Call 911 for an Official Police Report: Always request police or Florida Highway Patrol to the scene so an official Florida Traffic Crash Report documents the date, time, witness names, and driver insurance details.

Step 2: Information to Collect From Every Driver & Vehicle Owner

While waiting for law enforcement to arrive, use your phone camera to capture clear photos of the other driver's documents and vehicle rather than relying on handwritten notes:

• Full Legal Name, Address & Phone Number of every driver involved
• Driver's License Number and state of issuance
• Auto Insurance Company Name & Policy Number (photograph both sides of the insurance card)
• License Plate Number, Make, Model & Color of every vehicle
• Registered Vehicle Owner Details: Check the name on the registration and insurance card. If the driver does not own the car, record the owner's full name, contact information, and relationship to the driver (such as employer, parent, or rental agency)—important under Florida's dangerous instrumentality doctrine.
• Eyewitness Names & Phone Numbers: Independent witnesses often leave before police finish interviews, so get their contact information immediately.

Step 3: Document the Scene, Vehicle Damage & Towing

Skid marks are washed away and damaged vehicles are towed within hours. Capture these details before leaving the scene:

• Photos & Video From Multiple Angles: Photograph all four sides of every vehicle, close-ups of points of impact, deployed airbags, broken glass, traffic lights, stop signs, and weather or road conditions.
• Tow Truck & Storage Lot Details: If your car cannot be driven, write down the towing company's name, phone number, driver's name, and exact storage yard address—and remove valuables, medications, and registration papers from the glove box before it is towed.

Step 4: Never Discuss Fault or Apologize at the Scene

Even if you feel shaken up or polite by instinct, do not apologize, say "I didn't see you," or speculate about who caused the crash. You may not know that the other driver was speeding, texting, or running a red light until an investigation is completed.

Under Florida's 51% modified comparative negligence law (Fla. Stat. § 768.81), any person found more than 50% at fault is barred from recovering damages—and insurance adjusters routinely seize on polite roadside apologies to shift blame onto innocent drivers. Keep your comments to law enforcement factual and concise, and discuss fault only with your attorney.

Step 5: Protect Your Medical Rights Within Florida's 14-Day PIP Deadline

Many crash injuries—including whiplash, herniated discs, and concussions—do not cause severe pain until 24 to 72 hours after impact. Under Florida's no-fault insurance law (Fla. Stat. § 627.736), prompt medical care is mandatory:

• See a Doctor Within 14 Days: You must receive initial medical treatment from a qualified healthcare provider within 14 days of the crash, or your insurer can deny all $10,000 of your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits.
• Keep a Symptom & Expense Journal: Save every hospital discharge summary, prescription receipt, physical therapy bill, and tow/rental invoice, and note daily pain levels or missed workdays.
• Report the Crash Without Giving a Recorded Statement: Notify your own insurer promptly that a collision occurred to open your claim number, but decline any request to give a recorded statement or sign a blanket medical release until you have spoken with a Florida car accident lawyer.