Table of Contents
- 1. Secure the Scene and Check for Injuries
- 3. Document the Crash Scene and Exchange Information
- 4. Seek Prompt Medical Evaluation
- 5. Notify Your Insurer and Understand What to Tell Insurance After a Car Accident
- Your Car Accident Checklist: A Step-by-Step Timeline
- Common Mistakes to Avoid After a Crash
- When to Contact a Car Accident Attorney
- Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: October 16, 2026
1. Secure the Scene and Check for Injuries
A car accident in Lakeland can happen in seconds, and the moments right after matter most. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, drivers must stop and remain at the scene of any crash involving injury, death, or property damage.
At Echemendia Law Firm, we’ve seen how small missteps in those first minutes create big problems later.
First, check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Then move to safety if you can.
- Pull off the road if the cars still drive
- Turn on your hazard lights
- Set out flares or cones if you have them
If a car can’t move, leave it and get yourself to a safe spot away from the lanes.
(https://www.flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/).
Keep in mind that a self-filed report carries less weight than an officer-investigated report. If the other driver later disputes fault, an officer’s independent observations are harder to challenge than your own written account.
How to Get Your Crash Report
In Florida, crash reports are generally not released immediately. A common pattern is a waiting period of several days before the report becomes available, and the agency that responded typically controls the release. When you request the report:
- Have the crash report number ready
- Confirm the responding agency and the records unit that holds it
- Expect a small per-page fee for copies
Ask the responding officer how to get a copy of the crash report before they leave the scene. Getting the report number on the spot saves a headache later, and the narrative section often contains details that never make it into the summary.
Do not leave the scene before police arrive if the crash involved injury, death, or a driver who fled. Leaving early can expose you to criminal charges even when you were not at fault for the collision itself.
3. Document the Crash Scene and Exchange Information
Document the scene before the cars are moved. Photos and notes taken in the first hour are far more reliable than anyone’s memory a week later.
What to Photograph at the Scene
- Wide shots of all vehicles and their positions
- Close-ups of damage, dents, and broken glass
- License plates on every car involved
Details to Collect from the Other Driver
Exchange the basics with every driver involved. This is what information to exchange after a car accident:
- Full name and phone number
- Driver’s license number and state
- Insurance company and policy number
Also grab names and numbers from any witnesses. Bystanders often leave before police arrive, and their account can decide a disputed claim.
Never admit fault or apologize at the scene, even if you think you caused the crash. A casual “my bad” can be used against you later. Stick to facts.
4. Seek Prompt Medical Evaluation
See a doctor within 24 to 72 hours, even if you feel fine. Some of the most serious car accident injuries, like whiplash, concussions, and internal bleeding, don’t show symptoms right away.
Adrenaline masks pain in the hours after a crash. Waiting a week to get checked can hurt both your health and your claim. Insurers point to gaps in treatment as proof you weren’t really hurt.
The 14-Day Rule and What It Actually Costs You
Florida’s no-fault system adds a hard deadline. Under personal injury protection (PIP) rules, you generally must seek medical care within 14 days of the crash to keep your PIP benefits.
The 14-day rule is only half the story. Florida’s PIP statute ties the amount of available benefits to your diagnosis:
- $2,500 in benefits if you are diagnosed with a non-emergency medical condition (often abbreviated EMC)
- $10,000 in benefits if you are diagnosed with an emergency medical condition, which generally requires a more serious finding such as a fracture, a concussion with lasting symptoms, or a condition requiring significant further treatment
The difference between those two tiers is often decided by where you get evaluated and what the provider documents.
Check the Florida statute on personal injury protection for the current rules, since the statute controls how benefits are calculated and paid.
What PIP Covers and What It Does Not
PIP is designed to pay a portion of your medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash. It is not full compensation.
Because PIP is no-fault, it also limits when you can sue the other driver for pain and suffering. Florida generally requires a threshold injury, such as a permanent injury, significant scarring, or a similar serious condition, before a bodily injury claim can proceed.
Practical Steps After the Crash
- Go to an ER for severe pain, dizziness, numbness, or loss of consciousness
- Visit urgent care for aches and stiffness, and ask the provider to document findings in detail
- Tell the doctor it was a car accident and describe every symptom, even minor ones
Your PIP claim runs through your own insurer and pays regardless of fault, but the 14-day deadline and the emergency-versus-non-emergency diagnosis determine how much of that benefit you actually receive. Treat the first medical visit as evidence, not just treatment.
Do not skip care to “tough it out” or to avoid a paper trail. A gap in treatment is one of the most common reasons insurers cite when they reduce or deny a claim.
5. Notify Your Insurer and Understand What to Tell Insurance After a Car Accident
Report the crash to your own insurer promptly. Most policies require quick notice, and a delay gives the company a reason to question your claim.
Here’s what to tell insurance after a car accident: the facts. Give the date, location, vehicles involved, and a brief description of what happened.
- Do not guess at fault
- Do not downplay your injuries
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer
- Do not accept a quick settlement before you know your full costs
The other driver’s insurance company is not on your side. Its goal is to pay as little as possible.
Your own insurer handles your PIP claim. The other driver’s insurer handles the liability claim. Keep those two conversations separate and never give the other side a recorded statement without legal advice.
Your Car Accident Checklist: A Step-by-Step Timeline
Use this car accident checklist to stay on track in the first hours, days, and weeks.
| Timeframe | Action | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| First 5 minutes | Check for injuries, move to safety, call 911 | Protects lives and prevents a second crash |
| First 30 minutes | Report to police, photograph the scene, exchange info | Preserves evidence and identifies all drivers |
| First 24-72 hours | Get a medical evaluation | Protects your health and your PIP benefits |
| First few days | Notify your insurer, gather the crash report | Meets policy deadlines and starts your claim |
| First 2 weeks | Track symptoms, keep all records | Builds proof of your injuries and losses |
| Ongoing | Avoid recorded statements, consult a lawyer if needed | Protects your right to full compensation |
Common Mistakes to Avoid After a Crash
The biggest mistake is talking too much. Anything you say to an insurer can be twisted. The second is skipping medical care to “tough it out.” That gap in treatment is exactly what insurers use to deny claims.
Other costly errors:
- Leaving the scene before police arrive
- Admitting fault, even casually
- Accepting the first settlement offer
- Posting about the crash on social media
Each one can shrink what you recover. Most are avoidable with a little patience.
When to Contact a Car Accident Attorney
Talk to a car accident attorney if you were hurt, if fault is disputed, or if the other driver was uninsured, underinsured, or left the scene.
At Echemendia Law Firm, we’ve spent over 20 years fighting for injured people in Lakeland and Polk County.
A few situations where a lawyer makes a real difference:
- A hit-and-run or uninsured motorist claim
- Serious injuries with lasting pain or lost wages
- A denied or delayed insurance claim
- Disagreement over who caused the crash
If any of these sound familiar, get a free consultation before you sign anything.
A car accident in Lakeland leaves you sore, scared, and buried in paperwork. The insurance company has a team working to limit your payout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do immediately after a car accident?
First, check yourself and passengers for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. If the vehicles are drivable and it is safe, move them out of active traffic to prevent further crashes. Turn on your hazard lights and set up flares or triangles if you have them. Then, call the police to file a report and begin documenting the scene with photos. Do not admit fault or discuss the crash with the other driver beyond exchanging required information. Seeking medical attention within 14 days is critical for your health and your insurance claim under Florida’s personal injury protection rules.
Should I call the police after a car accident in Florida?
Yes. Florida law requires you to report a crash to law enforcement if it involves injury, death, or property damage over $500. Even for minor collisions, calling the police creates an official crash report that your insurer and attorney will rely on. The responding officer will document the scene, gather statements, and note any citations. If officers do not come to the scene, you can file a report at a local police station or through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Always get the crash report number for your records.
What information should I exchange after a car accident?
Exchange your full name, phone number, address, driver’s license number, license plate, vehicle make and model, and insurance company name and policy number. Do not share your Social Security number or discuss who was at fault. Also collect names and contact details from any witnesses. If the other driver is uninsured or leaves the scene, note whatever you can and report it to the police immediately. This exchange is a key part of any car accident checklist because it ensures you have what you need for your insurance claim and any legal action.
How soon should I report a car accident to my insurance company?
Report the accident to your own insurer as soon as possible, ideally within a few days. Florida’s personal injury protection (PIP) requires you to seek medical treatment within 14 days of the crash to preserve your benefits, and notifying your insurer promptly helps them process your claim. When you call, stick to the facts: date, time, location, and a brief description of what happened. Avoid giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer without consulting an attorney first. If you are unsure what to tell insurance after a car accident, a lawyer can guide you.