Essentially, you file a car accident report depending on how serious the incident is in Florida. Major accidents usually have a law enforcement officer reporting the car accident at the scene. Minor accidents will have you self-reporting regarding the incident at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). Serious accidents require the filing of a police report in case of injury or property damage worth $500 or more.
What to Do After You File a Car Accident Report in Florida?
By law: Call emergency services if anyone is injured or significant property damage has occurred. A police report will be filed for you by way of the officer who comes to look into the scene, collects all forms of information, and forwards that information to FLHSMV. When you file a car accident report, note with the investigative agency—namely, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) or local police—the case number that will be assigned by the officer; you will need these to request the official report later.
In minor accidents (Self-Report), that is, when you need to file a car accident report to FLHSMV within 10 days, because law enforcement officers do not investigate a crash involving $500 or more in property damage. Obtain the required form, “Driver Report of Traffic Crash (Self Report)” (Form 90011S), from the FLHSMV site. Fill in the form with the details of the crash, the parties involved, and any witnesses.
No matter how serious, do the following:
- Exchange information with the other driver(s), including names, contact information, insurance details, and license plate numbers.
- Photograph and note the site, clearly showing damage and the place, including any other critical aspects.
- At the latest, report the accident to your insurer within 24 hours.
- Seek medical advice within 14 days to be entitled to benefits under PIP in accordance with Florida law.
What Will Happen if I Don’t File a Car Accident Report?
Regardless of whether they are responsible for the accident, drivers must report it to the police. Failure to do this may entail penalties or fines. Generally, the law provides that a motorist must report to the police any accident with injury or sufficient property damage. Failure to report accidents or leaving the accident scene brings fines and criminal prosecution.
If the police are present, they can definitely come by and check the incident, but they don’t have to file an official report.
Most probably, that will be to value oral or telephone reporting made by law enforcement officers, but there won’t be a follow-up report from the participant. Still, filing a car accident report is a must for documenting all events properly. This includes helping the car accident attorney track the details of the necessary paperwork and process to secure compensatory damages should you be hit by another negligent driver.
Penalties for Not Reporting a Car Accident in Florida
According to Florida Statutes § 316.066, a driver who fails to report an accident in instances where it is required will not be responsible for any criminal form of penalty. For those who did not report an accident from accidents or damage not requiring reports, the fine is $30. It does not involve jail time.
The penalties for leaving the scene and for non-reporting are a lot more severe. Leaving the scene of the crime is one that may be punished with imprisonment, especially in serious damage or injuries, or fatalities. In the event of a hit-and-run accident, you should seek recourse through a hit-and-run accident attorney.
The right thing is to call and report it. All visible injuries should be mentioned-whether it is that of a pedestrian, passenger, yourself, or occupant of the other vehicle. Injury here does not specify degree, so even the lightest bruise is counted as an injury, but generally, one should not take chances.
When Law Enforcement Should Be Notified of an Accident
State law does not require casualty reporting for all accidents. There is no need to notify minor bumps or fender-bender accidents to the law; however, police must be notified in cases of:
- Bodily injury from accidents
- Death from accidents
- Property damage from an apparent accident that would have reached or gone higher than the threshold limit of $500.
Note that the threshold of $500 for property damage is low enough to affect a fair few car accidents. Most repairs to relatively minor bodywork accidents are above $500, and there are many accidents beyond the $500 mark; only minor scrapes or dings will be within that threshold.
As soon as possible, so soon as the accident occurrence has been reported to the police, the accident must be reported using the quickest means available; usually, calling would be that. It is easiest, should someone has a cell phone, to report in this way. Sufficing in satisfying a motorist’s requirement to report an accident.
Guidelines for Reporting Car Accidents
When an accident occurs inside a city, the local police should be called to report such accidents. State roads and interstate accidents must be reported to the Florida Highway Patrol. In rural areas lacking a municipal police department, accidents should be reported to the county sheriff’s department.
Bottom Line!
After a car accident, consult with an attorney from Jenkins Law PL. Curiosity is generated as to what happens when one does not file a car accident report in Florida; there are really very few instances where anything is more than simply calling the cops.
If your injury is from being an auto accident victim, our best lawyers will help. If we retain you as our auto accident attorney, we shall discuss all the required actions to be taken after an accident. We are here with a free consultation about your financial recovery after an auto accident. Contact us today.
