By Maria Sterling
The first 24 hours after a car accident matter more than most people realize. The decisions you make in that window — whether to call the police, what to say to the other driver's insurance company, how soon to see a doctor — directly affect what your case is worth six months later.
Here's the checklist we give every South Florida client. Print it, save it, and pass it on.
1. Call 911 — even for a "minor" crash
Florida law requires you to report any crash that causes injury, death, or more than $500 in property damage. Practically speaking, $500 in damage is one cosmetic dent. Call the police. Insist on a written report. Get the responding officer's name and badge number.
The official crash report is often the single most important piece of evidence in your case. If there's no report, you'll be fighting a "he said, she said" battle with the at-fault driver's insurance company months later.
2. Get checked by a doctor within 14 days
Florida's no-fault PIP statute requires that you receive "initial services and care" from a qualified medical provider within 14 days of the crash. Miss that deadline and you can lose your right to PIP medical benefits entirely — up to $10,000 in coverage you paid for.
Go to the ER if anything hurts. If not, see your primary doctor or an urgent care within a week. Adrenaline masks injuries — what feels like a stiff neck on day one is often a herniated disc on day eight.
3. Photograph everything
Before the cars move, photograph the position of every vehicle, the license plates, the damage from multiple angles, the intersection or roadway, the weather conditions, and any visible injuries. Take a photo of the other driver's license and insurance card. If there are skid marks, photograph those too.
4. Get witness names and phone numbers
Witnesses disappear. The person who saw the entire crash from the corner gas station has zero obligation to stick around for the police, and once they're gone they're gone. Walk up, introduce yourself, ask for a name and phone number. Most people are happy to give it.
5. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company
You will get a call within 48 hours from the at-fault driver's insurance carrier asking for a "quick recorded statement." Politely decline. They are not on your side. Anything you say will be used to minimize your claim or shift fault to you. Your own insurance company is a different question — Florida law generally requires you to cooperate with your own carrier — but the at-fault driver's insurance can be told "no, thank you" with no consequence.
6. Call a personal injury lawyer before you sign anything
The first offer from the at-fault driver's insurance company is almost always a fraction of what your case is worth. We've taken over cases where the adjuster's first offer was $4,000 and the eventual settlement was six figures. Once you sign a release, your case is over forever. Before you sign anything, get a free case review.
Need help now?
Call Sterling & Reyes 24/7 at (305) 555-0142. We answer the phone. We come to your home or hospital if you can't come to us. The first conversation is free, and you never owe us a dollar unless we recover for you.
