A crash is a bad time to be learning how your policy works. Florida's no-fault system means your own PIP coverage handles your initial medical bills regardless of fault — and it also means there's a 14-day treatment deadline running from the moment of impact.
Here's what to do, in order.
Key takeaways
- Document the scene thoroughly, including the other driver's insurance card.
- Get medical evaluation within 14 days or PIP can be denied.
- Report to your own carrier promptly; PIP runs through your policy.
- Don't give recorded statements or accept quick settlements under pressure.
1. At the scene
Before anything else, handle safety and the legal basics:
- Move vehicles out of traffic if they're drivable and it's safe
- Call 911 for injuries, blocked roadways, or any dispute about what happened
- Exchange name, contact, insurer, policy number, and plate with every driver involved
- Photograph all vehicles, all damage, the road position, signals and skid marks, and the other driver's insurance card
- Get contact info from independent witnesses before they leave
2. Get the crash report
Florida requires a report for crashes involving injury, death, or apparent property damage above a statutory threshold. Even for minor collisions, a law enforcement report is the cleanest record of what happened.
Note the reporting officer's name and how to obtain the report number.
3. Get evaluated within 14 days — this is the big one
Florida PIP benefits require initial medical care within 14 days of the crash. Miss it and your $10,000 of PIP can be denied entirely.
Adrenaline masks soft-tissue injuries, and neck and back symptoms commonly surface days later. Get checked even if you feel fine, and keep the records.
4. Report the claim to your carrier
Notify your insurer promptly, even if you weren't at fault. Your PIP claim runs through your own policy, and early notice keeps the file moving.
Stick to facts when describing the crash. You don't have to speculate about fault, and you shouldn't.
5. Be careful with the other driver's insurer
If the other carrier calls asking for a recorded statement, you're generally under no obligation to give one on the spot. It's reasonable to route those requests through your own carrier or agent.
Don't accept a quick settlement before you know the extent of your injuries. Medical issues from a crash frequently develop over weeks.
6. Understand what pays for what
Your PIP covers 80% of your medical expenses to $10,000. Your collision coverage repairs your car, minus your deductible, regardless of fault — often faster than waiting on the other carrier, and your deductible may be recovered later through subrogation.
If the at-fault driver has no bodily injury liability, your uninsured motorist coverage is what stands between you and the shortfall. If you don't have it, this is the conversation to have at renewal.
Check your auto coverage
Especially uninsured motorist — it's optional in Florida and easy to be missing.
Frequently asked questions
This guide is general information for Florida consumers, not a policy or legal advice. Coverage terms vary by carrier and policy form — your declarations page controls. Last reviewed July 26, 2026.