What should you know after a Florida car accident? After a Florida car accident, the available claims may involve personal injury protection benefits, the at-fault driver’s liability coverage, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, medical-payments coverage, collision coverage, and claims against other responsible parties. The correct path depends on the injuries, insurance policies, fault evidence, vehicle use, and circumstances of the crash.
Reviewed for legal accuracy by Ryan C. Hasanbasic, Florida Bar No. 44119 | Updated August 20, 2026
Fowkes & Hasanbasic represents people injured in car accidents throughout Tampa Bay and Florida. Our attorneys personally evaluate and handle each case. We investigate how the collision occurred, identify available insurance and responsible parties, document the injuries and financial losses, and prepare claims for negotiation or litigation.
Review our broader Florida Personal Injury practice. We also handle serious commercial truck accidents and motorcycle accidents.
Contents
What to Do After a Florida Car Accident
Seek emergency assistance and appropriate medical care. If circumstances permit, preserve photographs and video of the vehicles, roadway, traffic controls, visible injuries, debris, skid marks, and surrounding area. Obtain witness information, insurance information, vehicle information, and the crash-report number.
Notify the appropriate insurers, but be cautious about giving a recorded statement, signing a broad medical authorization, or accepting an early settlement before the injuries and available coverage are understood. Avoid disposing of or repairing a vehicle when its condition may be important evidence without first considering whether it should be inspected.
Florida Personal Injury Protection Benefits
Florida motor-vehicle insurance policies subject to the no-fault law generally provide personal injury protection, commonly called PIP. Subject to the policy and statute, PIP may pay a portion of qualifying medical expenses and lost income without first deciding who caused the accident.
Florida law generally requires initial qualifying services and care within 14 days after the motor-vehicle accident for medical benefits. The extent of available medical benefits can depend on whether a qualifying provider determines that an emergency medical condition exists. These requirements are technical, and coverage should be evaluated under the policy and current law.
PIP is not necessarily the only available source of recovery. Serious injuries and losses may support claims against an at-fault driver or another responsible party, subject to Florida law.
Insurance Coverage That May Apply
A careful insurance review may identify several potential sources:
- Personal injury protection: Benefits under an applicable Florida no-fault policy.
- Bodily injury liability coverage: Coverage that may respond to injuries caused by an insured at-fault driver.
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage: Coverage that may apply when the responsible driver has no bodily injury coverage or insufficient limits.
- Medical-payments coverage: Optional benefits that may apply to qualifying medical expenses.
- Collision and property coverage: Coverage addressing vehicle damage, subject to the policy.
- Commercial or employer coverage: Potential coverage when a driver was acting for a business or using a company vehicle.
- Rideshare, rental, household, or umbrella policies: Additional policies that may require review in the appropriate case.
Policy language, exclusions, vehicle ownership, household relationships, employment, app status, and other facts can affect coverage.
Proving Fault After a Car Crash
Fault should be based on evidence rather than assumptions made at the scene. Depending on the collision, relevant evidence may include:
- Police reports, diagrams, photographs, and citations
- Witness statements and 911 recordings
- Traffic-camera, business, doorbell, dash-camera, and vehicle video
- Vehicle event-data-recorder information
- Cellphone and application records
- Traffic-signal timing and maintenance records
- Vehicle damage, tire marks, debris, and final positions
- Inspection, maintenance, and repair records
- GPS, rideshare, delivery, or employer information
- Medical records documenting the timing and nature of injuries
Prompt investigation can matter because video may be overwritten, witnesses may become difficult to locate, and vehicles may be repaired or destroyed.
Common Types of Florida Car Accident Cases
Our existing resources address many recurring crash patterns:
- Chain-reaction and multi-vehicle accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Intersection accidents
- Parking-lot accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Vehicle rollovers
Negligent and Reckless Driving
Car crashes may result from speeding, following too closely, unsafe lane changes, failing to yield, running a traffic signal, impairment, fatigue, distraction, or other unsafe conduct. Related resources include:
- Drunk-driving accidents
- Failure-to-yield accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Texting and distracted-driving accidents
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims
Accidents Involving Businesses and Other Parties
Some collisions involve more than two individual drivers. Vehicle ownership, employment, commercial activity, maintenance, rental agreements, rideshare status, or roadway conditions may bring additional parties and insurance policies into the investigation.
- Company-vehicle accidents
- Passenger injury claims
- Rental-car accidents
- Uber and rideshare accidents
- Van accidents
Injuries and Recoverable Damages
Car accidents can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, fractures, internal injuries, soft-tissue injuries, burns, scarring, chronic pain, psychological harm, disability, or death.
Depending on the evidence and governing law, recoverable damages may include medical expenses, lost income, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, property damage, and other losses. Florida law imposes requirements on recovery of noneconomic damages in many motor-vehicle cases, and the analysis depends on the injuries and medical evidence.
Comparative Fault in Florida
Insurance companies may argue that the injured person caused or contributed to the collision. Florida applies modified comparative-fault rules to many negligence claims. A person’s assigned percentage of responsibility may reduce recovery, and recovery may be barred in some circumstances when that person is found more than 50 percent at fault.
Video, vehicle data, witnesses, scene evidence, traffic controls, and expert analysis may be important when fault is disputed.
How Long Do You Have to Bring a Florida Car Accident Claim?
Florida deadlines depend on the date of the crash, type of claim, parties, insurance benefits, and other circumstances. Many negligence claims arising from recent accidents are subject to a two-year limitations period, but different or shorter deadlines and notice requirements may apply. The 14-day PIP treatment requirement is separate from the deadline to file a negligence lawsuit.
A person should not rely on a general deadline without reviewing the particular facts and policies.
How Fowkes & Hasanbasic Handles Car Accident Cases
Our lawyers personally evaluate and handle cases rather than passing legal responsibility to a call center. Our prior insurance-defense experience helps us recognize how insurers investigate, value, and defend claims. We communicate directly with clients, evaluate coverage, gather liability and medical evidence, address liens and expenses, negotiate when appropriate, and prepare cases for litigation when necessary.
What Clients Have Said
Corey M.
This had been my first time working with a personal injury lawyer. I was recommended to Paul by a friend because he had great experience working with Paul. I am glad I made the choice based off my friends recommendation. Paul is a great guy to work with. He provided me with a direct line of contact with him. There was never any jumping through hoops to get in touch with him by going through a paralegal and etc. like other firms. Paul attempts to connect with you on an emotional level to help understand the stress and pain you are going through, this helps feed him fuel to fight for you even more. He also has great recommendations for care with doctors and etc. He will tell you his honest opinions on everything. Would I choose him again If I was in need of his services? Most definately.
Brianna U.
Paul and Ryan work so hard for you and keep you so informed during the process. If you have a question at any point, you get to contact them directly. Not a case manager, not a legal secretary. THEM – YOUR ATTORNEY. Great family oriented guys that love their community and want everyone to do well. Thank you for everything you’ve done and continue to do for my family!
Michael U.
Paul was very knowledgeable and always explained everything to me if needed and was always available when needed. Thank you for getting my medical bills reduced so I can have more “in pocket” from my settlement. I was very satisfied with the outcome and I would recommend Paul to anyone needing an injury lawyer.
Florida Car Accident Questions
Do I need a lawyer after a car accident?
Not every accident requires representation. Legal review may be particularly useful when injuries are serious, fault is disputed, several policies or parties are involved, evidence may disappear, or the insurer disputes treatment, causation, coverage, or damages.
What if the other driver has no bodily injury insurance?
Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, household policies, commercial policies, or claims against other responsible parties may require review. Availability depends on the policies and facts.
What if I was partly at fault?
Partial fault does not automatically end every claim, but it may reduce recovery and can bar recovery in some circumstances under Florida’s modified comparative-fault law. The allocation should be based on evidence.
How much does a Florida car accident lawyer cost?
Fowkes & Hasanbasic offers a free case review. Personal injury matters are generally handled on a contingency-fee basis, meaning attorneys’ fees are tied to a recovery and governed by the written representation agreement.
Should I accept the insurance company’s first offer?
An early offer should be evaluated in light of medical treatment, future needs, lost income, available coverage, liens, fault evidence, and the release language. Accepting a settlement usually ends the released claims.
Request a Free Florida Car Accident Case Review
Fowkes & Hasanbasic represents people injured in car accidents throughout Tampa Bay and Florida. Contact the firm for a free review of the collision, injuries, insurance coverage, and available claims.
Contact Fowkes & Hasanbasic or review the main Florida Personal Injury hub.