What To Do After a Minor Car Accident in Florida

In 2022, Florida had 19,018,634 registered vehicles and 397,620 crashes. In these car accidents, 252,169 individuals received injuries and 3,553 individuals died. Although the number of accidents is significant, many involve minor injuries or property damage. If you become involved in a minor incident, contact our experienced Winter Haven car accident lawyers at JustCallMoe to find out what steps you need to take.

What Is Considered a Minor Car Accident in Florida?

A total of 504,517 drivers and 190,300 passengers involved in car accidents in Florida in 2022 suffered no injuries, while 50,215 and 111,540 drivers and 16,974 and 44,305 passengers received non-incapacitating and possible injuries, respectively. These are the characteristics of a minor motor vehicle accident:

• No injuries or non-incapacitating injuries
• No vehicle damage or damage that does not impact the vehicle’s operation capacity

Common minor car accidents occur in residential areas, shopping centers, parking lots and school zones. They include the following:

• Fender benders
• Sliding due to poorly maintained roads or adverse weather conditions
• Collisions with standing vehicles
• Tailgating incidents
• Side-swipe accidents

Most of these incidents occur at slower speeds and may involve one or more vehicles. Although it is not always definitive of a minor car accident, in most cases, the property damage and injuries should be minimal.

What Kinds of Injuries Happen in Minor Car Accidents?

As you research what to do in a minor car accident, you may find that you can walk away with no injuries. Minor injuries may include the following:

• Cuts and bruises
• Bone fractures
• Soft tissue damage

Although most minor accident injuries are not incapacitating, some can be more complex. These may involve:

• Whiplash
• Traumatic brain injuries like concussions
• Back, chest, neck, head, and face injuries
• Broken bones

Unfortunately, even if you receive minor injuries, you may have to pay medical bills. In addition, you may have deeper damage and can develop long-term pain or medical challenges.

When Do You Need a Police Report?

After learning what a minor accident is, you should ask what to do in a minor car accident. In Florida, you have to report every car accident. However, Florida law requires that you contact the police at the scene under the following circumstances:

• Someone became injured, even if those injuries were minor cuts and bruises
• The property damage is greater than $500

If you see any damage to your vehicle or feel like you may be injured, call the police to the scene.

If you do not call the police at the scene, you need to go to the police department or online to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and file a report yourself. You could receive a ticket and face criminal charges — even felony charges if anyone gets injured or dies — if you do not file a report. If convicted, you could face fines and up to two months in jail.

When Should You Seek Medical Treatment?

You should always seek medical treatment after a motor vehicle accident. You may not notice any injuries during and immediately after the incident, but your adrenaline could hide damage at the crash site. Even if you do not believe the incident caused injuries, visit your doctor as soon as you can. If you begin feeling severe pain, visit the hospital emergency room or an urgent care facility.

What To Do After a Minor Car Accident

When you are at the scene, you may wonder what to do in a minor car accident. These are some steps you should take.

Check for injuries and dangers

Immediately after the accident, take a few minutes to calm down and clear your head. Then, check yourself and those in your vehicle for injuries. If anyone is injured, call 911 and request an ambulance.

Next, look around the accident scene. Do you see smoke, fuel leaking, flames, or any other danger?

Move to safety and call law enforcement

Observe traffic to ensure that you are not in danger of additional collisions. If you aren’t blocking traffic, leave your vehicle where it is so local law enforcement can view the scene as it occurred. If your vehicle blocks traffic or isn’t in a safe place, move it to the side of the road in a safe area.

Then, contact law enforcement if you didn’t already dial 911. If the incident is a minor fender bender without injuries, you may not need police on the scene, but be aware that it can be difficult to tell the extent of the damage and injuries.

Document and gather evidence

Next, you should gather evidence. This should include photographing the incident scene. You can use your smartphone to get the following photos:

• Vehicle damages, license plates and damaged objects
• The scene, including weather, traffic signals and signs, road damage and debris, surrounding surveillance cameras, skid marks and any other evidence
• Injuries
• Individuals involved in the incident and witnesses on the street

Get close-up views of key evidence, such as vehicle damage. You can ask witnesses to provide video or audio recordings of their statements.

Discuss obtaining a copy of the police report with the officers on the scene. It can take up to six days or more to get your copy. Also, find out where and how to request this document.

Gather contact information from other accident victims

Next on the list of what to do in a minor accident with no damage is to gather information from those at the scene.

First, get the badge number and name of every law enforcement professional on the scene. You should also get the contact and insurance information from all those involved in the accident. Then, get contact information from any witnesses.

Contact your insurance company

After the incident, you should immediately contact your car insurance company. Fill out any paperwork on the incident and provide copies of your evidence.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Today

As you consider what to do in a minor car accident, you may ask when to contact an attorney. You should contact JustCallMoe as soon as you can. You can even contact one of our attorneys before you file your claim with the insurance company. We can help you negotiate settlements, gather evidence, show fault and file lawsuits if necessary to help get you the support you need to recover fully.