Florida Car Accident Information

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1. Check yourself and passengers for injuries. If anyone is injured call 911 for emergency services or ask bystanders to call for help.

2. Get yourself and your passengers to safty away from crash. If car still safe to drive move it out of hazard area pull to side of road otherwise leave it where its.

3. Wait for help to get to you turn off your engine and turn on your hazard lights use road flares to warn other drivers to slow down.

4. Exchange Information

-Full name and contact information of other driver 

-Insurance comapny and policy number 

-Driver license and license plate number

-Type, modelof vehicle and color

-Location of accident

5. Document the and take lots pictures of damages to both cars.

6. Get a copy of crash report or order online.

7. Talk to witneses take down names and contact information if possible.

8. Notify your insurer to start the claim process.

If you need the other party’s insurance coverage, please complete the following:  Complete Insurance Request Form (HSMV 83392), Get a copy of the complete crash report, front and back. Crash reports are available for purchase at floridacrashportal.gov. You may also send in a copy of the Driver Report of Traffic Crash (Self Report). Mail or fax the Insurance Request Form and the complete crash report or Driver Report of a Traffic Crash (Self Report) to: Customer Service Correspondence Center 2900 Apalachee Parkway, Room A216, MS 99 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0585 Fax: 850-617-5216  Please allow ten working days after receipt by the Department for processing.

If the at-fault driver was charged with a moving violation and injuries or possible injuries were noted on the crash report, Florida Financial Responsibility Law (Chapter 324, Florida Statutes) requires the at fault owner/driver to have full liability insurance coverage in effect at the time of the crash. 

This coverage includes:

1. Minimum limits of bodily injury liability of $10,000 per person, $20,000 per crash,

2. $10,000 property damage liability per crash, 

3. Personal injury protection limits of $10,000 per person per crash. 

If the owner/driver did not have this coverage, the department requires the at-fault party to:  

1. Purchase and maintain minimum limits of $10,000/$20,000/$10,000 insurance coverage and an SR-22 filing (certification of liability insurance) for three years from the designated suspension date. Your insurance company must certify this SR-22 filing form with our department; 

2. Obtain releases from the other parties for their property damages and/or bodily injuries or post a security deposit with the department in the amounts listed on the suspension notice; 

3. Pay a $15 reinstatement fee, if applicable. 

 If the at-fault driver was charged with a moving violation, and vehicle or property damage (no injuries) were noted on the crash report, Florida Financial Responsibility Law (Chapter 324, Florida Statutes) requires the owner of the at fault vehicle to have compulsory coverage in effect at the time of the crash. This coverage includes:

• $10,000 property damage liability (PDL) per crash, and
• personal injury protection (PIP) limits of $10,000 per person per crash.

If the owner of the at-fault vehicle did not have this coverage, the department requires the at-fault owner to:

1. Obtain releases from the other parties for their vehicle/property damages, or post a security deposit with the department in the amounts listed on the crash report,
2. Purchase $10,000 PIP/$10,000 PDL insurance or surrender the Florida plate and registration; and
3. Pay a $150 – $500 reinstatement fee, if applicable.

 Section 324.121, Florida Statutes authorizes the department to suspend the  license of an at-fault party when a judgment is rendered by the court involving a crash. If you are involved in a crash, you may choose to pursue a final judgment by filing a civil suit against the at-fault party.

Once a final judgment is rendered, and thirty days has expired from the final judgment date, you will need to get a certified copy of the judgment from the court and send the certified judgment and the crash report to:

Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Bureau of Motorist Compliance
2900 Apalachee Parkway, Room B260F, MS-87
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0585

Final judgments submitted to our department are immediately enforced and the at-fault party’s license, tags, and registrations are suspended for 20 years or until the judgment is satisfied.

 Insurance Request Form – Section 324.242, Florida Statutes specifies who can receive insurance information for a vehicle involved in a crash (HSMV 83392)

Release in Full of All Claims – releases the at-fault party from any and ALL claims (HSMV 74014)

Agreement of Repayment – allows the at-fault party to make arrangements for an agreed upon repayment amount until claim is paid in full (HSMV 74036).  If the at-fault party defaults on the repayment agreement, the department does not take action and the other party must take the dispute to court.

Settlements for damages are at your discretion. However, if you have been compensated by your insurance company for any damages or injuries sustained in the crash, you should consult your insurance company and/or your attorney.

When the company compensates you for your damages, they are vested with subrogation rights against the at-fault party. If you sign a release document, you could be liable for monies paid by your insurance company.

 When you receive an inquiry from the department requesting proof of coverage for the crash date, you may mail them to:
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Bureau of Motorist Compliance
2900 Apalachee Parkway, Room B260F, MS-87
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0585
Or take them to your nearest driver license and motor vehicles service center or Tax Collector’s office so your driving privilege is not suspended.

Call the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Customer Service Center, at (850) 617-2000.