- Boating Accident Resources
- Car Accident Resources
- Construction Accident Resources
- Dog Bite Resources
- Firm News
- Motorcycle Accident Resources
- Personal Injury Resources
- Premises Liability Resources
- Product Liability/Mass Tort Resources
- Slip and Fall Resources
- Truck Accident Resources
- Worker's Compensation Resources
- Wrongful Death Resources
We never plan for a crash, but knowing what to do after a car accident in Fort Lauderdale can make a huge impact on your recovery, both physical and financial. We know the immediate aftermath of a crash can be confusing and overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created a step-by-step guide to help you through this ordeal.
Follow the 10 steps below to protect your health, your PIP benefits, and your claim. If your injuries prevent you from following our guidelines to a T, don’t stress. Your car accident attorney can help fill in the gaps for you.
At Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers, we have decades of experience advocating for the rights of Floridians who have been injured in car accidents. If someone else’s negligence has left you hurt and in financial distress, you deserve Real Justice. Our team of Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys is ready to get to work. Call 954-866-1111 today to set up a FREE case evaluation.
10 Steps To Take After a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident
These moments are scary, and it is normal to feel shaken or unsure and not know what to do after a car accident. The 10 steps below are simple yet important. They help you protect yourself and your well‑being, both physically and financially.
1. Check for Injuries & Call 911
Check yourself and the others involved in the crash for injuries, and call 911 immediately to get medical help and a formal crash report started. Tell the dispatcher if anyone is in pain, feels dizzy, or seems confused. Follow their instructions until first responders arrive.
2. Move to Safety & Prevent a Second Crash
If it’s safe and your vehicle can move, carefully pull onto the shoulder or into a nearby parking lot. The goal is to prevent a second collision. Turn on your hazard lights and set out cones or triangles, if you have them.
3. Document the Scene Thoroughly
Use your phone to document the scene from multiple angles, including:
- Vehicle positions
- Vehicle damage
- License plates
- Skid marks
- Traffic signals
- Weather
- Nearby homes & businesses
- Visible injuries
- Anything else that could be important
Then save the photos and videos.
4. Exchange Information & Watch Your Words
Exchange information with all drivers and witnesses, including:
- Names
- Phone numbers
- Addresses
- Driver’s licenses
- License plates
- Insurance details
- Witness names, contact information & accounts
If a commercial vehicle is involved, photograph company logos and any USDOT or unit numbers.
Keep your words brief, and do not admit fault or apologize. Insurers can use casual statements against you to dispute liability. Under Florida’s modified comparative fault rule, any admission can reduce what you recover, and a finding of more than 50% fault can block compensation. Wait to share detailed statements until you have legal guidance.
5. Get Medical Care Within 14 Days
Get medical care the same day or as soon as possible, but always get treatment within 14 days so your PIP benefits apply. Go to an ER, urgent care, or your doctor, and tell them you were in a car crash. Describe every symptom, even if it seems minor. Make sure to keep all bills, treatment plans, and other documentation.
If a provider determines you have an emergency medical condition, your PIP medical benefits may provide up to $10,000. Without that determination, benefits may be limited to $2,500.
6. Report the Crash to Your Insurer (No Recorded Statements Yet!)
Notify your insurance company that a crash occurred and provide only the basics: the time, location, and vehicles involved. Your policy requires prompt notice to help preserve coverage, and a simple report will open a claim and give you a claim number.
Kindly decline any recorded statement until you’ve spoken with a car accident lawyer. Early recorded statements can be misunderstood or taken out of context, and insurers may use them to limit your benefits. If you are unsure what to say, trust your legal team to make the call with you or on your behalf.
7. Save Every Record & Keep a Claim Folder
Gather and organize evidence, and keep all of it in one file. Save all relevant materials, including:
- Medical records
- Medical bills
- Towing & repair estimates
- Pay stubs
- Receipts
- Daily symptoms journal
8. Pause Social Media Until Your Claim Is Resolved
Pause your social media while your claim is open. Do not post about the crash, your injuries, treatment, or activities that could be misread by an insurer. Even private posts, stories, and tags can be found and used out of context. Also, ask friends and family not to tag you, tighten your privacy settings, and save screenshots of any messages related to the crash.
If someone you do not know contacts you about the accident, don’t respond and refer them to your Broward County car crash injury attorney. We know it’s hard not to share updates, but this short break protects your case and your privacy.
9. Get Your Florida Crash Report & Review It
Order your crash report using your report number through the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, or the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) portal once it is available, usually within 7 to 10 days. Read it carefully to confirm names, insurance information, location, time, the narrative, and the diagram.
Insurers rely on this document to evaluate fault, so catching mistakes early on can prevent delays and disputes. If something looks wrong or unclear, call your lawyer. They can request a supplement or clarification from the reporting agency.
10. Consult a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Early On
Contact a Fort Lauderdale car crash attorney as early as you can so they can begin building your claim. A Real Advocate will protect your rights, coordinate your medical care, handle the insurers and paperwork, and seek the Real Results you deserve.
What To Do After a Car Accident in Fort Lauderdale FAQs
In Florida, you generally have 2 years from the date of the crash to file a car accident injury lawsuit. Deadlines are strict and can make or break your claim if missed. The safest bet is to call an attorney as soon as possible to review your claim. They can confirm your deadlines and give you a better idea of your options for compensation.
Florida is a no‑fault state for car insurance. Your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) generally covers:
- 80% of reasonable medical expenses that are medically necessary, when you receive initial treatment within 14 days of the crash.
- 60% of lost wages and certain replacement services when injuries keep you from working.
- Standard policy limits are $10,000, and if no emergency medical condition is diagnosed, medical benefits may be limited to $2,500.
If your injuries and losses exceed PIP or you meet Florida’s serious injury threshold for pain and suffering, you may pursue additional compensation from the at‑fault driver’s bodily injury coverage, and from your uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage when available. Your Broward County injury attorney can review your coverage, coordinate billing with providers, and fight to utilize every available avenue to the compensation you need and deserve.
Keep it factual and brief. Avoid:
- Apologies or admissions like “I didn’t see them” or “it was my fault.”
- Speculation about speed, distances, or what other drivers were doing.
- Minimizing your injuries with statements like “I’m fine” or “just sore.”
- Giving recorded statements before legal counsel reviews your claim.
- Signing blanket medical releases that give the insurer full access to unrelated medical history.
Instead, provide basic facts and let your attorney handle the rest.
Florida uses a modified comparative fault system. If you are more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover damages for your injuries. If you are 50% or less at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. Fault is an insurance and legal determination based on evidence, not just what someone says at the scene. This is one reason your words and documentation matter.
You may still recover compensation if you are 50% or less at fault. However, your recovery will be adjusted according to what percentage of fault you bear. For example, if you are found 20% responsible and your total damages are $100,000, your recovery could be reduced to $80,000. Evidence, expert analysis, and steadfast legal representation can significantly affect how fault is allocated.
Quick Fort Lauderdale Crash Checklist
- Get to safety, call 911 & request a crash report number.
- Move vehicles out of travel lanes if safe & drivable.
- Photograph vehicles, plates, damage, debris, signals & surroundings.
- Exchange information, keep your statements short & factual.
- Seek medical care within 14 days.
- Notify your insurer without giving a recorded statement.
- Save every bill, record & estimate, plus a symptoms journal.
- Call Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers to protect your claim & your peace of mind.
Why Choose Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers
Real Advocacy, Real Experience, Real Justice. Our team of determined Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys takes the time to understand what matters most to you. We then develop a strategy tailored to your needs and goals. We are trial‑ready, honest, and available to you when you need us. We will keep you updated, keep your best interests in mind, and push for the full value of your claim. If the insurers won’t do what’s right, we’re prepared to take your case to court.
Why Choose Us?
When you’re facing one of the toughest moments of your life, you need more than just a lawyer—you need a trusted ally who will stand with you and fight for your rights.
Contact Our Fort Lauderdale Team Today for a FREE Consultation
If you are wondering what to do after a car accident in Fort Lauderdale, start by getting to safety and getting medical care. Then contact Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers to schedule a FREE case review. Our team will listen to your story, present your options, and guide you step by step as we seek the compensation you need and deserve. We’re ready to help.
