Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers | November 1, 2024 | Car Accidents
One step drivers need to take following a Florida car wreck is to file an accident report with law enforcement. These reports do more than record that an accident happened. They can contain valuable information about who was involved in the wreck, whether any injuries or property damage resulted from it, and what circumstances may have contributed to its occurrence.
As essential and, in some cases, mandatory as these reports are, some people may encounter trouble filing a police report after an accident. Although the rules surrounding auto accident reports may seem complicated initially, they are not as onerous as you might believe.
Florida Drivers Must Report Certain Accidents To Law Enforcement
Florida law requires motorists to call 911 and notify law enforcement of wrecks meeting specific criteria. These criteria include crashes that cause:
- Any person’s death
- Injury to any individual, regardless of how minor the injury
- More than $500 in property damage
- A tow truck’s assistance to remove an inoperable vehicle
Motorists must also report accidents involving a hit-and-run driver, a commercial vehicle, or an alcohol- or drug-impaired driver. However, accidents occurring on private property and involving vehicles owned by the same person do not have to be reported.
Reporting A Car Accident In Florida
If you are involved in a wreck and believe you must report it, you should do so immediately by contacting law enforcement. Furthermore, you must remain at the scene until law enforcement arrives and completes their investigation. Leaving the scene of one of these accidents without reporting it or before law enforcement releases you can lead to criminal charges.
If you doubt whether to contact police after a crash, err on the side of caution and call 911. This protects you from any insinuation that you were attempting to avoid your legal duties or hide details about the crash.
When law enforcement arrives, they will investigate the collision and complete a police report documenting the accident. Answer all questions truthfully, but refrain from providing details you are unsure about. Do not admit fault, as doing so could lead to a lawsuit against you and your insurer if the other party sustained severe injuries.
Should your car accident not meet the criteria above, you can still self-report the accident within 10 days. Doing so creates a record of the accident’s details that could be useful to you later. You can either self-report by mail or file a police report online in Florida.
How To Self-Report By Mail
The first step in self-reporting an eligible traffic accident in Florida is to download and complete the Driver Report of a Traffic Crash form. Provide as much information about the accident and the parties involved as possible.
You must then sign the form and return it to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles at Crash Records, 2900 Apalachee Parkway, MS 28, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399.
Self-Reporting A Wreck Online
You can also complete the Driver Report of a Traffic Crash form and submit it electronically to [email protected]. The form includes a sample and instructions to help guide you if you become stuck while completing it.
Regardless of whether you self-report by mail or online, ensure that you sign the report before submitting it. You should also retain a copy of the completed form for your records.
Where To Turn For Additional Help
Filing an accident report in Florida is necessary in some cases. In other situations, documenting the details of an accident by self-reporting the crash can be helpful.
If you do not summon law enforcement to the accident scene, you can always self-report the accident within 10 days. The form is only one page in length, and it can be submitted by mail or electronically. An experienced car wreck lawyer can help answer questions you might have about this process.
Contact the Tampa Car Accident Law Firm of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact the legal team of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation with a car accident lawyer in Tampa. We have convenient locations in Florida: St. Petersburg, Safety Harbor, Clearwater, New Port Richey, and Tampa.
We serve throughout Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, and its surrounding areas:
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
1811 N. Belcher Road, Suite I-1
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Congress Ave Office
2360 Congress Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33763
(727) 591-5610
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
6601 Memorial Hwy Suite 202
Tampa, FL 33615
(813) 686-7588
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
2515 Seven Springs Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL, 34655
(727) 815-8442
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg Law Office
840 Beach Dr NE Suite 202
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Safety Harbor Law Office
202 9th Ave S Suite A-2
Safety Harbor, FL 34695
(727) 787-2500