Have you been in a Florida car accident? Were any drivers or passengers injured? If so, 911 should absolutely be called to the scene. Even when no injuries have occurred and there doesn’t appear to have been much property damage, it’s smart to report the Accident to the police. The police will create an official police report that can be extremely helpful going forward. 

Florida Law on Reporting Car Accidents

Florida law says that drivers have to report car accidents in certain situations. In car accidents where anyone has been injured, there has been a fatality, or if the accident resulted in property damage over $500, the police have to be notified. You should also call the police if you know or suspect that one of the drivers is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

Anyone who has had body work done on their car knows that it doesn’t take much to exceed $500, and even a minor accident could result in some type of physical injury. So, the chances are you will probably need to report the accident after most car accidents. 

If the car accident isn’t serious, you don’t need to call the police to the scene. However, you should contact the police to inform them the accident happened. The police will let you know what your responsibilities are and whether you can submit a driver’s report of the accident.   

Should You Report the Accident Even If It’s Not Required by Law?

Yes. It’s smart to report the accident even if it doesn’t seem like it’s necessary. Why is this the case?

When you report the accident, the police will generate an official police report. This report is valuable because it is an independent record of the car accident that can be used in insurance claims and lawsuits.

Most insurance companies will want to see the police report before they make a decision either way on a claim. A police report can also make it easier for the company to process your claim. 

If you file a lawsuit after a car accident, the police report can be beneficial to your case. Again, it provides a third party’s impartial record of the accident that can be helpful for a jury, judge, or mediator in sorting out what actually happened. 

There are two sides, if not more, to any given car accident. Your side, the other driver’s side, and the side of any witnesses. The police report will provide objectivity that will help in assessing who is at fault and help shut down any potentially false statements by the other driver or witnesses. 

Police Reports Include Vital Information

A police report includes the important details of any given accident and becomes the official record of the accident. The report will include the drivers’ names, their driver’s license numbers, and all of their insurance information.

It will also include:

• The exact place, time, and date of the accident.
• A description of any damage to the vehicles or other property
• A description of the injuries suffered by those involved
• The drivers’ statements, as well as statements from any witnesses
• Any relevant information about the weather or road conditions

The accident report might also include information about the officer’s observations regarding the accident, which could be potentially quite helpful to your case. 

Once the accident has been reported, it would be a wise move to contact an experienced car accident lawyer for a consultation. The police report will also be extremely helpful to your attorney as they assess the facts of your case.

Contact the St. Petersburg Car Accident Law Firm of Winters & Yonker, P.A. for Help Today

If you’ve been in a car accident, you could be dealing with injuries, property damage, and missed time from work. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you sort out the details and advise you on how to proceed forward.

For more information, please contact Winters & Yonker, P.A. to schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer in St. Petersburg today. We have five convenient locations in Florida, including Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, and Lakeland.

We proudly serve Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, Polk County, and its surrounding areas:

Winters & Yonker, P.A. – Tampa Office
601 W Swann Ave, Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 223-6200

Winters & Yonker, P.A. – Clearwater Office
600 Bypass Dr Suite 224-D, Clearwater, FL 33764
(727) 493-4418

Winters & Yonker, P.A. – St. Petersburg Office
111 2nd Ave NE Suite 350, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 314-5988

Winters & Yonker, P.A. – New Port Richey Office
5006 Trouble Creek Rd Unit #206, Port Richey, FL 34652
(727) 910-5060

Winters & Yonker, P.A. – Lakeland Office
1543 Lakeland Hills Blvd Suite 18, Lakeland, FL 33805
(863) 251-6196

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