What to do after a car crash on the Emerald Coast
Step by step after a crash on the Emerald Coast: safety, when you must call police, insurance deadlines and how to get the report, with the official rules for Florida.
Step by step after a crash
- Get safe and call 911 if anyone is hurtTurn on hazard lights. If the cars can move and nobody is hurt, move them out of traffic. If anyone is injured, or you are not sure, call 911 and do not move an injured person.
- Call the policeAsk the officer for the report number and the agency name (city police, sheriff or state patrol). You need both to get the crash report later.
- Know when the law says you must report (Florida)If a crash causes injury or death, or vehicle or property damage of $2,000 or more, the driver must report it immediately: to the city police inside a city, otherwise to the county sheriff or the Florida Highway Patrol. Source: Fla. Stat. 316.065.
- Exchange information, not opinionsWrite down the other driver's name, insurance company and policy number, plate and vehicle. Take photos of the scene, the cars and the road. Do not argue about who was at fault.
- Get checked by a doctorSome injuries show up hours or days later. Keep every medical record and receipt.
- Mind the insurance clock (Florida)Florida no-fault (PIP) insurance pays up to $10,000 in medical and disability benefits, but only if the injured person gets initial care within 14 days of the crash. Without an emergency medical condition, the limit is $2,500. Source: Fla. Stat. 627.736(1)(a).
- Tell your insurance companyReport the crash to your insurer as soon as you can, with the report number.
- Get the crash reportSee where and how to request it, the cost and the waiting time below.
- Know your deadlineEvery state limits how long you have to file an injury claim. See the deadlines below; ask a licensed lawyer about your case.
Crash reports and deadlines by state
Florida
Crash report: Florida Crash Portal (FLHSMV). $10 per report, plus a $2 online convenience fee. For the first 60 days the report is confidential: only the people involved, their lawyers, insurers and licensed insurance agents can get it, with a sworn statement. After 60 days it is a public record.
Deadline to file: 2 years An action founded on negligence must be filed within two years. Fla. Stat. 95.11(5)(a). Wrongful death actions also have a two-year limit, Fla. Stat. 95.11(5)(e). The two-year negligence limit applies to causes of action that accrued after March 24, 2023.
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Lawyers on the Emerald Coast
Know a dangerous spot?
Tell us about an intersection, curve or crossing where you have seen near misses. An editor reviews every report and we publish them as "Reader reports", apart from the official data, never with your name or address. Please do not send names or photos of people involved in a crash.
- Report a dangerous road or intersection: where it is and what happens there.
- Report a road hazard: a missing sign, a broken light, a pothole.
- Something wrong on this page? Tell us and we will check it against the official record.
Questions people ask on the Emerald Coast
How many fatal car crashes happen on the Emerald Coast?
From 2020–2024, 553 fatal crashes killed 594 people on the Emerald Coast, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. In 2024 there were 106 fatal crashes and 107 deaths. The road with the most fatal crashes was US 98 (Bay) (44). 22% involved a motorcycle.
What are the most dangerous roads on the Emerald Coast?
By fatal crashes from 2020–2024: US 98 (Bay) (44 fatal crashes, 44 deaths); US 98 (Okaloosa) (32 fatal crashes, 33 deaths); SR 85 (Okaloosa) (29 fatal crashes, 36 deaths); US 231 (Bay) (29 fatal crashes, 35 deaths); US 90 (Walton) (24 fatal crashes, 26 deaths). Source: NHTSA FARS.
How many motorcycle crashes were fatal on the Emerald Coast?
120 fatal motorcycle crashes from 2020–2024, with 126 deaths (NHTSA FARS).
How many crashes with a large truck were fatal on the Emerald Coast?
60 fatal crashes with a large truck from 2020–2024, with 65 deaths (NHTSA FARS).
How many crashes that killed or involved a pedestrian were fatal on the Emerald Coast?
96 fatal crashes that killed or involved a pedestrian from 2020–2024, with 97 deaths (NHTSA FARS).
How do I get a crash report in Florida?
Florida Crash Portal (FLHSMV): $10 per report, plus a $2 online convenience fee. For the first 60 days the report is confidential: only the people involved, their lawyers, insurers and licensed insurance agents can get it, with a sworn statement. After 60 days it is a public record.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Florida?
An action founded on negligence must be filed within two years. (Fla. Stat. 95.11(5)(a)). This is general information, not legal advice.