Posted By Legal Team|
December 2 2025 |Car Accidents
Call the police if there are any injuries, deaths, or property damage worth $500 or more. While you legally do not have to call the police after a minor car accident in Florida, doing so preserves evidence and can serve as a way to protect your rights should you need to file a claim later.
Consider some of the reasons why you should call the police after a minor car accident occurs in Florida.
You Must Call the Police in Some Situations
If you are in a car accident that causes injuries, fatalities, or property damage valued at $500 or more, you must contact the police. Wait at the scene of the accident, call 911, provide information about what occurred, and wait for the police to arrive.
If you fail to do so, you could face fines for leaving the scene. If you fail to stop and these damages occur, or the other party fails to stop, it could be considered a hit-and-run accident.
You Can Self Report an Accident in Other Cases
If you are in a minor fender bender and you are confident there are no injuries for either party, and the damage is very minimal, you do not have to call the police. However, you can still self-report the accident to the local police department. Doing so helps to protect your right to compensation later should you learn of complications.
You can call or use the online tool for the local police department to self-report an accident. If the accident occurs on the Florida highways or other state roadways, fill out the Driver Report of Traffic Crash report online through the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website.
Why Should You Report Even a Minor Fender Bender in Florida?
If you are in an accident, even one that the other party causes, you should report the incident to the police. Doing so creates a paper trail. It allows you to document what occurred so that, later, if you need to file a claim, you can do so. Consider several examples of when this may be necessary:
You learn you have a brain bleed, internal organ injury, or whiplash after the accident. These types of conditions often have no obvious outward signs. It can take several hours or even a day or more to see signs.
You want to document that it was not your fault. Calling the police allows for careful assessment of fault and a collection of evidence. This makes it hard for the other party to change the story later and try to seek compensation from you.
You want to establish security for yourself. Contacting the police is the best way to preserve evidence. It protects you in every situation if you are not at fault and causes no cost or delays to you. If you need to file a claim even with your own insurance company later, this record helps.
If you suffer injuries in a car accident or other serious losses, meet with a car accident lawyer in St. Petersburg, Florida for guidance on taking legal action. Even if you did not call the police at the time of the accident, your lawyer will help you compare legal options to determine if you can take action to hold those who caused the incident accountable.
