What Happens if I Do Not Report a Car Accident in Florida?

May 30, 2023 | Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers | Car Accident

Failure to report a car accident in Florida can have serious financial and criminal repercussions. State law requires all motorists involved in a collision to report the accident to the appropriate authorities when there are injuries or property damage. Those who fail to do so can face steep fines and potential criminal charges.

If you consistently commute throughout the State of Florida, this article will help you understand why it is important to report any car accidents you are involved in.

Penalties in the State of Florida

Florida Statutes §316.066 mandate the reporting of accidents in specific situations. Failure to do so can result in a $30 fine. However, criminal charges are unlikely under the provisions of this particular law.

However, if you leave the scene of an accident without reporting the accident to law enforcement, you could be jailed and face additional criminal penalties. The consequences will escalate depending on the severity of any property damage or injuries.

Some people do not realize that reporting an accident can be as simple as making a phone call to law enforcement and filling out a crash report. Florida law does not specify the extent of the injuries required for reporting, so you will want to report the accident even if the only injuries are tiny bruises and small cuts.

When To Report an Accident in FL

It is important to note that Florida’s laws do not require every accident to be reported to law enforcement. If you are in a minor fender bender with no injuries, you are not required to notify law enforcement. However, you do need to report the accident if there are bodily injuries, death, or property damage over $500.

If you have ever had to repair a car, you know that most repairs can exceed $500. This means you must be careful when assessing the amount of property damage. In these cases, it is always good to err on the side of caution and report the accident.

Florida law states that those involved in a collision that meets the thresholds mentioned above must contact law enforcement immediately, which means using whatever means you have at your disposal. Fortunately, this can be as easy as calling them on your cell phone from the accident scene.

Providing Written Notice

If you are involved in a car or truck accident that requires reporting, and the police do not investigate, you must provide written notice of the accident. To do this, you must submit a report to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles within ten days of the incident.

This form is located on the FLHSMV’s website and can be submitted in the mail or digitally using a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Reporting to the Local Police

You should report the accident to the law enforcement division that has jurisdiction over the municipality where the accident occurred. The accident should be reported to Florida Highway Patrol if it occurred on a state or interstate highway.

Additionally, if you are unable to determine which department has jurisdiction, you can report the accident to the county sheriff’s department.

Pertinent Information

When reporting an accident to the police, be sure to have the following information handy:

Current location
Location of the accident
Contact phone number
Extent of all injuries incurred, if any
Extent of property damage, if any
Whether the accident is blocking the road
Whether any vehicles were moved after the accident.

When speaking with law enforcement, try to remain calm and provide relevant information. This can be tricky when there are injuries or extensive property damage, but it will allow them to provide a more appropriate response, which could save lives.

A Car Accident Attorney Can Help You Comply With Florida Law

Now that you know why reporting car accidents in Florida is important, you are more prepared to respond appropriately in the event of a collision. And if you have any further questions, reach out to an experienced car accident attorney for legal advice and assistance.

Contact a New Port Richey Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation

If you have any questions about the car accident settlement process in New Port Richey, Florida, get in touch with a qualified attorney for legal help. Most car accident lawyers offer free consultations, so you can learn about your options and receive helpful advice free of charge.

For more information, please contact Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer in New Port Richey 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 Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
601 W Swann Ave, Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 223-6200

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
600 Bypass Dr Suite 224-D, Clearwater, FL 33764
(727) 493-4418

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

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
5006 Trouble Creek Rd Unit #200, Port Richey, FL 34652
(727) 910-5060

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Lakeland Office
1543 Lakeland Hills Blvd Suite 18, Lakeland, FL 33805
(863) 251-6196

Anthony David

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Winters & Yonker are an extremely knowledgeable car accident attorneys in Tampa. Marc represented me injured in a car crash when I was coming off I-4. He is clearly the best in the field! The entire team at his firm is AMAZING!!!They helped through my whole process always keeping me up to date. They referenced me to the best doctors to assist in my recovery. I always felt comfortable with every part of it specially now in the pandemic time. The stuff is very friendly and always available for you. I specifically like to thank PRE-LITIGATION department. They were passionate, dedicated and professional. Marc worked very hard on my case and did fantastic job!!! I am very pleased with the outcome of my case. The results are outstanding. I highly recommend Marc and his entire Firm. You guys are AWESOME! Thank You to everyone at this firm!

Karla Rogers

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Best lawyer ever! I had an accident gave them a call and like three months later, case Settled and full payout... Excellent service!

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Christopher from Winter and Yonker was amazing. Very nice person to talk to, listen to what I had to say, and even gave his opinion when needed. From start to finish I felt very important and I was impressed by this law firm every one i spoke to made me feel safe and comfortableto. My accident has done a lot of damage to me, and knowing I had an attorney from Winters and Yonker on my side made me feel great. My compensation for my accident is amazing and it will help me in my life. Thank you very much I will definitely recommend this law firm.

coleman vera

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I went to Winter & Yonker Law Firm for my Tampa car accident case I was involved in. My case manager throughout the process and she took care of me from start to finish. The process was very seamless, I received the medical treatment that I needed immediately and at the very end, concluded with a very rewarding settlement. I've worked with a few law firms from prior accidents and none can compare to the service OR expertise I received from Mr. Yonker.👉 If you're seeking help for an injury related case, I would definitely recommend working with him and their amazing legal staff at Winter & Yonker Firm in Tampa. I will always use this firm for all my Personal Injury Claims! If you are l@@king for an Attorney to give you Top Notch legal help and the MOST money for your Pain & Suffering then take it from me I'm a paralegal and this firm continues to OUTSHINE them all!

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This was my first personal injury experience. I wanted to choose a law office I could trust. A friend of mine recommended the law offices of Winters & Yonker, Personal Injury Lawyers in Tampa. Through the entire process Attorney Marc Yonkers was helpful and communication was stellar. I never felt out the loop. I felt confident throughout entire process. Which this month (Sept. 2023) they were able to settle my accident case successfully and to my 100% satisfaction. I cannot recommend Winters & Yonker and or Marc any higher. In short they are firm, fair, aggressive, responsive, super smart and know the numerous ins and outs of Personal Injury cases (which can be quite complicated). Upon hiring them you get a law firm that will leave you confident that your case will be handled expertly and with your interests front and center.

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Winters and Yonkers has been a legend of the Tampa Bay personal injury Attorney community for a long time. I was in a car accident recently with my husband, we suffered back and neck pains after two days and thought to get someone’s help. I found Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers through a google search and called them right up. The same day Mr. Winters contacted both of us, listened, and was compassionate to our situation. He helped us through the entire process including getting me seen by a Doctor so we could heal our injuries correctly, and we got our medical bills reduced! Bill Winters, my case manager, and the entire staff were very knowledgeable and exceptional at their work. We would like to express my sincere gratitude to them and recommend them without any hesitation to anybody who needs help, don't try and fight the at fault's insurance on your own. If you're injured and need someone to protect your rights you won't find a better Attorney than Bill Winters at Winters & Yonkers!-Geneva, Tampa FL#personalinjurylawyer #caraccidentlawyer #tampainjuryattorney

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Bum Boi

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My wife and I are work in Mediation and Arbitration but know nothing about personal injury cases. When a young delivery Truck driver who was distracted by his phone hit us at full speed and rear-ended us as we were stopped in traffic on Wesley chapel. We knew we needed to hire the best lawyers with PI experience and expertise in the Tampa legal community that we could.From our first phone call with Bill Winters and then all the way through Trial preparation then Trial, we never felt any bad about our case because we knew Bill and the entire staff at Winters and Yonker would take care of us.Their dedication, innovation, motivation, reliability, unparalleled intellect, and exceptional skill as trial lawyers make them extraordinary individuals. My experience working with them was nothing short of exceptional. Experiencing a car accident is an ordeal that encompasses fear, trauma, and frustration. It's a life-changing event in anyone's life. There was no amount of money that could ever make me alright, because I would give any amount of cash to not have to go through the nightmare that the car accident was and continues to be.It took almost 2 years from the time of the car crash to go to trial, but ultimately the jury verdict that Bill Winters got for my family was worth fighting for. There were so many times over the course of the three years that we actively realized how amazing it was that we felt no anxiety or concerns or worries about our case, because Bill is truly outstanding!If you or anyone you know gets hurt in a car accident, call Winters and Yonkers RIGHT AWAY! And then rest assured that you, your family, or friends are being cared for by the ABSOLUTE BEST legal team in Tampa Bay. Thank you, Winters & Yonker!

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I was injured in a car crash here in town. Since it was essentially a "he said she said" accident case the opposing insurance claimed it was a 50/50 fault. Even though it clearly could not have been my fault. However, Bill worked diligently to get me everything I was needed to get my life back. He worked to get me access to all the doctors I needed and medical treamtment for my neck and back. Plus, a large settlement amount. Bill even took the time to calm me down when I saw the initial amount and cost for seeing my medical bills piling up! He even managed to get them to reduce their bills significantly! Plus, I received as much as possible. Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers in Tampa provided a great legal service. They were strait forward and honest about the approach, and communicated every aspect of the process. The firm took care of everything. I would 100% without a doubt recommend him if I knew someone that need a personal injury attorney. Given the circumstances of our introduction I hope I never have to, BUT Bill Winters will definitely be my first call if I'm ever injured again!

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Always available

Certified Soul

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Winters and Yonker is who you want to go to when you get in a car accident because they will take care of you and won’t let you get low balled on your settlement. I got in a car accident where my back and shoulder was injured and I was referred to a attorney named Trevor. I appreciate Trevor for handling my case and keeping me informed with all the information I needed.

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One of the best law firms in Tampa. My family was involved in a serious car accident. We went to that other personal injury firm with the two M's they were trying to make us settle the case quickly and they we're not listening to us with the arrogant attitude that they were the experts and we were just ignorant. We promptly fired them and then hired Winters & yonker. Our settlement was 5 times higher than what the MM wanted to settle for.I would like to thank Winters and Yonkers entire staff for a wonderful experience. They were all very knowledgeable and walked us through the whole process. We really felt like they cared, unlike the other firm.

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