The steps you take in the first hours and days after a crash directly affect your health and your claim. Here's exactly what to do — and what to avoid.
By Alexandra Linder Diaz · October 15, 2026
A car accident on Hollywood Boulevard, I-95, or Federal Highway can leave you shaken and unsure of what to do next. Your first priority is safety — for yourself, your passengers, and anyone else involved.
Check yourself and others for injuries. Even if the crash seems minor, call 911. Florida law requires you to report a crash to police immediately if anyone is hurt or killed, or if the apparent property damage is at least $2,000. When police respond to the scene, they create an official crash report — a document that becomes critical evidence for your claim.
If you're on a busy road like US-1 or Sheridan Street, move vehicles to the shoulder if possible. Turn on your hazard lights. If you cannot move the vehicle safely, stay inside with your seatbelt on until help arrives.
Your phone is your best tool at the scene. Take photos of:
Get the other driver's name, phone number, license plate, and insurance information. If there are witnesses, get their names and phone numbers too — witness statements often make or break a claim, and people leave the scene quickly.
This is the single most common mistake accident victims make. Saying "I'm sorry" or "I didn't see you" can be used against you later as an admission of fault. Florida follows a comparative negligence system, meaning your compensation can be reduced by your percentage of fault. Even a casual apology at the scene can cost you thousands.
Exchange information, cooperate with police, and keep your statements factual. Don't speculate about what happened or discuss the accident with the other driver beyond exchanging required details.
Florida's Personal Injury Protection (PIP) law requires you to receive medical treatment within 14 days of the accident to qualify for benefits. This is not a suggestion — it's a hard statutory deadline under Florida Statute § 627.736. If you miss the 14-day window, you lose access to up to $10,000 in PIP medical benefits.
Many accident victims skip medical care because they "feel fine" at the scene. Adrenaline masks pain. Whiplash, concussions, and soft tissue injuries often surface 24 to 72 hours later. Go to an emergency room, urgent care center, or see your primary care physician within 14 days — even if you think your injuries are minor.
Learn more about the Florida PIP 14-day rule and why this deadline matters so much.
In Hollywood, crashes are typically handled by the Hollywood Police Department or the Broward Sheriff's Office. The crash report is usually available within 3 to 10 business days. You can request a copy through the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) portal or directly from the responding agency.
The police report contains the officer's narrative, diagrams, witness information, and any citations issued. Insurance adjusters rely heavily on this document. Review it carefully — if it contains errors about the facts or fault, your attorney can help correct the record.
You must report the accident to your own insurance company, and most policies require prompt notification. But how you report matters. Stick to basic facts: date, time, location, and that you were involved in a crash. Do not give a recorded statement without consulting a lawyer first. Do not discuss your injuries in detail — you may not know the full extent yet.
For the other driver's insurance company, you have no obligation to speak with them at all. They are not on your side, no matter how friendly they seem. Read our guide on what to tell the insurance company after an accident before you pick up the phone.
If a doctor prescribes physical therapy, follow-up visits, or specialist referrals, go to every appointment. Gaps in treatment are one of the top reasons insurance companies use to devalue or deny claims. They argue that if you weren't getting treatment, you must not have been hurt.
Keep records of every medical visit, prescription, and receipt. These documents form the backbone of your injury claim.
Write down how you feel each day — pain levels, sleep problems, activities you can no longer do, missed work, and emotional impacts. Pain and suffering damages are hard to prove without documentation. A daily journal creates a contemporaneous record that's far more convincing than trying to recall everything months later.
Insurance adjusters often contact victims within days of the accident, offering a quick settlement. These early offers are often well below what the case is actually worth. Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, your claim is closed permanently — even if you later discover your injuries were worse than you thought.
Before accepting any offer, talk to an attorney. We calculate the full value of your claim, including future medical costs, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Our car accident representation is built on getting you full compensation, not a quick payout.
Florida is a no-fault insurance state. That means your own PIP coverage pays for your medical bills regardless of who caused the crash, up to $10,000. You can claim economic losses PIP doesn't pay from the at-fault driver, but to recover pain and suffering your injury must meet Florida's threshold: significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, permanent injury, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death.
Florida's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident (reduced from four years in a 2023 tort reform). Property damage claims can have a different deadline, so don't assume you have more than two years. These deadlines are absolute — miss them and you lose your right to recover anything.
If your accident involved a rideshare vehicle, a bicycle, or happened while you were working, different rules may apply. See our guides on Uber and Lyft accidents and bicycle accidents for those situations.
Hollywood's roads — from A1A along the beach to the I-95 interchange at Sheridan Street — have their own traffic patterns, accident hotspots, and law enforcement procedures. A lawyer who knows Broward County courts, local medical providers, and how Hollywood Police handle crash reports can build a stronger case from day one.
At Linder Diaz Law, we serve clients from our Hollywood office. We speak English, Spanish, Creole, Russian, and Ukrainian. We work on contingency — no fee unless we win your case.
Call or fill out the form below. Your case matters.
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