What to Do After a Car Accident in Pinellas County?

Car collisions can be traumatic and terrifying, especially if they leave you with serious injuries. You may be unsure what to do after a car accident in Pinellas County, and the steps you take can be crucial.

What you do following a crash can help protect your health, the well-being of others, and your ability to financially recover from the crash.

What You Should Do After a Car Accident in Pinellas County

Car accidents can occur on the road at any time when people act carelessly or recklessly. In Pinellas County, there were 5,850 injury crashes and 92 fatal crashes in 2025. Accidents are especially common on dangerous roads like US 19, I-275, 4th Street, and 34th Street.

An accident can leave you with serious injuries. When you are seriously hurt, you should focus on waiting for emergency medical responders. If you were in an accident in Pinellas County and are able to, you should take some of the following steps:

1. Ensure Safety

Your safety and the safety of others are the most important things after a crash. There are several things you can do if you are able to:

• Check yourself for injuries
• Determine if anyone else in the vehicle is injured
• Move vehicles that can be driven out of the roadway
• Move individuals out of vehicles if the vehicles cannot be moved
• Do not move individuals who are seriously injured or cannot move themselves unless they are in immediate danger

Stay at the scene of the crash and then take the next steps.

2. Report the Accident

It’s important to call 911 and report the crash as soon as possible. It’s required in Florida if the damages are a certain amount, or if anyone was injured or killed. Reporting the incident is also important to protect the well-being of those involved. It also creates a police report of the accident.

When you call to report the accident, inform them:

• Of the crash and its location
• About any injuries you are aware of
• If anyone is unconscious
• Of the other vehicle or vehicles in the accident

If you are injured, wait for emergency responders. If you are able to, there are other steps you should consider as you wait.

3. Gather Evidence

It’s important to take several actions to get important evidence and information about the incident. You should:

• Exchange information. You and the other driver or drivers in the accident should exchange contact information, including names, addresses, and phone numbers. You should also exchange vehicle information, like the license plate number and the make and model of the car. Exchange insurance information, too, like the name of their company and their policy number.
• Document the scene. Take photos and videos of important elements of the crash, including the vehicles, damage to vehicles, traffic signals, debris, weather conditions, road conditions, and damage to the area. Take these photos from different angles at varying distances. You should also document your injuries.
• Get eyewitness information. You should also get contact information from passengers and other eyewitnesses to the accident.

This information can be essential in your case, especially if liability is disputed or another driver’s insurance company tries to blame you for the crash.

4. Work With Emergency Responders

When emergency responders arrive, it’s important to cooperate.

Get medical care from emergency medical providers when prompted. You may think you are uninjured, but you should be looked over anyway. This is important information for your claim, and you may be injured and not know it.

Law enforcement officers will also respond. If you are asked, provide information for the police report. Always be honest, but don’t admit fault in the crash. You should also not speculate about information you don’t know. The information in the police report can help your case, but it can also be used against you in Pinellas County.

5. Steps After You Leave the Scene

After you are able to leave the scene of the crash, you want to:

• Get additional medical care from your provider or a hospital
• Report the accident to your insurance company
• Contact an attorney
• Don’t post on social media
• Keep an eye on your injuries

FAQs

What Should You Legally Do After a Car Accident in Florida?

After a car accident in Florida that results in injury, death, or an apparent value of $2,000 in property damage, you should legally report it immediately. Failing to do this is a traffic infraction. You are also legally required to stop at the scene and provide aid and certain information. Failure to take these steps can be a misdemeanor or a felony. These requirements may also intersect with Criminal Defense concerns.

Reporting the accident also helps with any future claim.

How Does Insurance Work if a Car Crash Is Not Your Fault?

How insurance works in a car crash that is not your fault depends on whether you are in a fault-based or no-fault-based state. In fault-based states, like Florida, the insurance company for an at-fault driver is liable. This means that you can file a claim with the insurer for the at-fault driver to recover the costs of your injuries, property damage, and other losses.

What Do I Do Immediately After a Car Accident?

Immediately after a car accident, you should get yourself and others to safety and assess for injuries. Do not move individuals who cannot move themselves, as you may worsen their injuries. Only move them if they are in immediate danger. Then, you should call 911 to report the accident and any injuries. As you wait, exchange contact information and document the crash.

Do You Have to Call the Police After an Accident in Florida?

Whether or not you have to call the police after an accident in Florida depends on the severity of the incident. If anyone was injured or killed, you must report the accident. If there appears to be $2,000 in damage, you have to report the accident. Even if the damage seems less than $2,000, it is a good idea to report it. This ensures you comply with the law and get medical treatment and a police report.

Hire a Trusted Car Accident Lawyer in Pinellas County

It’s important to hire a car accident lawyer after a car accident, before your insurer or other insurers talk with you about the accident. Reach out to the Amarosa Law Firm P.A. today.