Waiting around for the authorities to arrive after a vehicle accident isn’t anyone’s idea of fun. You can stand around for a while, especially if the accident isn’t severe. Exchanging insurance information and driving off is tempting. Sometimes, it’s even legal in the Sunshine State.
However, this doesn’t mean you can or should skip reporting the accident. Did you know there are potential penalties for not reporting a Florida car accident? Sometimes, the penalties can be severe. Before you decide to drive off without reporting a vehicle collision, here’s what you should know.
Some vehicle accidents you can drive away from and file a report when you have some free time. However, this doesn’t apply to every collision. If the accident causes injuries or fatalities, you’re legally required to report the collision and remain at the scene. This rule also applies when accidents result in property damage exceeding $500.
You can either call 9-1-1, it’s the easiest way to report a car wreck or alert the local authorities using their non-emergency number. If injuries are present or a fatality occurs, it’s always best to dial the emergency number. You tend to get a faster response.
When property damage is minimal and there aren’t any injuries or fatalities, Florida statutes give drivers 10 days to file out what’s known as the long form. You can head down to the closest police precinct or fill the form out online. Just remember, you only have ten days before you may face non-criminal charges. Since failing to report a minor vehicle accident is typically considered a misdemeanor, you don’t have to worry about getting a criminal record. However, you’re probably facing a $30 fine.
If you decide to drive off into the proverbial sunset after a serious car collision, there’s probably going to be some consequences. Remember, Florida has laws dictating when a vehicle accident must be immediately reported, and this means staying on scene.
What happens if you decide to leave an accident scene before being released by the authorities? There’s a good chance you’re facing a charge of leaving the scene of an accident. This isn’t a misdemeanor, it’s a criminal offense. Yep, this means you’re probably going to have a criminal record but this is probably the least of your worries.
Leaving the scene of an accident charge can come with some serious penalties like potential jail time on top of hefty fees. There’s even a possibility of having your license temporarily suspended and this can upend your life.
Since the threshold for property damage is so low, it’s only $500, pretty much every vehicle accident needs to be immediately reported. With this being said, sometimes property damage is extremely limited. Think of a barely noticeable dent in your vehicle’s bumper after a minor fender bender. When everyone involved in a minor traffic collision agrees to exchange insurance information and go about their day, you can usually self-report the accident.
Don’t forget you only have ten business days to report the accident before you may be hit with a $30 fine. The long form is pretty self-explanatory, just fill in the supplied fields. Some of the information you’ll need includes the involved vehicles’ make, model, and license plate numbers. You’ll also need to supply insurance information, hopefully for all involved drivers. If you can only supply your insurance info, no worries. You can still submit the accident report.
So, fines and a possible criminal record should be enough to convince you to immediately report a vehicle accident. Even if you think it’s okay to drive away, it’s rarely the best idea. Florida is a comparative negligence state and this can impact your ability to recover compensation for your damages.
Waiting to investigate the accident a week or so later makes it tough to establish fault. You may be assigned blame for the accident even if you’re positive you’re not at fault.
Eyewitness testimony can sometimes make or break an accident claim. This type of testimony can also be unreliable the longer you wait.
The authorities can interview witnesses while their memory of events is still fresh. You also don’t have to worry about witnesses moving away and becoming unavailable. Don’t forget that Florida is a mecca for tourists, so your witnesses may live in another state. Getting them back to the Sunshine State for their testimony is difficult and expensive. You’re going to be responsible for covering the witnesses' travel expenses back to Florida.
Sure, you can probably drive your vehicle with a few dents. Even if the alignment is off after the accident you can still make it to work and run some errands. Unfortunately, this is probably causing more damage to your vehicle and you can’t afford to cover the repairs. This can be a common problem when you wait a few days to report a car accident.
Waiting to report a vehicle collision can significantly slow down the accident claim process. This means you’re waiting longer to recover any potential compensation. Without the settlement check, you can’t afford to repair any vehicle and other types of property damage.
Your vehicle repairs probably aren’t the only expenses piling up after a traffic collision. Medical expenses are common and healthcare definitely isn’t cheap. Unfortunately, you can’t seek reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses relating to your accident until you settle your injury claim. This means filing an accident report.
Recovering compensation after a vehicle accident starts with reporting the collision. Sure, you sometimes have the option of waiting a few days but it’s not a great idea. Evidence can become lost and you can’t recover compensation. Taking the time to immediately report an accident is usually the best way to go.
