Hit-and-Run Accidents in Florida

1. 1

   Get to safety and call 911

   Do not chase the other vehicle. If anyone is hurt, call 911. On a highway you can also reach the Florida Highway Patrol by dialling *FHP (*347) from a mobile phone.

2. 2

   Write down what you saw

   Note the licence plate (even part of it), the make, model and colour, any damage to the other car, and which way it went. Memory fades fast.

3. 3

   Look for witnesses and cameras

   Ask anyone nearby what they saw and for their contact details. Note businesses, homes or traffic cameras that may have recorded the crash.

4. 4

   Photograph everything

   Your vehicle, debris and paint transfer, the road, and any injuries.

5. 5

   Get the report number

   Make sure a crash report is made and keep the report number. Leaving the scene is one of the situations that requires a long-form police report in Florida.

See also: what to do after a hit and run in Florida.

Every driver involved in a crash in Florida must stop, remain at the scene until they have given their information, and render reasonable assistance to anyone injured. A driver who leaves the scene of a crash involving injury or death commits a felony, and the degree depends on how serious the injuries were.

If you hit an unattended vehicle or property, the law requires you to find the owner or leave your details where they will be seen.

Florida PIP follows you, not the other driver: it generally pays 80% of reasonable medical expenses up to $10,000, as long as you receive initial care within 14 days of the crash.

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is optional in Florida, but insurers must offer it and it is included at your bodily injury limits unless you rejected it or chose lower limits in writing. Whether UM on your policy applies to a hit and run depends on your policy and the facts, so ask your insurer directly. More on this in our uninsured driver guide.

Swift Attorney is a free accident help and referral service, not a law firm. If you were hurt in a hit-and-run crash in Florida, you can call, text or use the short form at any hour. The team listens to what happened, helps you understand a sensible next step and, where appropriate, may connect you with a participating accident attorney or medical provider.

Contacting Swift Attorney does not create an attorney-client relationship, and nobody here gives legal advice. Any legal representation would be a separate agreement between you and a participating attorney. How it works explains the process step by step.