Few questions come up more often after a crash than whether you actually have to call the police. In Florida, the answer changed on October 1, 2026. A new law, Senate Bill 488, raised the property damage amount that triggers your legal duty to notify law enforcement from $500 to $2,000. Crashes that injure or kill someone must still be reported, and so must any crash with apparent damage at or above the new amount.
This guide explains what the law requires now, how the old law worked, what did not change, and why we still recommend calling the police after almost every crash in Central Florida.
The short answer: For crashes on or after October 1, 2026, you must immediately notify law enforcement if anyone is injured or killed, or if the apparent property damage is at least $2,000. Even when you are not required to call, we recommend that you do, because an official report protects your insurance claim and your injury case.
Florida Law Now: When You Must Call the Police After a Crash
Under Fla. Stat. § 316.065(1), as amended by Chapter 2026-39, Laws of Florida, the driver of a vehicle involved in a crash must immediately, by the quickest means of communication, notify the local police department if the crash is inside a city, or the county sheriff or Florida Highway Patrol if it is not. The duty applies when:
- Anyone is injured or killed, no matter how minor the injury appears.
- Damage to any vehicle or other property appears to be $2,000 or more.
- You hit an unattended vehicle or property. Under Fla. Stat. § 316.063, you must try to find the owner or leave a visible written note with your name, address, and vehicle registration number, and then report the crash.
Failing to report a crash that meets the threshold is a noncriminal traffic infraction. According to the Florida Senate’s staff analysis, the base fine is $30, and with fees and court costs the total can reach $108.
The statute uses the word “apparent,” so you do not need a repair estimate before you call. But you do have to judge the damage on the spot, and that is harder than it sounds. Modern bumpers hide sensors, cameras, and crumple structures, and a dent that looks cosmetic can cost thousands to fix. The same Senate analysis cited insurance data showing that about 60 percent of crashes since 2021 caused more than $2,500 in damage. If you are unsure, call.
The Old Law: What Applied Before October 1, 2026
For crashes through September 30, 2026, § 316.065(1) required the same immediate notice when anyone was hurt or killed or when the apparent damage was at least $500. That figure had stood since 1989, when the Legislature raised it from $100, according to the Senate analysis. At $500, the rule covered nearly every collision, so most drivers were expected to call the police after even a small fender bender.
The old rule still matters. Florida generally gives you two years to file a negligence lawsuit under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(a), so claims from crashes in late 2024, 2025, and the first nine months of 2026 can still be active. The reporting duty for those crashes is generally measured by the law in effect on the date of the crash, which means the $500 threshold applies to them. If you were in a crash before October 1, 2026, do not assume the new $2,000 amount governs your situation.
What Did Not Change: Stopping, Sharing Information, and Helping
The $2,000 threshold governs only the duty to call the police. It does not change your duty to stop. Under Fla. Stat. § 316.061, the driver of a vehicle in a crash that damages an attended vehicle or other property must stop and stay at the scene until he or she has given the information required by § 316.062, which includes your name, address, and vehicle registration number, plus your driver license if asked, and reasonable help for anyone who is hurt. Leaving the scene of a crash with attended property is a crime regardless of the dollar amount, and leaving the scene of a crash that injures or kills someone is a felony under § 316.027. Our guide to hit-and-run accidents in Florida explains what to do if the other driver flees.
If Police Do Not Respond: The 10-Day Written Report
If a crash damages a vehicle or property and no officer prepares a report, Fla. Stat. § 316.066 generally requires the drivers involved to submit a written crash report to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles within 10 days. You can file through the FLHSMV crash report page using the Driver Report of Traffic Crash (Self Report), Form HSMV 90011S. Failing to file is a noncriminal infraction. Because more minor crashes now fall below the police-notification threshold, this self-report may become the only official record of what happened, which makes accuracy important.
Why You Should Still Call the Police, Even Under $2,000
A crash that does not legally require a call can still turn into an insurance dispute or an injury claim. Calling gives you protection the law does not require but your case may need:
- An official record. The responding officer documents the location, time, weather, vehicles, and statements from drivers and witnesses.
- Help proving fault. If the other driver denies responsibility, the officer’s observations, citations, and witness statements can support your account.
- Protection if pain shows up later. Soft-tissue injuries often appear a day or more after a crash. Tell the officer about any pain and avoid saying you are fine. Our posts on delayed pain symptoms and soft-tissue injuries explain why, and you generally need medical care within 14 days to qualify for PIP medical benefits under the Florida no-fault rule.
- Smoother insurance claims. Adjusters rely on police reports, especially when fault is disputed or the other driver is uninsured.
- Protection against changed stories. Drivers sometimes change their account after leaving the scene. A report fixes the facts while they are fresh.
What If the Other Driver Asks You Not to Call?
After a minor crash, the other driver may offer cash or ask to handle it without insurance. Be cautious. You may not know the full damage or your own injuries yet, and a driver who seems cooperative at the scene can deny responsibility later. A driver who asks you not to call may also be uninsured, unlicensed, or impaired. You can always ask an officer to respond, even when the law does not require a call.
How to Report a Car Accident in Florida: Step by Step
- Check for injuries and call 911. If anyone is hurt, even slightly, call 911 right away so police and medical responders are sent together.
- Move to safety. If it is safe, move vehicles out of traffic and turn on hazard lights.
- Wait for police. Be polite and cooperative, but do not admit fault or guess about speed, drinking, or fault.
- Exchange information. Share names, addresses, license numbers, and insurance details, and get the same from the other driver.
- Take photos and notes. Photograph vehicle damage, skid marks, debris, signals, injuries, and the overall scene from several angles, and note witness names.
- Get the report. Request a copy through the FLHSMV crash portal or from the Orlando Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, or Florida Highway Patrol, depending on who responded. Our step-by-step guide covers the rest of the process.
How a Police Report Helps Your Injury Claim
If you were hurt in a crash, the report can strengthen your claim in several ways. It proves the crash happened on a specific date, which helps link your injuries to the accident. It records the officer’s initial view of fault, citations, and witness statements. It speeds insurance processing because your lawyer and the adjuster can verify claim details with a report number. And it gives your attorney a foundation for the timeline if the case goes to court. A Florida crash report typically includes the date, time, and location, driver and insurance information, vehicle descriptions, witness statements, a diagram, weather and road conditions, and the officer’s narrative. Not every part is admissible in court, but it is a critical starting point. Our post on how insurers reduce injury claims explains why that early record matters.
Orlando-Area Law Enforcement Agencies
If you need to report a crash or request a report, contact the agency that has jurisdiction where it happened:
- Orlando Police Department: (407) 246-2961
- Orange County Sheriff’s Office: (407) 254-7000
- Florida Highway Patrol, Orlando Station: (407) 737-2200
- Seminole County Sheriff’s Office: (407) 665-6650
- Lake Mary Police Department: (407) 585-1330
- Winter Park Police Department: (407) 644-1313
Common Mistakes to Avoid After a Florida Car Accident
- Leaving the scene too soon. Stay until you have exchanged information and police say you can go.
- Skipping the call because the damage looks small. Hidden damage and delayed injuries are common. See our guide to common mistakes after a Florida car accident.
- Admitting fault or apologizing. Your words can be used against you later.
- Delaying medical care. Delays hurt both your health and your claim.
- Waiting to contact an attorney. Evidence disappears quickly, and insurers move fast.
Local Insight: Why Central Florida Drivers Should Call
Corridors like I-4, Colonial Drive, and SR 408 see frequent collisions, and the region’s tourists and rental cars make fault harder to sort out. Police documentation helps prevent disputes with out-of-state drivers and helps your lawyer determine whether a rental company or multiple insurance policies are involved. See our guide to the most dangerous roads and intersections in Orlando and Central Florida and our post on holiday traffic accidents in Florida.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the $2,000 threshold based on the actual repair bill?
No. The statute says “apparent” damage, so it turns on what the damage reasonably appears to be at the scene. Because repair costs often exceed what they look like, the safer approach is to call if there is any real chance the damage reaches $2,000.
Do I still need to report a crash if the police came to the scene?
If an officer responds and prepares a crash report, you generally do not need to submit a separate written report. If no officer prepares one, the 10-day self-report requirement applies.
Talk to a Lake Mary Car Accident Lawyer After Your Crash
If you were hurt in a crash in Orlando, Lake Mary, Sanford, Winter Park, or anywhere in Central Florida, we can obtain your police report, deal with the insurers, and pursue the compensation you deserve. See our Lake Mary car accident lawyer, Sanford, and Winter Park pages, or start with our auto accident overview.
Graves Law Practice
We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. Your consultation is free.
142 W Lakeview Ave #2070D, Lake Mary, FL 32746
Call or text (407) 308-0327 or contact us online
This article is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and benefit limits change, and every case turns on its own facts.