Florida law requires all vehicle drivers involved in an accident to take specific steps. These steps apply to all drivers, no matter who is at fault and whether the car accident was an injury or non-injury accident involving property damage. Remain at the scene All drivers must stay at the accident scene. Moving the vehicles to a safe location may be necessary if leaving them in place poses a safety risk. Still, drivers should move them to the closest safe location, such as the shoulder of the road. Call 911 You're required to report car accidents to the police. Calling the police ensures a prompt accident investigation. You may also need emergency crews at the scene if there's vehicle entrapment or severe injuries. Calling 911 ensures you get the emergency assistance needed. Check to see if anyone is injured You are required to help anyone injured in a car accident. Talk to each driver and passenger and ask about their condition. This may be essential information you need to provide when you call 911. The operator will ask whether you need paramedics on the scene and ask you to get as much information as possible to ensure they send the right emergency service workers. You should also seek medical care for yourself. It's easier to spot bruises and cuts than to identify organ or soft tissue damage. Some symptoms may take hours or days to appear, so you must consider the possibility you're injured, even if you don't think you are. A medical examination can determine whether you have internal injuries. You may also suffer from mental health challenges after an accident, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Approximately 39% of car accident victims develop PTSD, and PTSD can cause confusion and guilt. Gather information You're required to provide your name, phone number, and insurance information to other drivers. Other drivers are also required to provide you with this information. Ensure you get information about each driver because it could affect potential lawsuits and help your insurance company and lawyer determine who's at fault. You can protect yourself by gathering additional information at the scene. Take pictures and videos with your smartphone. The absence of skid marks and the position of the vehicles could help determine whether other drivers attempted to stop or were driving too fast. Pictures and videos can also preserve other details, such as whether the traffic lights were out or there was an animal on the road. Taking notes is another way to protect yourself. Accidents are traumatizing, and you may be in shock, have a traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other undiagnosed injuries. Therefore, you may forget crucial details after the accident. Making notes ensures you have the most accurate record possible, and you can give your notes to your attorney if you're dealing with a lawsuit after your accident. You should also get contact information for any witnesses at the scene so your attorney can speak to them. Call your insurance company Contact your car insurance company after your accident. Due to Florida's no-fault accident law, your insurance company covers some or all of your expenses after an accident, even if you weren't responsible for the crash. Call a car accident lawyer You should also contact a car accident attorney from the scene. As noted, you may not think clearly after the accident, particularly if you're in shock. Your lawyer will help you focus on the steps you need to take to comply with the law and protect yourself. For example, you could be charged with a misdemeanor and fined if you leave the accident scene before the police arrive.