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If you live in Lakeland, Florida or the surrounding Polk County area and have been involved in a car accident, you may have suffered injuries. Auto accident injuries may lead to medical bills, pain and suffering, and/or lost wages. Lakeland auto accident lawyers at Burnetti, P.A. help assist clients who have been injured due to someone else’s negligence.
No one wants to be in a car wreck. It is a very unpleasant situation that most of us believe we will never participate in. In Florida, around 400,000 vehicle accidents are recorded annually, which is 1,100 car crashes on average daily, according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Having these numbers in mind, it is always best if we are equipped with information on what we can do should we fall victim of a crash. It is also in your best interest to have a skillful attorney ready to represent you in the event you need legal help.
The period after a car accident in Lakeland, Florida, can be a very stressful time. If you have been involved in a car accident in Lakeland, FL, you are probably overwhelmed by the number of factors to consider after a car accident. Should you see a doctor? Should you talk to the insurance company? Do you need a car accident attorney in Lakeland Florida?
I’ll never forget when I lost my dad in a car crash. I wasn’t ready for that. The confusion, the loss, the uncertainty. But I turned my pain into purpose, helping families through tough times.
You might not be ready for what comes next, but we are. At Burnetti P.A., you’re never just a case. We believe our clients deserve respect, dignity, compensation, and someone fighting for them. When you need help after a crash, call one-eight hundred BURNETTI.
We’re ready.
Our car accident lawyers in Lakeland suggest that you follow certain procedures in case you are involved in an accident.
Whether it was your fault or not, do your absolute best to stay calm. Avoid using anger or panicking. Remember that this was an accident, which means no one intentionally caused it.
If you are involved in a minor accident, keep safety in mind first. This means moving the cars and the people involved on the site off the road to avoid any further potential collisions. If the cars cannot be moved, all drivers should remain in the cars, with seat belts on, until help arrives. Make sure you place your hazard lights on to warn other drivers that you are not moving or flares to warn oncoming traffic.
Make sure to call for medical assistance if you are able to do so, especially if you or anyone else in the crash is bleeding, feels like fainting, or has suffered any other physical injury.
It is in everyone’s best interest to err on the side of caution than having to deal with long term chronic pain or injury in the future. If you do call for medical attention, do not move the injured. Wait for the medical assistance to arrive as they know what to do to avoid further injury.
As soon as you make sure that everyone is safe, and that medical assistance is on their way (if needed) call the police immediately. Police will be able to record any traffic infractions and take notes on the accident.
Even if you suspect that you are the reason for the accident, do not give a statement to an insurance company or admit fault before contacting your Lakeland car accident lawyer.
If you are in the position to move, we recommend snapping as many pictures from the scene as possible. Make sure to take pictures of the entire area, and not just the cars. Your pictures should be able to tell the full story. For example, take pictures of the vehicle damage, debris, skid marks, road condition, the traffic signs, the traffic lights, any potential natural obstructions, etc.
Exchange information with other drivers involved including:
Obtain a crucial document to support your claim. Learn how to get a copy quickly and easily below!
“People come to us at the hardest moments of their lives. My job is to give them strength, fight for what’s right, and make sure their voice is heard where it matters most—in court.”
Florida law requires that if you have been involved in a car crash with damage to property or person, you must report the accident. According to Florida Statutes 316.065, the crash must be reported if it involves property damage of $500 or more. It must also be reported if it involves the injury or death of any of the involved parties.
When the accident takes place within a municipality, it must be reported to the local police authorities. If the site of the accident is outside of any municipality, you must report the crash to the nearest Florida Highway Patrol office or the Office of the County Sheriff.
When Lakeland auto accidents occur, a car accident report is available to the involved parties from law enforcement. Within sixty days of the accident, the reports are available and need to be requested. The procedure for obtaining a car accident report depends on which branch of law enforcement responded to the crash.
For accidents handled by the Lakeland Police Department (LPD), parties involved in the accident may contact the Records Section of the LPD at (863) 834-6900. They are located at 219 North Massachusetts Ave, Lakeland, Florida 33801. Before requesting a copy, you must fill out a Sworn Statement Crash Report.
Lakeland auto accidents often stem from negligent behavior. Common causes include unsafe driving maneuvers and driving under the influence. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDT) reveal that young drivers are more likely to engage in risky driving practices, contributing to a significant portion of accidents. Additionally, intoxicated drivers pose a substantial risk to road safety. Given these factors, it’s no surprise that over a quarter of Americans have experienced a car accident within the past five years.
While Florida operates under a no-fault insurance system, covering initial expenses regardless of fault, serious injuries may allow victims to pursue claims against the at-fault driver. However, the state also follows a comparative negligence rule, meaning that a victim’s compensation can be reduced based on their degree of fault in the accident.
Even minor collisions can result in severe injuries, including brain, head, and burn injuries. The aftermath of an accident often involves significant financial burdens, such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
You just got into a car accident and now everyone from your insurance adjuster to the other driver’s lawyer is asking for the police report. You’ve tried calling the station, clicking around online, maybe even driving to the department in person, and you still don’t have it. And without that report, your injury claim could stall or get denied entirely before it even begins. I’m Doug Burnetti, a Florida personal injury attorney.
And in this video, I will walk you through exactly how to get your police report, whether the crash happened in Tampa or Orlando or anywhere else in the state so that you can move forward with your case, protect your rights, and avoid wasting weeks chasing paperwork that should have taken five minutes. Why your police report matters in Florida. Let’s get right to it. After a car accident here in Florida, getting your hands on the official police report is one of the first and most important steps you should take.
You might be thinking, why bother with paperwork when I just wanna get my car fixed or deal with insurance? But that police report isn’t just paperwork. It’s the foundation for almost everything that comes next. The insurance claims, personal injury claims, and even dealing with the other driver.
In Florida, the police report is the official record of your accident. It documents what happened, where and when it happened, who was involved, the officer’s initial observations. Insurance companies use it. Lawyers use it.
The judge might look at it if your case ever goes that far. So let’s walk through exactly how you get your police report after your car accident in Florida step by step. Step one, know when and why a police report is created. First things first, not every little scrape or fender bender gets a police report.
In Florida, officers are required to file a crash report if the accident involves injury or death, results in at least five hundred dollars of property damage, was a hit and run, or was caused by a driver under the influence. If you call the police and they arrived at the scene, you should assume there’s going to be a report. But what if you drove away, swapped insurance info, and nobody called the police? There might not be an official report, which can complicate things later on.
My advice, whether you feel hurt or not, always call the police after a car accident, even if it seems minor. Sometimes injuries show up hours or days later, and you’ll want that documentation. Step two, wait for the report to be filed, but not too long. After the accident, the police will typically give you a small card with a case number on.
This is your golden ticket. Don’t lose it. But here’s something a lot of folks don’t realize. The police officers almost never hand you the full report right there at the scene.
They have to go back, do their paperwork, and officially file it. In Florida, the law gives officers up to ten days to file their crash report. Sometimes it’s faster. Sometimes it takes the full ten days, especially if there are injuries or the accident was complicated.
So give it a few days, but don’t wait weeks. Mark your calendar for about a week after your accident. That’s usually a safe window to start checking. Step three, decide how you want to access your report.
Alright. You’ve given it some time. Now, how do you actually get your hands on the report? In Florida, you have a few options.
Let’s talk about the most common ones. The easiest and most convenient method for most people is to get it online. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, often called FLHSMV for short, maintains a website, the Florida Crash Portal, where you can request and download your report. Here’s how it works.
Go to the Florida Crash portal website. Enter the required details like the crash date, county, and either your last name, driver’s license number, or the crash report number from the officer’s card. Pay a small fee. Right now, it’s ten dollars per report plus a two dollar processing fee, but that could change.
The site will let you download a PDF version of the report. Quick, easy, and no need to stand in line anywhere. If you’d rather not use the Internet, you can request the report in person at the local police department, sheriff’s office, or the Florida Highway Patrol trooper station that responded to your crash. Bring your ID, your case number, and be ready to pay a small fee.
Some offices even let you mail in a written request if you prefer using the post office. Step four, understand who can get the report and when. Here’s something that surprises a lot of folks. In Florida, police reports are confidential for the first sixty days after the accident.
That means they’re not immediately part of the public record. So who can get them during those first two months? You can, absolutely. So can the people directly involved in the crash, their lawyers, insurance companies, and law enforcement.
If you’re one of those people, you’ll need to show proof like driver’s license, case number, or proof that you’re representing someone involved. After sixty days, anyone can request a report, even news outlets or curious neighbors. But if you’re the victim or a driver in the crash, don’t put this off. You want that report as soon as it’s available.
If your insurance company is dragging their feet or you’re worried the other driver is trying to change their story, you don’t want to be left empty handed. Step five. What to do if you can’t find your report? So what if you go online or call the police department and they can’t find your report?
Don’t panic. This happens more than you might think. Sometimes the officer took longer to file the report. Sometimes there was a typo in your name or case number.
Start by double checking the details you’re using. If you have the card from the officer, use the exact case number on that card. Still no luck? Call the law enforcement agency that responded to your accident.
If you’re not sure which agency it was, look at where the accident happened. City streets are usually handled by the city police, highways by the Florida Highway Patrol, and county roads by the sheriff’s office. Be polite but be persistent. Sometimes reports get misfiled or delayed.
If you’re hitting a wall, this is a good time to reach out to a Florida personal injury attorney like me. We can help track down the report and sometimes just having a lawyer ask makes things move faster. Step six, double check the details in your report. Once you get the report, read it carefully.
Don’t just save it to your email or stuff it in a drawer. Mistakes happen and they matter. Look at the basics. Your name, the date, and time of the incident, the vehicles involved, the location.
Does it match what actually happened? Did the officer write down the right insurance information? Are there details about injuries, road conditions, or who was at fault? Here’s a real example.
I had an Orlando report that said my client wasn’t injured and drove away from the scene. In reality, he left in an ambulance with a neck injury. That little mix-up almost let the insurance company off the hook. We caught the error, got the officer to amend the report, and my client got the compensation he deserved.
If you spot a mistake, call the law enforcement agency right away. Fixing errors is easier sooner rather than later. And those small details can be the difference between a denied claim and a successful claim. Step seven, share your report with the right people.
Once you have your report, don’t keep it a secret. Your insurance company will almost always ask for it. If you’re considering a personal injury claim, your attorney will need it to build your case. Sometimes the other driver or their insurance may request a copy too, but talk to your lawyer before sharing anything directly with them.
If you’re working with a doctor for accident injuries, bring your report with you to your next appointment. It helps your medical team understand how the accident happened and can support your treatment plan. Common questions about getting a police report in Florida. Let’s hit a few of the questions I hear most often.
How long does it take to get the report? Usually about five to ten days. If it’s taking longer, call the agency and follow-up. In the case of a death caused by an accident, it can take several months. But the five to ten days refers to auto accidents that do not involve death.
Can I get a report if I wasn’t one of the drivers, but I was a passenger? Yes, you can. Passengers and vehicle owners are allowed to request the report.
Do I need a lawyer to get my report? No. But if you’re struggling to get it or you think the report will be important for an injury claim, it’s smart to talk to a lawyer. Will getting the report cost me anything?
Yes, it usually costs ten dollars plus a small processing fee if you get it online. What if I lost the card with the case number? No problem. You can still search by the date, location, and your name, or call the police department for help.
While getting your report quickly, protect your rights. Let me tell you why speed matters. In Florida, the sooner you have the police report, the sooner you can move forward with your insurance claim. If you wait too long, stories can change, details fade, and you lose leverage.
Insurance companies count on delays to deny or limit your claim. And if you end up needing a lawyer, the report helps us start your case off strong. A quick story. I worked with a family from Tampa who waited weeks before getting their report.
By then, the other driver’s insurance had already gotten their hands on it and started spinning their own version of events. We were able to turn things around, but it took some extra effort. Don’t let that be you. What to do next after getting your report?
You have your police report. Now what? Review it, send it to your insurance, and if you’re hurt or have questions about your rights, call a Florida personal injury attorney right away. Remember, the report is just the first step in protecting yourself after a crash.
There’s a lot more to do, and the next decisions you make are just as important. So you just learned exactly how to get your police report after your Florida car accident step by step with real tips for avoiding the common mistakes I see every day. But don’t stop here. The next video you need to watch is called “Florida car accident, five things you must do immediately after.”
Trust me, those first actions after a crash can make all the difference for your claim, your recovery, and your financial future. Don’t risk getting tripped up by the insurance companies or missing out on what you deserve. Click over now, and I’ll see you over there.
There are many reasons why crashes happen, but distracted driving is the most common cause. Distracted driving is when someone is engaging in other activities while driving. These activities include anything from eating, talking, singing, trying to calm the kids in the back seat, checking the phone, texting, etc.
Other reasons include:
We can clearly see from the above list that, even if we are taking all the precautions from our end, there are plenty of external reasons that we can fall victims of a car crash. You can minimize your risk by taking some measures, such as avoiding driving at night, following the speed limit and making sure your car is serviced properly.
But even you do everything correctly, you are not alone on the streets, did you know:
Injured in Tampa? Don’t wait to get the legal help you deserve. Contact our Tampa injury attorneys today for a free consultation. We’ll listen to your story, explain your rights, and fight for the compensation you need to move forward.
Car accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, from minor to severe.
Your car is carrying more than just your family and friends. It holds flammable materials and possibly weighs more than 3000 pounds. It is important to keep all previously mentioned numbers in mind every time you get behind the wheel and keep in mind a few steps that can help you minimize the possibility to have an accident.
Distracted driving can be described as any activity that can divert your attention from paying attention to the street. Any and all distractions can endanger your life and the lives of the rest of the people in your car, and the lives of the drivers around you.
Texting, eating, looking around the car, drinking, putting on makeup, or even looking away for a split-second while you are trying to change the radio station can end up in a car crash. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CBC) quotes that approximately nine people die, and more than 1000 are injured due to distracted driving.
Keep in mind that distractions are classified into three categories:
You need to keep your activities to a minimum while driving to ensure that you are in safe vehicle operating position.
Visual, clearly means you keep your eyes on the road, and you do not attempt to read a message, or dial any numbers, etc. Manual means to keep your hands on the steering wheel and avoid trying to drink, text, or generally use your hands for anything other than steering the car.
Cognitive can be more difficult because if we are upset, or preoccupied with something, we can very easily get distracted while driving. If you find yourself in an emotionally compromised situation, avoid driving until you are calm and focused.
Always do your best to leave with time to spare, so you are not tempted to speed. The speed limits are placed for a reason. Many times, even if the road is clear and no one else seems to be around, animals can jump in front of a vehicle. If we are going too fast to stop we can either collide with the animal, causing an accident, or if we try to avoid it, we run the risk of colliding with other cars, walls, trees, or other objects around us.
Lakeland auto accident lawyers suggest being proactive drivers. That involves developing and adhering to some habits.
You will be safer on the streets by developing the ability to scan your environment around you very fast, to identify hazards, signs or other relevant marks you need to be aware of.
It is advised that you educate yourself on various methods to communicate with other drivers in case you need to warn them. It will also be beneficial to you if you are aware of such methods in the event someone is trying to warn you of an upcoming situation to help you.
Keep in mind that there is a suggested distance we all need to keep from the car in front of us. If we adhere to that distance, we will be given an adequate amount of time to react in case of an emergency.
Many of us often ignore this because our cars appear ok. As we previously mentioned, there are many things we cannot control and some that we can. Keeping our car maintained is one factor we can control.
It is also good to have several emergency items in your car just in case. Such items include a flashlight, signaling devices (flares), blankets, jumper cables, window scraper, etc.
Do not operate your car if you had something to drink, or even if you simply are tired. This is one more factor you can control. If you had too much to drink, call a taxi, get an Uber ride, call a friend, or a family member. Nothing is more important than your life, or the lives of other people that you might be putting in danger if you choose to drive while impaired.
Florida is one of the few no-fault car insurance states. This means that after a car accident injury, you must first turn to your personal injury car insurance scheme to cover your losses. Your own insurance should cover losses such as property damage, medical bills, and lost wages. This applies regardless of who caused the crash.
It is only in the rare cases of serious negligence that you can bring a compensation claim against the at-fault driver. This is typically possible when the injuries from a car crash are particularly severe or permanent. In such cases, you can move the case to the court and file it against the other driver.
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Comparative negligence is where the fault for a car accident is distributed among all the parties involved. If two drivers are involved in a crash, the court may assign a certain percentage of fault to both drivers. For instance, if the other driver was primarily responsible for the crash while you were also to blame a little, the court may hold the other driver 90% at fault and assign 10% fault to you. You are then able to recover compensatory damages that are proportionate to your degree of fault.
Florida follows a ‘pure comparative fault’ rule. This means that you can recover compensatory damages even if your fault is more than 50% in the case. This is in contrast to many other states where the comparative fault rule allows compensation only if the fault is 51% or lower.
If a court finds that you are entitled to $10,000 in damages but share 50% of the fault, you will receive $5,000. If you are found 60% at fault, you will receive $4,000. Even if you are held 90% at fault, you will still be entitled to $1,000 in damages. However, as your percentage of fault in a car crash increases, you are more liable to pay the other driver for damages as well.
If your injury is not covered under the no-fault insurance scheme, you can file a damages lawsuit against the at-fault driver. In this case (as of March 2023), Florida Statutes 95.11 mandates a period of two years. You must file the lawsuit within two years from the date of the accident. Some rare exceptions exist which may extend this deadline a little further. However, in most car accident cases, failure to file a case within this period means that you can no longer seek compensatory damages.
Don’t delay in contacting our Lakeland car accident attorneys. Our experienced personal injury team at Burnetti, P.A. can help you pursue maximum compensation for your injuries.
Board-Certified Civil Trial Lawyer and founder of Burnetti, P.A., Doug Burnetti has spent his career fighting for the injured across Florida. Known for his courtroom skill and dedication to justice, he leads a firm built on integrity, strength, and results—recognized by Florida Super Lawyers and Martindale-Hubbell® for excellence in trial advocacy.
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This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. It was approved by attorney Doug Burnetti, founder of Burnetti, P.A., a board-certified civil trial lawyer with experience handling cases involving auto accidents, premises liability, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, and product liability.
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