Understanding Your Florida Crash Report After an Accident

A Florida crash report is the official written record of a traffic crash, and you can request many of them online through the floridacrashportal at FloridaCrashPortal.gov. This guide explains what the report is, how to get it, and what to check in it. It also explains how the report can fit into an injury claim. If you were hurt, you’re likely dealing with pain, insurance calls, and a lot of new paperwork. Take it one step at a time, and start by writing down the facts you remember.

What Is the floridacrashportal and a Florida Crash Report?

The floridacrashportal is the state’s online place to request many Florida crash reports. The report is the official record of the crash itself.

Florida law sets rules for these reports. Under Fla. Stat. § 316.066, a long-form crash report must be submitted to the state within 10 days after the officer finishes the investigation. That applies to crashes that cause death or personal injury, or that show any complaint of pain or discomfort. It also applies to crashes that involved a violation of s. 316.061(1) or s. 316.193, to crashes that rendered a vehicle inoperable to a degree that required a wrecker to remove it from the scene, and to crashes that involved a commercial motor vehicle.

The report records the date, time, and location of the crash. It lists the names and addresses of everyone involved, including all drivers and passengers. It also identifies the vehicle each person was driving or riding in.

A crash report is not a court judgment. It is not an insurance decision, and it is not a final finding of who is legally at fault. It is a record, and insurers and courts may weigh it differently.

How to Get Your Florida Crash Report from the floridacrashportal in Four Steps

You can request your report online through the floridacrashportal at FloridaCrashPortal.gov. The Florida Highway Patrol contact page states that copies can be requested online through the portal and that fees apply.

1. Gather what you know. Write down the date, time, and location of the crash. Note each driver’s name, the vehicle details, and any report or case number the officer gave you.
2. Search the portal. Go to FloridaCrashPortal.gov and search with those details. If you have a report number, start there.
3. Follow the prompts. Enter your search details and follow the portal’s steps to submit your request.
4. Pay the fee and save the file. Follow the portal’s prompts for payment. Save the report as a PDF and keep a copy somewhere safe. You may need it for insurance, medical records, or a later claim.

Who Can Get a Florida Crash Report?

Under Fla. Stat. § 316.066, crash reports held by an agency may be made immediately available to the parties involved in the crash, their legal representatives, and their licensed insurance agents. Insurers, victim services programs, and certain government agencies are also on the list.

Passengers are listed too. The law requires the report to include the names and addresses of all drivers and passengers. If you rode in the vehicle, your name should appear in the report. Check that it does.

What to Check in Your Crash Report

Start with the basic facts. The law requires a long-form report to include the date, time, and location of the crash, so these are basic facts to check first.

• The basics: the date, time, and location, including the road name.
• Every person: the names and addresses of all drivers and passengers, and the vehicle each one was in.
• Contact and insurance details: whether each driver’s information is listed correctly.
• The narrative and diagram: if your report includes them, read them closely. Compare them with what you remember and what others told you.
• Injury information: check that any injuries or complaints are described accurately.

If something is wrong, write it down and note the date you found it. Raise it with the responding agency and with your lawyer. A report reflects what the officer recorded, which may be incomplete. Corrections may need to go through proper channels.

Driver License and Driver Record Checks After a Crash

Checking the other driver’s license helps you confirm the name and details shown on the report. The state also offers online tools to check a driver’s license status.

Insurance is the next practical step. Under Fla. Stat. § 627.4137, an insurer that may provide liability coverage must give a sworn statement within 30 days of your written request. That statement lists the insurer’s name, each insured’s name, and the coverage limits. It also includes any coverage defense the insurer reasonably believes applies, and a copy of the policy.

Keep a copy of every written request you send, along with the date you sent it.

Does Every Crash Get a Report?

Not every crash produces a state crash report. Under Florida law, a long-form report is required for officer-investigated crashes that resulted in death of, personal injury to, or any indication of complaints of pain or discomfort by any party or passenger, that involved a violation of s. 316.061(1) or s. 316.193, that rendered a vehicle inoperable to a degree that required a wrecker to remove it from the scene, or that involved a commercial motor vehicle.

If you can’t find a report, ask the responding agency about your case number. Keep your own records in the meantime.

A missing report does not mean you have no evidence. Photos, medical records, witness names, and insurance records can still show what happened.

How the Crash Report Fits Into an Injury Claim, and Your Next Step

Medical records, photos, and insurance information matter too.

Florida divides fault by percentage. Under Fla. Stat. § 768.81, in a negligence case the court enters judgment against each party liable based on that party’s percentage of fault. Under Florida law, your own share of fault reduces what you can recover, and in a negligence case, if you are found greater than 50 percent at fault for your own harm, you may not recover any damages. This bar does not apply to personal injury or wrongful death claims arising out of medical negligence under chapter 766. Under Florida law, your own share of fault reduces what you can recover, and if you are found greater than 50 percent at fault for your own harm, you may not recover any damages.

Florida also sets time limits for filing lawsuits under Fla. Stat. § 95.11. These deadlines can be short. If you’re hurt, follow your doctors’ care and keep your records together.

Igor Hernandez, a lawyer with CHG Personal Injury Lawyers, is the responsible lawyer for this page. The firm focuses on injury cases for people throughout Florida, including Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can get a copy of a crash report?