{"id":41772,"date":"2026-09-07T17:09:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T17:09:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/car-accident-settlements-florida\/orlando\/"},"modified":"2026-09-15T08:04:36","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T08:04:36","slug":"orlando","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/car-accident-settlements-florida\/orlando\/","title":{"rendered":"Car Accidents in Orlando: What to Do After a Crash"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Car Accidents in Orlando<\/p>

What to Do After a Crash: Your First Steps Matter<\/h1>

A clear guide to protecting yourself, your health, and your legal rights after a car accident in Orlando.<\/p>

Get a Free Case Evaluation<\/a><\/div>
Get a Free Case Evaluation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

By CHG Lawyers \u00b7 Published September 07, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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Car Accidents in Orlando: Florida’s No-Fault System, Your Rights, and Next Steps<\/h2>\n

If you’ve been in a car accident in Orlando, the first hours matter. So does understanding how Florida’s insurance system works. The I-4 corridor and US-17\/92 see constant traffic. The Florida Highway Patrol responds to hundreds of crashes annually across Orange County.<\/p>\n

What you do right away, what you document, and what you report will shape your claim. This guide explains the system in plain language and walks you through the critical steps. It also tells you when legal guidance becomes essential.<\/p>\n\n

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Not sure what your next step is?<\/h3>

Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div>
Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Immediate Actions After an Orlando Car Accident<\/h2>\n

Safety first.<\/strong> If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. If vehicles can be moved safely and no one is hurt, move them out of traffic. This prevents secondary crashes.<\/p>\n

Exchange information with the other driver:<\/strong>\n– Full name, phone number, and address\n– Driver’s license number\n– Vehicle registration and VIN\n– Insurance company name and policy number<\/p>\n

Document the scene:<\/strong>\n– Photograph vehicle damage from multiple angles\n– Capture road conditions, traffic signals, lane markings, and weather\n– Note the time of day and lighting conditions\n– Take photos of your injuries, even if minor<\/p>\n

Get witness information.<\/strong> Ask anyone who saw the crash for their name, phone number, and what they saw. Witnesses often disappear. Their contact information is irreplaceable.<\/p>\n

Request the police report number.<\/strong> If the Florida Highway Patrol or Orlando Police Department responds, get the officer’s name, badge number, and accident report number. This report becomes the official record of the crash. You’ll need it later.<\/p>\n

You can request your report from the Orlando Police Department<\/a> or the Florida Highway Patrol<\/a> using the report number and crash date. The officer’s determination of fault and any citations issued form the foundation of your claim.<\/p>\n

How Florida’s No-Fault Insurance System Actually Works<\/h2>\n

Florida is a “no-fault” state. This system confuses most accident victims because it works differently than expected.<\/p>\n

Here’s what it means in plain language:<\/strong><\/p>\n

After a crash, your own<\/em> insurance company pays your medical bills and lost wages. This happens regardless of who caused the accident. You don’t have to prove the other driver was at fault. Your insurer covers these costs up to your policy limits. This coverage is called “Personal Injury Protection” or PIP.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong> You’re stopped at a red light on I-4 when another driver rear-ends you. You have $10,000 in PIP coverage. Your medical bills total $8,500. Your insurer pays the $8,500 directly to your doctors and hospitals. No argument about fault is required.<\/p>\n

The catch:<\/strong> No-fault insurance covers only medical expenses and lost wages (typically up to 60% of your average weekly wage, capped at a state limit). It does not<\/em> cover pain and suffering, permanent disability, loss of quality of life, or future medical costs.<\/p>\n

For those damages, you need a separate claim against the at-fault driver. Florida law sets a high bar for this claim.<\/p>\n

The 51% Rule: When You Can Sue the Other Driver<\/h2>\n

Under Florida Statute \u00a7 768.81<\/a>, you can pursue a claim against the other driver only if you are less than 51% responsible<\/em> for the crash. This is called “comparative fault.”<\/p>\n

If you are 51% or more at fault, you generally cannot recover damages from the other driver.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you are found partially at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong> A driver runs a red light and hits your car. You’re deemed 15% at fault for not seeing the vehicle in time. You can sue the other driver, but any settlement or judgment is reduced by 15%. If you win $100,000, you receive $85,000.<\/p>\n

This rule applies to liability claims\u2014the claims you file against the other<\/em> driver’s insurance. It does not<\/em> affect your no-fault benefits, which you receive regardless of fault.<\/p>\n

Serious Injury Threshold: When No-Fault Insurance Isn’t Enough<\/h2>\n

Florida law recognizes that some crashes cause permanent, life-altering harm. The state allows you to pursue a claim beyond no-fault insurance if your injury meets the “serious injury threshold” defined in Florida Statute \u00a7 627.737<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You meet this threshold if you have:<\/p>\n