FAQ: Car Accidents in St. Johns County, Florida

What should I do if I am in a car accident in St. Johns County?
Regardless of how minor you think the car accident is, you should always report it to the police. Write down names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses, and make sure the police officer gives you a copy of the Driver Exchange Information form. Call your car insurance agent and your car insurance company immediately for further instructions. If you do not report the car accident, the insurance company may deny payment of any claims you file subsequently. Your insurance company must notify you within 30 (thirty) days of receiving proper notice of the car accident claim whether it will pay or deny your accident claim or that it is investigating the claim.

If the car accident is not my fault, do I have to let the insurer of my car know about it, and, if I do, will they raise my insurance premiums? What kind of coverage is my car insurer required to provide?
Yes, you need to inform your insurance company of the car accident. St. Johns County is governed by the laws of Florida, a no-fault car accident state. That means any insurance company doing business in St. Johns County is required to pay for your medical expenses up to a certain amount, depending on the policy you purchased.

What if I received a traffic citation stating I was the cause of the car accident? Do I still have a case?
That depends. If the car accident was not completely your fault, you can still recover damages from the driver of the other car for the portion of the accident that was his or her fault. Florida allows injured parties in St. Johns County to bring claims against the driver of the other car even if they were partially at fault.

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