Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | April 28, 2025 | Car Accident
On average, Florida reports about 380,000 to 400,000 traffic crashes each year. Orange County reported 25,405 traffic accidents in 2024, including 154 fatal crashes and 12,439 injury crashes. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) was established in 1939. Today, the FHP patrols over 43 million miles of roads and investigates over 176,000 crashes each year.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigates accidents on interstates and state highways. Florida law requires drivers to stop when they are involved in an accident. They must report crashes involving injuries, death, or property damages that exceed $500.
What Does an FHP Report Include?
A traffic report from the Florida Highway Patrol provides details about the accident. It includes information about the vehicles and people involved in the crash. Important information you can find in an FHP report includes:
- The date and time of the collision
- The place where the crash occurred
- The investigating officer’s name and badge number
- Information about the parties involved
- A description of each vehicle, including the VIN, color, make, and model
- Insurance information for each party
- The apparent property damage to each vehicle
- A diagram of the accident scene
- Suspected or apparent injuries to victims
- The officer’s determination of whether the parties contributed to the cause of the accident
The report is an unbiased summary of the facts determined by the officer. However, the officer is not an eyewitness. They only gather information and details from the parties involved, eyewitnesses, and the accident scene. Therefore, the report is not necessarily evidence, but a determination of fault by the police officer can help an accident victim with an insurance claim.
How Can I Get a Copy of My FHP Report?
There are several ways you can request a copy of a traffic report from the Florida Highway Patrol:
Purchase a Traffic Report Online
The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) maintains records of traffic accidents throughout the state. The easiest way to get an FHP report is to purchase a report online through the FLHSMV’s Crash Portal. It takes about 10 days for reports to be available online. An online crash report costs $10 plus a $2 convenience fee.
Purchase a Crash Report in Person
You can also purchase a Florida crash report in person by going to an FHP Troop Station. You need to go to the FHP Troop Station near where the crash occurred. You can only obtain 10 or fewer crash records per visit to an FHP Troop Station.
Purchase a Crash Report by Mail
You can also mail a request for a crash report to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. It can take up to eight weeks for requests by mail.
Do I Need an FHP Report to File an Insurance Claim in Florida?
You can file an insurance claim after a car accident without a crash report. However, having an accident report can help you with your insurance claim. An accident report is tangible evidence that a crash occurred. It also confirms who was involved in the crash.
Without a crash report, the other driver could deny being involved in an accident with you. The other driver could blame you for causing the accident, even though they were at fault. You could also be cited for failing to report an accident that involved injuries or more than $500 in property damage.
Can I Sue the Other Driver for a Car Accident in Florida?
Many people do not worry about a car accident report because they assume they cannot sue the other driver since Florida is a no-fault insurance state. While many minor car accidents fall under the no-fault insurance provision that prevents victims from suing each other, there are exceptions.
If an accident victim sustains serious injuries, they may have a liability claim against the driver who caused the car accident. A liability claim can include compensation for all economic damages, including lost wages, medical treatment, and out-of-pocket expenses. The claim may also include non-economic damages for pain and suffering.
Insurance companies fight claims to avoid liability for damages. If you have questions about a car accident claim, contact an Orlando car accident lawyer for a free consultation. An attorney reviews your case and advises you of your legal options for pursuing claims for damages.
Contact an Orlando Car Accident lawyer at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law Today
For more information, please contact Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law to schedule a free consultation. We have five convenient locations in Florida, including Orlando, Palm Bay, Melbourne, Cocoa, and Titusville.
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law – Orlando, FL Office
633 E Colonial Dr
Orlando, FL 32803
Phone: (407) 801-3000
Hours: Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Orlando, FL.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 28.5534238,-81.3692001
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law – Palm Bay, FL Office
4620 Lipscomb Street N.E Suite #3K
Palm Bay, FL 32905
Phone: (321) 677-5964
Hours: Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Palm Bay, FL.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 28.039083,-80.6083109
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law – Melbourne, FL Office
1600 W Eau Gallie Blvd #205j
Melbourne, FL 32935
Phone: (321) 450-7134
Hours: Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Melbourne, FL.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 28.1289147,-80.6461588
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law – Cocoa, FL Office
717 S Cocoa Blvd STE 203
Cocoa, FL 32922
(321) 449-8042
Hours: Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Cocoa, FL.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 28.3511613,-80.7312948
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law – Titusville, FL Office
4527 S Hopkins Ave Suite B
Titusville, FL 32780
Phone: (407) 801-3000
Hours: Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Titusville, FL.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates:28.5584923,-80.8010051