Are Florida Accident Reports Public Record?

When Will My Florida Accident Report Be Published?

In Florida, according to Title XXIII, Motor Vehicles, Section 316, State Uniform Traffic Control, Sub-Section 316.066(1)(a), a Florida Traffic Crash Report “Long Form” must be completed and submitted to the department within 10 days after an investigation is completed by the law enforcement officer who, in the regular course of duty, investigates a crash that:

1. Resulted in death of, personal injury to, or any indication of complaints of pain or discomfort by any of the parties or passengers involved in the crash,
2. Involved a violation of Section 316.061(1) (damage to property) or Section 316.193 (driving under the influence),
3. Rendered a vehicle inoperable to the degree that required a wrecker to remove it from the scene of the crash, or
4. Involved a commercial vehicle.

What Information Will Be Published in My Accident Report?

The Long Form must include:

1. The date, time, and location of the crash.
2. A description of the vehicles involved.
3. The names and addresses of the parties involved, including all drivers and passengers, and the identification of the vehicle in which each was a driver or a passenger.
4. The names and addresses of witnesses.
5. The name, badge number, and law enforcement agency of the officer investigating the crash.
6. The names of the insurance companies for the respective parties involved in the crash.

The code also includes requirements for a short-form report when a Long Form is not required. These accident reports are quite complicated and can have a lasting impact on your driving record. Therefore, If you have been involved in an accident in Florida, let a Florida auto accident attorney at Searcy Denney help you make sure your accident report is accurate.

Who Will Be Able to View My Florida Accident Report?

Under Code Section 316.066, an accident report may be made immediately available to:

• The parties involved in the crash.
• Each party’s legal representative.
• Each party’s licensed insurance agents.
• Each party’s insurers or insurers to which they have applied for coverage.
• Persons under contract with insurers to provide claims information.
• Prosecutorial authorities.
• Law enforcement authorities.
• The Department of Transportation.
• County traffic operations.
• Victim services programs.
• Radio and television stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and newspapers qualified to publish legal notices.

Sixty days after the date of a collision, car accident reports become public record, and any member of the public may view it.

Contact a Florida Auto Accident Attorney for More Information

Unfortunately, your accident report will only stay confidential for a short period. Therefore, the information contained in it must be accurate. A Florida auto accident attorney at Searcy Denney can help. We offer a free consultation and work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay anything unless you recover. If you need our help, contact us online today.