What happens if I don't see a doctor within 14 days after a car accident in Florida

Use the free tool — Car Accident Clock FL

The 14-day rule for PIP in Florida

Florida's no-fault insurance law, §627.736, generally requires you to get medical care within 14 days of a car accident. This applies even if you feel fine right after the crash.

What you risk if you miss the 14-day window

If you wait longer than 14 days to see a doctor, you risk losing your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits under Florida law. This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your specific situation with a professional or with your insurer.

What Florida PIP pays — and doesn't

When care is obtained in time, Florida PIP is generally designed to pay:

80% of medical bills
60% of lost wages
Up to a combined $10,000 in benefits

PIP also has a deductible, and it is separate from collision coverage and from the other driver's property-damage liability. The material here doesn't state the deductible amount — check your own policy or ask your insurer.

Other Florida deadlines and rules to know

You generally have 2 years from the crash date to file a claim or lawsuit, under HB 837 (§95.11). Deadlines can have exceptions and depend on facts that cannot be verified here.
Florida applies a modified comparative-fault rule (§768.81), which can affect what you recover.
Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer before getting advice.
Personal-injury consultations in Florida are typically free and contingency-based. There's usually no cost to check first if you have injuries beyond soreness.

What to do next

Car Accident Clock FL is a free tool, available in English and Spanish, that reads your own description of the crash and its date. Describe what happened, and it computes your 14-day PIP deadline and your 2-year statute-of-limitations date from your crash date, explains what your policy is meant to pay, tells you what not to sign or say, and can draft a claim letter to your own carrier. It doesn't file claims or lawsuits and cannot assess fault or value your case. It's not affiliated with any insurer, clinic, law firm, or agency. This material doesn't say whether what you type is stored, so avoid entering more personal detail than you need. This is not legal advice — confirm your situation with a professional.

Use the free tool

Car Accident Clock FL is an informational tool based on Florida Statutes 627.736, 627.737, 95.11 and 768.81 (as amended by HB 837, 2023) as of 2025–26. It is not legal advice, does not file claims or lawsuits, and cannot assess fault or value. Deadlines have exceptions and run from facts this tool cannot verify. It is not affiliated with any insurer, clinic, law firm or agency.