What to do after a car accident in Pensacola
Seven steps, in order. Follow them and you’ll protect your health, your claim, and your wallet — and skip every trap insurers and tow yards set for stressed-out drivers.
- 1
Check for injuries and get safe
Safety first, always. Check yourself and passengers, call 911 immediately if anyone is hurt. If the vehicles are drivable and you're on a busy road like Davis Hwy, I-110, or US-98, move to a shoulder or parking lot and turn on hazards.
- 2
Call law enforcement
In Florida, crashes with injury or apparent damage of $500+ should be reported. For Pensacola city streets that's PPD; county roads, the Escambia or Santa Rosa Sheriff; highways, FHP. Get the officer's name and the crash report number — your insurer will want it.
- 3
Document everything with your phone
Photograph all vehicles from multiple angles (wide shots and close-ups), license plates, the road, skid marks, traffic signs, and any visible injuries. Grab names and numbers of witnesses. Two minutes of photos can save your entire claim later.
- 4
Exchange information — and only information
Swap names, phone numbers, insurance carriers, and policy numbers. Be polite, but don't argue fault or say 'I'm sorry' — fault gets decided by the report and the insurers, and roadside statements can be used against you.
- 5
Notify your insurance company (stick to facts)
Report the accident promptly — most policies require it. Give the facts: time, place, vehicles, report number. You do NOT have to accept their repair recommendations or record a detailed statement about fault on the spot.
- 6
Know your rights when they mention 'preferred shops'
Here's where most drivers get steered: your insurer will suggest their network shop. Florida Statute §626.9743 gives you the absolute right to choose ANY licensed body shop. Their list serves their costs. Politely say: 'My vehicle is going to No Sweat Automotive, 1019 W Leonard St, Pensacola.'
- 7
Call us — and hand off the whole mess
One call to (850) 261-8728 and we take over: towing coordinated (before storage fees pile up), the claim opened and documented, a rental car arranged, and your repair scheduled. You've done your part. The rest is our job.
Why the first 72 hours matter
The three days after a wreck decide how smooth everything else goes. Storage fees at tow yards grow daily. Insurers push hardest toward their network shops early, while you’re most stressed. And repair queues — especially during hurricane season — fill on a first-committed, first-served basis. Choosing your shop quickly locks in your rights, stops the meter, and starts your repair. That’s why we answer fast: (850) 261-8728, with 24/7 towing and claim coordination.
Accident questions, answered
Should I get my estimate before or after filing the claim?
File the claim promptly (your policy requires timely notice), then have YOUR chosen shop write the real estimate. Insurer photo-estimates almost always miss hidden damage; ours is based on the actual vehicle and becomes the working document we negotiate from.
My car isn't drivable. Who handles towing?
We do — call us first at (850) 261-8728 and we'll coordinate the tow straight to our shop. If it's already at a tow yard, call anyway: every day it sits there adds storage fees, and we can usually arrange transfer the same day.
The other driver's insurance is calling me. What do I say?
You're not obligated to give the at-fault party's insurer a recorded statement. Share the crash report number and refer repair questions to your shop. If injuries are involved, consider speaking with an attorney before any recorded statement.
How fast should I choose a body shop?
Within the first day or two if you can. Early shop choice stops storage fees, gets the claim documented correctly from the start, prevents steering pressure, and puts you at the front of the repair queue — which matters enormously during Gulf Coast storm season.