By Mike Redondo, Founding Attorney, Redondo Law, P.A. • October 2026
After a Palmetto Expressway accident, get yourself out of danger first, then call 911. Once you are safe, collect evidence, see a doctor within 14 days, and be careful about what you say to the other driver’s insurance company.
The Palmetto (SR 826) carries heavy traffic through Miami Gardens, Hialeah, Doral and Kendall. Shoulders are narrow in places and cars pass at high speed. That makes the minutes after a crash risky. Here is what to do, in order.
Get safe before you do anything else
A second crash is a real danger on a highway. If your car still moves and no one is seriously hurt, steer it out of the travel lanes and onto the shoulder or the next exit. Turn on your hazard lights.
If the car will not move, think hard before you get out. Standing between stopped cars or next to moving traffic is dangerous. In many cases it is safer to stay belted in with your hazards on until help arrives. If you must get out, exit on the side away from traffic and move behind the guardrail or barrier.
Call 911 and wait for the Florida Highway Patrol
Call 911 right away. Tell the operator which direction you are heading and the nearest exit, such as NW 36th Street, Okeechobee Road or the Dolphin Expressway interchange. The Florida Highway Patrol handles crashes on the Palmetto, so a trooper will usually respond instead of a city police officer.
Ask for an ambulance if anyone is hurt. Tell the trooper what happened in plain terms. Do not guess about speed or distance, and do not say the crash was your fault. Ask the trooper for the crash report number before you leave.
- Move to the shoulder or an exit if you safely can, and turn on your hazards.
- Call 911. Give your direction of travel and the nearest exit.
- Take photos of the cars, the lanes, skid marks and your injuries.
- Get names and phone numbers from witnesses before they drive away.
- Trade license, tag and insurance details with the other driver.
- Get the crash report number from the trooper.
- See a doctor within 14 days, even if you feel fine.
Take photos and find witnesses
Evidence on a highway disappears fast. Tow trucks clear the cars and traffic starts moving again. If it is safe, use your phone to take pictures of every vehicle, the damage, the tags, the lane markings, any debris and the weather. Take a wide shot that shows where the cars ended up.
Witnesses on a highway rarely wait around. If someone stops to help, ask for a name and phone number right then. A neutral witness can matter a great deal when two drivers tell different stories. If you have a dashcam, save the video and make a copy.
See a doctor within 14 days
Florida is a no-fault state. Your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays 80% of your medical bills and 60% of your lost wages, up to $10,000, no matter who caused the crash. But there is a catch.
The Florida rule
You must get initial medical care within 14 days of the crash. If you wait longer, your PIP insurer can refuse to pay your medical bills. And unless a medical provider finds you have an “emergency medical condition,” PIP medical benefits are limited to $2,500.
Neck, back and head injuries often feel minor on the first day and get worse later. Go to an emergency room, urgent care or your doctor soon, and tell them every symptom.
Get the crash report
The trooper’s report lists the drivers, the insurance companies, the witnesses and the trooper’s diagram of the crash. Reports are usually ready within about ten days. You can request yours through the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles crash portal online. Check it for mistakes. If something is wrong, tell us and we can ask the agency to correct it.
Do not give the other insurer a recorded statement
The other driver’s insurance company may call you within days. The adjuster may sound friendly and ask to record your version of events. You have no duty to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. Small things you say, like “I’m fine” or “I didn’t see him,” can be used later to reduce your claim.
Your own policy is different. It usually requires you to cooperate with your own insurer, so do report the crash to your company promptly.
Most Florida injury claims must be filed in court within two years of the crash. That sounds like a long time, but video gets erased and witnesses get harder to find. Starting early protects your claim.
If you were hurt on the Palmetto, our team can get the report, deal with the insurance companies and explain your options. Learn more on our Miami car accident lawyer page or call (305) 908-6778. The consultation is free and our phones are answered 24/7.
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