Do I have to call the police after a minor accident?

Florida requires that a crash be reported where it involves injury, death, or property damage of at least $500. That threshold is low. Modern bumper repairs routinely exceed it, which means most crashes that look minor meet it.

If no officer investigates a reportable crash, the driver must file a written report within 10 days. That obligation exists whether or not anyone told you about it, and people miss it because they assumed the exchange of information ended the matter.

Why calling is usually right even when it isn't required. An officer-generated report documents the scene, the vehicle positions, and both accounts while they're contemporaneous. Without one, the case becomes your word against theirs — and the other driver's account frequently changes once an insurer is involved.

It also creates a record of when the crash occurred, which matters for the 14-day medical deadline and for any dispute about whether an injury came from this event.