What to do after a California car accident

Start with safety and the information people need

If anyone needs emergency help or the scene presents an immediate danger, call 911. Do not step into moving traffic to photograph damage. Follow emergency personnel's directions, and leave vehicle movement decisions to what is safe and appropriate for the situation.

The California Driver's Handbook explains the duty to stop and exchange information. Obtain the other driver's name, contact details, driver's license information, registration information, insurer, and policy number. Photograph documents only with permission and when safe. Record vehicle plates, the location, travel directions, and the time.

Get witness names and a reliable way to reach them. Ask what they personally observed rather than suggesting an explanation. If officers respond, note their agency and the incident or report number. That agency name will matter when requesting the report.

Treat each reporting requirement separately

There are several reporting channels, with different purposes:

• Law enforcement: For an ordinary driver, California Vehicle Code section 20008 generally requires a written report to CHP or the appropriate city police within 24 hours when someone is injured or killed. Ask the responding agency what it has documented and whether any further report is required. Read the statutory reporting requirement.
• DMV: Submit an SR-1 within 10 days when anyone is injured or killed, or damage to any one person's property exceeds $1,000. This report is separate from a police or insurance report. A representative may submit it for you. Use the DMV's official SR-1 instructions.
• Your insurer: Give prompt notice using the claims channel in your policy. Save the claim number and ask which documents and policy deadlines apply.

Do not wait for a repair estimate, completed police investigation, or settlement negotiation to begin checking these obligations. If you discover a missed reporting deadline, seek advice promptly rather than assuming a late report resolves every consequence.

Save evidence while it is available

When safe, take wide photographs showing the road layout and closer photographs of vehicle damage, relevant signs, debris, and visible conditions. Preserve the original files, including their dates, instead of keeping only edited screenshots.

Write a short account of what you remember. Separate what you saw from what someone later told you. Record uncertainty honestly, such as an estimated time or a speed you did not actually measure.

• Back up dashcam recordings and any relevant messages.
• Identify nearby businesses or homes with cameras and ask about preserving footage.
• Save towing, storage, rental, repair, and transportation documents.
• Keep damaged property available for inspection when practicable, while addressing safety and storage issues promptly.

These records may help explain the event even if the other driver initially agrees with your account. Do not stage photographs or alter relevant messages.

Keep treatment and claim records together

Seek appropriate medical attention and follow your clinician's advice. Tell the provider accurately what happened and which symptoms you have noticed. This guide cannot determine whether an injury is minor or which treatment you need.

Create a folder for visit summaries, bills, insurance explanations of benefits, receipts, and work restrictions. A simple dated log can record missed shifts, appointments, and practical limitations without exaggeration. If transportation, cost, or scheduling interferes with care, communicate that problem to the provider and keep a note of the discussion.

Know who is contacting you

Confirm whether a caller represents your insurer or another party's insurer. Ask for a name, claim number, and written explanation of any document request. Your policy may require cooperation with an investigation, so do not ignore your own carrier. The Department of Insurance's accident guide explains how the claims investigation can proceed.

Before signing a release or accepting a payment described as a final settlement, understand which claims it resolves. An unresolved injury, an unfamiliar authorization, or a dispute over responsibility is a reason to obtain case-specific advice.

Check legal deadlines before waiting for the claim

Many California injury lawsuits have a two-year filing period under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Government-related injury claims commonly require an earlier administrative claim under Government Code section 911.2. Exceptions and different claim types can change the analysis.

A claims conversation does not by itself pause a filing deadline. Keep the accident date and all letters available for a legal consultation, especially if a public vehicle, roadway condition, work activity, or child is involved.