Last updated on November 4th, 2026 at 10:33 pm
After a California car accident, put safety first, exchange the required information and make a record of what happened. Then check three separate reporting tasks: law enforcement, DMV and your insurer. Completing one does not necessarily complete the others.
The sequence below separates what matters at the scene from what can be organized once you are somewhere safe.
At the scene: people before photographs
Stop. If anyone is hurt, call 911 and follow emergency responders’ instructions. Do not step into traffic or approach a dangerous vehicle to collect evidence. Missing a photograph is better than creating another emergency.
Exchange the required driver, vehicle and insurance information. The California DMV’s collision instructions identify the information drivers must provide, including their driver’s license, vehicle registration, insurance information and current address.
When safe, record:
- Vehicles: license plates, damage and the information exchanged with drivers.
- Surroundings: a wider view of the road, lane markings, signs and visibility—not only close-ups of damage.
- Witnesses: names and a way to contact them.
- Officers: the responding agency and any report or incident number provided.
Once safe: write what you remember
A short factual note is easier to make while the details are fresh. Include the time, location and sequence you remember. Mark uncertainty rather than filling a gap.
Keep original photographs and messages. Add later information as a new dated entry rather than changing the original account to match it.
Three reporting tasks to check separately
- Law enforcement: DMV says a collision involving injury or death must be reported to law enforcement within 24 hours. Confirm how that requirement is being handled; an insurance-information exchange is not the same as a report.
- DMV: an SR-1 is required within 10 days if anyone is injured or killed, or property damage is more than $1,000. DMV says this report is additional to reports made to police, CHP or an insurance company.
- Your insurer: check the policy’s reporting instructions, obtain a claim number and confirm how to send the requested documents.
Use the official SR-1 instructions for the current filing route. Keep confirmations. If someone says they filed for you, confirm what was filed and with which agency.
If you need the police record, see how to request a Los Angeles traffic collision report.
Over the next few days: care, repairs and paperwork
Questions about symptoms and treatment belong with a healthcare professional. Keep the instructions, appointment records and bills you receive; an online guide cannot determine what care you need.
For the vehicle, record where it is being kept, the shop’s contact details and any towing or storage charges. The car-repair guide explains the questions to separate before authorizing work.
Put requests from insurers and other parties together. Identify response dates and signature requests. Obtain an explanation of what each document requires rather than assuming it covers only the issue you discussed on the phone.
For a recorded interview request, review what to check before giving a recorded statement.
An accident note you can copy
- Accident date, time and location:
- What I personally saw or heard:
- Driver, vehicle and witness details:
- Report and insurance claim numbers:
- Reports filed, dates and confirmations:
- Where the vehicle is now:
- Documents or decisions I need explained:
You do not need a perfect file before asking an injury-related question. Tell John what happened or call (888) 508-6806. Mention an approaching date at the beginning.
General information, not legal or medical advice about a particular accident. Reporting duties and other deadlines require individual review.
