What Should I Do After a Car Accident in California?
The short answer
Start with safety and medical needs, then document the scene, exchange information and tell your insurer. A DMV report is a separate step with its own deadline: the DMV's SR-1 instructions describe reporting within 10 days when someone is injured or killed, or when property damage exceeds $1,000. Who is at fault is decided later, not at the scene.
General information, not legal advice. Coverage and claim outcomes depend on policy terms and individual facts.
First: safety and emergency help
Check yourself and everyone else first. If anyone may be hurt, or if there is fire, smoke, leaking fluid or a hazard to traffic, call 911. Move to a safe place if you can do so safely, and turn on hazard lights. Vehicles can be replaced; people cannot.
Injuries are not always obvious at the scene. If you are unsure, whether to get medical attention is a decision for you and a medical professional, not for this website.
Document and exchange information
When it is safe, collect the basics. Not every item will be available in every accident.
- Names, phone numbers and insurance details of the other drivers, and plate numbers.
- Photos of all vehicles, the road, signs, signals and any visible damage, from several angles.
- Names and contact details of witnesses.
- The date, time and location, the name or badge number of any officer, and how to get a report.
Stick to facts. You do not need to guess about speed, blame or injuries, and a short, accurate statement is better than a long speculative one. Deciding fault is a matter for insurers and, if necessary, other processes, not for the roadside conversation.
Notify your insurer
The California Department of Insurance's guide for people who have had an accident explains the claims process and what to expect from an insurer. Your policy will say how and when to report a claim, so read it or call the number on your insurance card. Keep the claim number, adjuster contact details and a note of each conversation.
Reporting a loss to your insurer does not by itself decide how the claim will be handled, whether your insurer or the other party's insurer pays, or what repairs are approved.
Source: California Department of Insurance: Had an auto accident? Claims guide.
DMV reporting is separate from the insurance claim
The California DMV's SR-1 instructions describe a Report of Traffic Accident that must be filed within 10 days in certain cases: when anyone is injured or killed, or when property damage exceeds $1,000. Telling your insurer or the police does not necessarily satisfy that requirement. Read the current DMV form and instructions, because details and thresholds can change.
Source: California DMV: Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR-1) instructions.
Before you decide on a repair shop
You do not have to choose a shop at the scene. Do not agree to repairs, or sign anything you do not understand, while you are still sorting out the accident. Read can I choose my own body shop in California? and, if you are unsure whether the car is safe to move, can I drive my car after an accident?
A short checklist
- Everyone is safe and, if needed, 911 has been called.
- Photos, other drivers' details and witness contacts are saved.
- Your insurer has been told and you have a claim number.
- You have checked whether a DMV SR-1 report applies, and noted the 10-day deadline.
- You are keeping receipts, messages and medical records in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to report an accident to the DMV if my insurer already knows?
They are separate steps. The DMV's SR-1 instructions describe a report within 10 days when someone is injured or killed, or when property damage exceeds $1,000. Check the current DMV form to see whether it applies to you.
Should I say the accident was my fault?
State what happened as accurately as you can and avoid guessing. Fault is determined later from the facts, the policies and the applicable rules.
Sources
Public sources used for this guide. Check them for the current wording, because rules and guidance can change.
Next steps
Capital Collision Center is a Van Nuys collision repair shop. If you have a vehicle to look at, request an estimate online or call (818) 472-9222 and our team will follow up. Read more about insurance claim assistance, or browse all post-accident guides.
General information, not legal advice. Coverage and claim outcomes depend on policy terms and individual facts.