A car accident leaves most people shaken and unsure what to do next. The steps you take in the first hours and days can affect both your physical recovery and any future claim. This is general information, not legal advice.
At the scene
- Check for injuries and call 911. If anyone is hurt, medical care comes first. Requesting law enforcement also creates an official record.
- Move to safety if you can. On a freeway or busy road, staying in traffic is often the greater danger.
- Exchange information — names, contact details, driver's license numbers, insurance carriers and policy numbers, license plates, and vehicle descriptions.
- Photograph everything before vehicles are moved: all vehicles from several angles, final positions, damage, debris, skid marks, traffic controls, road conditions, and lighting.
- Get witness names and numbers. Independent witnesses are frequently decisive, and they disperse within minutes.
- Be careful what you say. Do not speculate about fault or apologize reflexively. A polite "I'm sorry" is regularly repurposed later as an admission.
The two deadlines most drivers do not know
California imposes two separate reporting duties after a collision, and they run on different clocks.
1. Report to police within 24 hours (injury or death)
Under Vehicle Code section 20008, the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person must report it within 24 hours to the CHP — or, where the crash occurred within a city, to either the CHP or the local police department.
2. File a DMV SR-1 within 10 days
Vehicle Code section 16000 requires a driver to report the crash to the DMV within 10 days where it caused injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000. That threshold is low enough that most modern collisions meet it. This duty applies whether or not police responded, and is separate from notifying your insurer.
In the days that follow
- Get examined promptly, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline masks injuries, and soft-tissue and head injuries often surface later. Treatment gaps are among the first things an insurer uses to argue an injury was not serious.
- Notify your own insurer as your policy requires — and if the other driver turns out to be uninsured, see how UM/UIM claims work, which carry their own much shorter deadlines.
- Request the collision report once available — our guide to requesting an accident report explains the process.
- Keep everything: medical records and bills, repair estimates, receipts, mileage to appointments, and a record of work missed.
- Write down what happened while it is fresh, including road conditions and what each driver said.
Mistakes that quietly reduce a claim
- Giving a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer before you understand how fault is being assessed. See dealing with insurance adjusters.
- Accepting a fast settlement before the full extent of your injuries is known. Once you sign a release, the claim is generally closed permanently.
- Posting about the crash on social media. A single photo can be used to dispute your injuries.
- Waiting. Most California injury claims are subject to a two-year deadline, and claims involving a public entity can expire in six months.
If your crash happened in Folsom
The agencies, hospitals, deadlines, and courthouse that apply to a local crash are covered in our complete Folsom car accident guide.
Where a lawyer fits in
Not every fender-bender needs one. But where there are real injuries, disputed fault, multiple vehicles, a commercial or government vehicle, or an insurer already assigning you blame, an early conversation costs nothing. Our California car accident attorneys offer a free case review, and outcomes always depend on the specific facts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to report a car accident in California?
Should I see a doctor even if I feel fine after a crash?
Should I give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company?
How long do I have to file a claim after a California car accident?
Have a question about your situation?
Our California personal injury attorneys offer free, confidential consultations.
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