What to Do After a Car Accident in California

The most expensive mistake most people make after a California car accident has nothing to do with the crash itself. It is what they say in the first 60 seconds. 

This guide covers 10 specific steps: what to do, what to file, and what never to say, grounded in California law and the exact situations our attorneys have handled. Following these steps costs nothing. Skipping them can cost significantly more than you realize.

10 Steps to Take After a Car Accident in California

Step 1: Make Sure Everyone Is Safe

If you can move the vehicles out of traffic without risk, do so and turn on your hazard lights immediately. Do not move anyone who is unconscious or complaining of neck, back, or head pain; unnecessary movement can worsen spinal injuries. Check yourself and your passengers for visible injuries before checking the other vehicle.

Step 2: Call 911

Under California Vehicle Code §20008 injury accident reporting, any accident resulting in injury or death must be reported to law enforcement within 24 hours. In practice, call 911 immediately so that CHP or local police can respond to the scene. For damage-only accidents, you can reach the CHP non-emergency line to report. Even when injuries seem minor, a responding officer is the most reliable way to establish an official record of the crash. Without a police response, fault disputes become significantly harder to resolve.

For accidents in the greater Los Angeles area, our guide to car accident claims in San Bernardino County covers the specific CHP district that handles collision reports in that area.

Step 3: Do Not Admit Fault — No Matter What

This is the most important step in this guide. Do not apologize. Do not say “I didn’t see you coming.” Do not say “I wasn’t paying attention.” Even a statement you intend as polite can be used against you in the claims process.

Here is why it matters. One of our clients made a left turn and was involved in a collision. The insurer initially assessed them at 85% at fault. We challenged that assessment, not by apologizing or accepting the insurer’s narrative, but by building the actual evidentiary record of what happened. The final settlement was reached with zero comparative fault attributed to our client.

Under California comparative fault law (Civil Code §1714), California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, established through Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804. Under this doctrine, your recovery is reduced by whatever percentage of fault is attributed to you. Even if you were partially at fault for the crash, you may still recover, but every statement you make at the scene becomes part of the record that determines that percentage.

Stick to facts. Tell the police what happened in the sequence it occurred. Do not speculate. Do not accept blame in the hope of de-escalating the situation. For a full explanation of how fault is established in California car accident cases, see our guide on California’s comparative fault rules.

Step 4: Exchange Information

California Vehicle Code §16000 requires every driver involved in an accident to provide their full name, current address, driver’s license number, vehicle registration, and insurance information to other parties involved. Refusing to do so is a misdemeanor.
Collect the following from every driver: full name and phone number, driver’s license number, license plate, vehicle make and model, insurance company name, and policy number. If there are passengers who witnessed the crash, note their contact information as well.

Step 5: Document the Scene

Before any vehicles are moved beyond what is needed for safety, photograph everything. This means vehicle positions, all visible damage to every vehicle involved, skid marks, road surface conditions, relevant signage, traffic signals, and any visible injuries. Time-stamped photos from your phone are admissible evidence. If there are witnesses who stopped, get their names and phone numbers before they leave; independent witness accounts matter most in accidents where drivers dispute the sequence of events.

Step 6: Get the Police Report Number

When the responding officer completes their documentation, ask for the Traffic Collision Report (TCR) number before leaving the scene. This number is what you will use to request the full report later. In California, the reporting officer can confirm on site whether a report will be filed or whether you will need to self-report. The TCR is one of the most important documents for any insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit; it establishes the official record of the crash, the parties involved, and the officer’s preliminary assessment. You can request your report afterward through the California Highway Patrol collision report portal.

Step 7: File the DMV SR-1 Form

California law requires you to file a Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR-1) with the DMV within 10 days if the accident resulted in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $750. Failure to file can result in suspension of your driver’s license. 

This requirement applies regardless of who was at fault and regardless of whether law enforcement responded. Download the DMV SR-1 form from the California DMV website and file within the 10-day window.

Step 8: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Go to an emergency room, urgent care, or your primary care physician the same day, even if you feel fine at the scene. Delayed-onset injuries are extremely common in car accidents. Whiplash, concussions, disc herniations, and internal injuries frequently do not present full symptoms for 24 to 72 hours after impact. The gap between an accident and your first medical visit is the single most consistent argument insurance adjusters use to minimize or deny claims; they argue that if you were truly injured, you would have sought care sooner.

Your medical records from the first visit establish the causal link between the crash and your injuries. Without that documentation, the connection is harder to prove. Keep every bill, every referral, and every follow-up record. Emotional distress after a car accident is also a legally compensable category of harm that should be addressed with your treating provider and documented from the outset. Understanding how medical bills are handled in a personal injury claim will help you understand what to keep and why it matters for your recovery.

Step 9: Notify Your Insurance Company But Know What to Say

Report the accident to your own insurance company with the following: the date, time, and location of the crash, the vehicles and drivers involved, and whether injuries occurred. Keep your statement factual and brief. Do not speculate about fault. Do not estimate speeds. Do not characterize your injuries as minor before you have a medical evaluation.

Here is what many accident victims do not know: you are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Their adjuster is not on your side. Recorded statements given before you fully understand your injuries or the fault picture can be used to reduce your payout significantly. If you are uninsured in a California accident, or if the other driver was uninsured, that situation has additional steps that require specific handling. Before giving any recorded statement to any insurer other than your own, speak with an attorney.

The other driver’s insurance company may also reach out directly, sometimes within a day or two of the crash. That conversation is different from notifying your own insurer, and it carries different risks. Before you pick up, read our guide on talking to the other driver’s insurance company.

Step 10: Contact a Car Accident Attorney Before the Insurance Company Contacts You

Insurance companies move fast after an accident. Their adjusters are trained to contact victims early, often before injuries are fully assessed and before fault has been properly established, because early contact produces statements that benefit the insurer. Everything said in those first conversations becomes part of the record that determines what percentage of fault is assigned to you under California’s pure comparative negligence framework.

A car accident attorney in Glendale can step in before that process begins. At Court House Lawyers, George Mkrtchyan, Esq. handles every case directly from intake through resolution — no case managers, no handoffs. Every conversation about your case goes through your attorney. If you are filing a personal injury claim after a car accident, understanding the full scope of what you can recover is something an attorney who has handled these cases before can map out for you in a free consultation.

If you have been in a car accident in California and are not sure what to do next, call Court House Lawyers at (818) 293-8293. We offer free consultations and will tell you exactly where you stand before you speak to any insurance company.

What Not to Do After a Car Accident in California

Knowing what to avoid is just as important as the 10 steps above. These are the mistakes that most damage a claim:

Do not leave the scene. Leaving before exchanging information and waiting for police is a hit-and-run under California law, regardless of how minor the crash appeared.

Do not post about the accident on social media. Insurance adjusters actively monitor public accounts. A photo of you at dinner three days after the crash, or a status update about how you are “doing better,” can be used to challenge your injury claims. See how social media affects a personal injury claim before posting anything.

Do not accept the first settlement offer. Early settlement offers are made before your injuries are fully known and before the evidentiary record is complete. They are almost always lower than what a fully documented claim would produce. This is particularly common with soft tissue injuries that worsen over days or weeks.

Do not skip medical care. Every day without a medical visit is a gap the insurer will exploit. Get checked out, follow your treatment plan, and keep records.

Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. You are under no legal obligation to do so. Do not do it without first consulting an attorney.

FAQ: What to Do After a Car Accident in California

Not sure whether you need an attorney after your accident? That is exactly the kind of question we answer for free. Contact Court House Lawyers today at (818) 293-8293 or through the contact form.