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The Checklist:

What To Do After An Auto Accident in California

Published: 8/29/2025. Last Updated: 8/29/2025

□ Step 1: Ensure Safety

  • Turn on your hazard lights.

  • Check yourself and your passengers for any immediate injuries.

  • If anyone is hurt, or if the accident is serious, call 911 immediately for medical help and to get a police report.

  • If the vehicles are drivable and causing a hazard, move them to the shoulder or a safe area nearby. If they cannot be moved, stay in a safe location.

□ Step 2: Document Everything (Your Phone is Your Best Tool)

  • Take pictures before moving vehicles, if it is safe to do so. If you’ve already moved them, photograph the final positions.

  • What to photograph: Damage to all vehicles, license plates, the overall scene (street signs, traffic lights, skid marks, weather conditions), and any visible injuries.

Don’t forget: A picture of the other driver’s license and insurance card is the easiest way to exchange information accurately.

□ Step 3: Exchange Information

Politely obtain:

  1. Driver Info: Full Name, Driver’s License Number, and Phone Number

  2. Insurance Details: Company name, policy number, and phone number

  3. Vehicle Information: Make, model, year, and license plate number

□ Step 4: The 911 Question—To Call or Not to Call?

Call 911 for serious accidents, injuries, hit-and-runs, or if the other driver is uncooperative, uninsured, or appears impaired. A police report is crucial evidence.

You may not need to call 911 for a very minor, private property accident with no injuries and cooperative drivers.

□ Step 5: Should You See a Doctor?

  • Seek immediate medical attention for any obvious pain, dizziness, or disorientation.

  • Even if you feel "fine," be aware that adrenaline can mask pain. Symptoms of whiplash or soft-tissue injuries often appear hours later. It is always wise to get checked by a doctor within 24-48 hours to rule out hidden injuries and create a medical record.

□ Step 6: Navigating the Insurance Talk

  • You must report the accident to your own insurance company. Stick to the basic facts: date, time, location, and the other driver’s information.

  • You are NOT obligated to give a detailed, recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. It is often best to politely decline and say you will need to consult your own insurer or legal counsel first.

□ Step 7: Further Documentation for Significant Injuries or Disputes

  • If you've been injured or foresee a complex claim, begin a daily log. Note your pain levels, missed appointments or workdays, sleep difficulties, and how your injuries affect your mood and daily routine. This journal creates a powerful record of your experience.

  • Preserve physical evidence related to your injuries or the severity of the impact, such as torn clothing or a broken phone. Hold off on repairing your vehicle until it has been thoroughly documented and inspected.

□ DMV Reporting (if applicable): In California, you are required to file a written report with the DMV (SR-1 form) within 10 days if there is over $1,000 in damage or any injury.

🚨AVOID These Mistakes!

  • Don’t discuss fault or admit blame at the scene or on social media. Even a simple “I’m sorry” can be construed as an admission of responsibility.

  • Don’t sign anything from the other driver or their insurance company.

  • Don’t accept a quick settlement offer before you understand the full extent of your damages.

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