Auto · Guide #5

What to do after a car accident

Shaken up is normal. This guide walks you through it in order: safety first, then facts, photos, and a calm paper trail for your insurer. One short section at a time, plus a glovebox checklist you can print. Prefer a video? Watch the 54-second Informed Minute (the car accident card).

Written by the Informed Insured team. We’re not licensed insurance agents; this is education, not advice.

Last updated: October 14, 2026 · Sources

Right at the scene: the first few minutes

Stop. Never drive away from a crash you’re involved in. Leaving the scene is a hit-and-run, and the penalties are serious.
Check people first, yourself included. If anyone is hurt, call 911 right away.
Get out of traffic if you can. If no one is hurt and the car can move, pull to the shoulder or a safe spot and turn on your hazard lights.
Hit a parked car or property? Try to find the owner. If you can’t, leave a note with your name, phone number and address, attach it securely, and report it to the police.
Breathe, then document. Once everyone is safe, move on to the next sections: police, info, photos.

Sources: CA DMV Driver’s Handbook, Section 10 · III: What to do at the scene · CA Dept. of Insurance: So you’ve had an accident

Safety and calling the police

Injuries, fire, fuel leaks, or blocked lanes: call 911.
No injuries: you should still try to notify the police. Some departments don’t come out for minor crashes or crashes on private property. If no officer comes, you can usually file a report at the police station or on its website.
If officers come, get their names, badge numbers, and the report number, and ask how to get a copy of the report. Your insurer will likely ask for it.
Hit-and-run: report it to the police quickly. Most policies require you to tell the police within a certain time.

Stay off the road while you wait. If you hit an animal, call the local humane society or the police, and don’t try to move an injured animal.

Sources: CA Dept. of Insurance · III · CA DMV Handbook

Information to swap (and to write down)

Show your driver’s license, registration, insurance card and current address. Get the same from every other driver. Snapping a photo of each document is the fastest way.

Each driverName, address, phone, driver’s license number.

Each vehicleYear, make, model, color, license plate, VIN; the owner, if not the driver.

InsuranceCompany name, policy number, and its phone number from the insurance card.

Witnesses & passengersNames and phone numbers. Witnesses leave fast, so ask early.

Also note the exact location, the time, the weather and road conditions, and the officer’s name and report number if police came. A pen and paper in the glovebox helps if your phone dies.

Sources: CA Dept. of Insurance · III: Four key steps · CA DMV Handbook

Photos to take (only when it’s safe)

Don’t stand in traffic for a picture. When you can, photos are the most useful thing you’ll bring to your claim:

Wide shots of the whole scene from a few angles, showing where the cars ended up.
Every car’s damage, close up and from a few steps back, including the other car(s).
License plates of every vehicle involved.
The road: traffic signals, stop signs, lane markings, skid marks, debris, and anything that blocked your view.
Conditions: weather, lighting, road surface.
Documents: the other driver’s license, registration and insurance card (with permission).
Visible injuries, on the day and over the next days.

Your phone stamps the time and place. Don’t delete anything. Back the photos up, or upload them in your insurer’s app if it has one.

Sources: CA Dept. of Insurance · III · III: How to file an auto claim

Calling your insurer

Tell your insurer as soon as you can, even if the crash seems minor and even if it wasn’t your fault. Many insurers let you start the claim in their app.

Stick to facts: what happened, where, when, who was involved. Don’t guess.
Write down your claim number and the name, title and contact info of everyone you speak with.
Expect questions. The insurer may take a written or recorded statement and contact the other drivers and witnesses.
Fill out claim forms promptly and accurately, and keep copies of everything: estimates, receipts, bills, letters.
Ask about timing: when they’ll contact you, and any deadlines for sending information.

California claim timelines

Under California’s claims rules, an insurer generally has to acknowledge your claim and start investigating within 15 days, and accept or deny it within 40 days after getting proof of the claim. If you think there’s an unreasonable delay, you can contact the California Department of Insurance (1-800-927-4357).

Try not to settle informally with the other driver. Damage often costs more than it looks.

Sources: III: How to file an auto claim · CA Dept. of Insurance: claim timelines · see also Guide #3: How to file a claim

Medical care

Get checked out if you feel hurt at all, even a little. Adrenaline can hide pain, and some injuries show up later. Keep every medical bill, receipt, and record of missed work.

Who pays first? Usually your health insurance pays for your immediate care. Your health insurer may then try to get that money back from your auto insurer or the other driver’s insurer (this is called subrogation).
Medical payments coverage, if your auto policy has it, can pay medical bills for you and your passengers no matter who was at fault.
Kids in car seats: NHTSA recommends replacing a car seat after a moderate or severe crash. A crash only counts as “minor” if all of these are true: the car could be driven away, the door nearest the seat wasn’t damaged, no one was hurt, the airbags didn’t go off, and the seat shows no damage. Ask your insurer whether your policy covers a replacement.

Sources: CA Dept. of Insurance: Automobile Insurance · NHTSA: Car seat use after a crash

Repairs, towing and a rental car

Adjuster: your insurer may send an adjuster or ask for photos to estimate the damage.
Body shop: the insurer may suggest a shop, but in California you can choose your own.
Collision coverage pays to fix your car after hitting another vehicle or an object, minus your deductible. Collision and comprehensive pay based on your car’s market value. Liability-only policies don’t fix your own car.
Rental reimbursement and towing/road service are optional coverages. Check your declarations page to see whether you have them, and the daily and total limits, before you book a rental.
If the other driver caused the crash, you can also claim through their liability insurance. Your insurer can explain the choice.

Sources: CA Dept. of Insurance: Automobile Insurance · CDI auto guide (PDF, 2025)

If the other driver is uninsured, or someone is at fault

Uninsured or underinsured driver

In California, insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. You only lack it if you signed a waiver turning it down. What it can include:

Uninsured motorist bodily injury: injuries to you and your passengers when an uninsured driver is at fault.
Underinsured motorist: helps when the at-fault driver’s insurance isn’t enough to cover injuries.
Uninsured motorist property damage: damage to your car, up to $3,500, if the uninsured driver is identified. You may not need it if you have collision coverage.
Collision deductible waiver: pays your collision deductible when an uninsured driver is at fault.

Who was at fault?

Often both drivers share some fault. The insurers, the police, or a court decide each driver’s share. In California, your insurer can’t raise your premium for an accident that wasn’t your fault. If you’re found at least 51% at fault, your premium can go up at renewal.

If there are serious injuries, a dispute over fault, or a lawsuit, consider talking with a licensed attorney. This guide isn’t legal advice.

Sources: CA Dept. of Insurance: Automobile Insurance · Cal. Insurance Code §11580.26

California specifics

The SR-1 report to the DMV: within 10 days

You must report a crash to the DMV on form SR-1 within 10 days if anyone was injured (even slightly) or killed, or if property damage is over $1,000.

Each driver must file, no matter who caused it, even if it happened on private property.
A police, CHP, or insurance report doesn’t count as your SR-1. Your insurance agent, broker, or legal representative can file it for you.
If you don’t file, the DMV will suspend your driving privilege. A reported crash goes on your driver record whoever caused it.
File online at dmv.ca.gov/accidentreport (a printable form is available too).

Other California rules

If anyone is injured or killed, the crash must be reported to law enforcement within 24 hours.
You must show proof of insurance to the other drivers involved. Driving without required insurance can cost you your license for up to four years if you’re in a crash, whoever caused it.
Claim stuck or unfair? Contact the California Department of Insurance (1-800-927-4357). For some vehicle damage disputes, it has a free, non-binding mediation program.

Rules change. Check the details on dmv.ca.gov before you rely on them.

Sources: CA DMV: SR-1 accident reporting · CA DMV Handbook, Section 10 · CDI: Auto Claims Mediation

Education disclaimer. This guide is plain-English insurance education. It is not legal or insurance advice, a coverage determination, a claim service, or a quote. Informed Insured doesn’t sell insurance or take referral fees. Your policy, your state’s laws, and your insurer’s rules decide outcomes. Always follow instructions from police and emergency responders. For legal questions, talk to a licensed attorney. California rules last checked against dmv.ca.gov and insurance.ca.gov in October 2026.