7 Steps To Take If You’ve Been in a Car Accident

If you were hurt in a California car accident, stop, call 911, help anyone injured, exchange information and get medical care the same day. Then document the scene and report the crash to the DMV within 10 days when required (Vehicle Code section 16000). Avoid recorded statements to the other driver’s insurer until you have legal advice. The Law Offices of J. Chrisp answers 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).

Table of Contents

What to do after a car accident in California, step by step

Stop and stay at the scene. California law requires a driver in a crash that injures or kills another person to stop (Vehicle Code section 20001).
Call 911. Ask for police and an ambulance if anyone is hurt. On state highways, the California Highway Patrol generally takes the report; on city streets, the city police.
Help anyone who is injured, as far as you safely can, and move out of traffic if your car is drivable.
Exchange information with the other driver. Get the other driver’s insurance information too.
Get medical care the same day, at the emergency room, urgent care or your doctor, even if you feel only sore.
Photograph everything: vehicle damage, the road, skid marks, signals, signs, weather and your injuries.
Get witness names and phone numbers. Note any business or home cameras that may have recorded the crash.
If you were driving, report the crash to the DMV on form SR-1 within 10 days if anyone was hurt or killed or property damage is over $1,000.
Notify your own insurance company promptly, as your policy requires.
Decline a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer until you have legal advice.
Keep records of medical visits, bills, missed work, mileage and how you feel each day.
Note the deadlines in the table below, especially if a public vehicle or road was involved.

What California law requires at the scene

A driver involved in a crash that injures or kills another person must stop at the scene (Vehicle Code section 20001). The driver must also give their name, address, vehicle registration number and the owner’s name and address and give reasonable help to anyone injured. That includes arranging transport for medical treatment when it is needed or requested (Vehicle Code section 20003).

Why same-day medical care matters

Same-day care protects your health first. It also creates a medical record of your injuries soon after the crash. Follow the treatment plan and keep your appointments.

Talking to insurance companies after the crash

Report the crash to your own insurer as your policy requires.

Before you have legal advice, do not give the other driver’s insurer a recorded statement or sign a broad medical authorization for it. Do not accept a settlement or sign a release before you know the full extent of your injuries and have legal advice.

Deadlines after a California car accident

Deadline	What it controls	Source
10 days	DMV report (SR-1) by the driver if anyone was hurt or killed or damage is over $1,000	Vehicle Code section 16000
6 months	Written claim if a city, county, Caltrans or other public vehicle or road was involved	Government Code section 911.2
2 years	Most personal injury lawsuits	Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1
3 years	Vehicle and other property damage	Code of Civil Procedure section 338

The six-month government claim deadline under Government Code section 911.2 is much shorter than the two-year deadline for most other injury lawsuits under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.

When should you call a car accident lawyer?

Call a lawyer as soon as you can if any of these apply:

You needed an ambulance, surgery, hospital care or more than a few weeks of treatment.
The other driver or insurer blames you, or the police report is wrong.
The other driver was uninsured, underinsured or fled the scene.
A city, county or state vehicle or road was involved, which means a six-month claim deadline applies.
A commercial truck, delivery van, or Uber or Lyft car was involved.
An insurer is pressing you for a statement or offering a quick settlement.

The Law Offices of J. Chrisp represents injured people. The consultation is free, and there is no fee unless we win. The firm’s results are listed on its case results page. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Frequently asked questions

Should I call 911 after a car accident in California?

Yes, when anyone is hurt. A 911 call can bring medical help and an officer to document the scene. Separately, if you were driving, you must report the crash to the DMV on form SR-1 within 10 days if anyone was hurt or killed or damage is over $1,000.

Should I see a doctor if I feel fine after a car accident?

You should. A same-day visit protects your health and creates a medical record of your injuries soon after the crash.

Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company?

Do not give the other driver’s insurer a recorded statement before you have legal advice. Report the crash to your own insurer as your policy requires.

How long do I have to file a claim after a car accident in California?

Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a public entity is involved, a written claim is generally due within six months under Government Code section 911.2.

How much does it cost to talk to a car accident lawyer?

At the Law Offices of J. Chrisp, the consultation is free and there is no fee unless we win. The firm answers the phone 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).

If you were injured in a car accident in Sonoma, Napa, Lake or Mendocino County or the San Francisco Bay Area, call the Law Offices of J. Chrisp 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477) for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win.

About the Law Offices of J. Chrisp

The Law Offices of J. Chrisp is a Northern California personal injury law firm founded by attorney Jesse Chrisp, who was raised in Lake County. The firm represents injured people, with offices in Lower Lake (main office), Santa Rosa and San Francisco, and serves Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties and the San Francisco Bay Area. Consultations are free, the firm works on a contingency fee with no fee unless the firm wins, and the phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477). The firm was named to Best Law Firms 2026 (Tier 1, Santa Rosa, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs). Jesse Chrisp has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America since 2024 and selected to Super Lawyers from 2023 to 2026.