What to Do After a Car Accident in Los Angeles
A collision can be disorienting. In a matter of seconds, you may have to think about safety, injuries, law enforcement, vehicle damage, insurance, and what to say to the people around you.
The steps below provide a general California checklist. They are not a substitute for emergency assistance, medical advice, or legal advice about your circumstances.
1. Move out of immediate danger when you can do so safely
Stop after the collision. If the crash caused only property damage, California Vehicle Code section 20002 directs the driver to stop at the nearest location that will not impede traffic or jeopardize other motorists. Moving a vehicle for that safety purpose does not decide who was at fault.
If a vehicle cannot be moved safely, activate its hazard lights if possible and avoid standing in active traffic lanes. Follow instructions from law enforcement or emergency personnel.
Call 911 when there is an emergency, including an immediate threat to life or property. The California Highway Patrol advises people involved in a crash to attend first to medical needs and call 911 when necessary.
Source: California Vehicle Code § 20002; California Highway Patrol traffic guidance
2. Check for injuries and seek appropriate medical care
Ask whether anyone needs emergency assistance, but do not attempt treatment beyond your training. Some injuries are immediately apparent; others may become noticeable later.
Medical decisions should be made with qualified healthcare professionals. If you receive care, explain your symptoms accurately and follow the provider’s instructions. Keep copies of discharge instructions, referrals, prescriptions, bills, and appointment information.
Do not delay emergency care to photograph the scene or collect insurance information.
3. Notify the appropriate law-enforcement agency
The California Highway Patrol advises drivers to notify CHP or the police department in the city where the crash occurred. In Los Angeles, the proper agency can depend on the exact location and circumstances.
If officers respond, ask how to obtain the report or incident number. A report may document the parties, vehicles, witnesses, location, apparent injuries, and observations at the scene. It does not necessarily determine every issue in a later insurance claim or lawsuit.
Source: California Highway Patrol traffic guidance
4. Exchange the required information
California law imposes duties on drivers after a crash. Depending on whether the collision involved property damage, injury, or death, those duties can include stopping and providing identifying, vehicle-registration, and other information.
As a practical matter, collect or photograph the following when it is safe:
- Each driver’s name and contact information
- Driver’s-license information
- Vehicle owner’s information if different from the driver
- License-plate number and vehicle description
- Insurance company and policy information
- Contact information for passengers and witnesses
- Law-enforcement agency and report or incident number
Keep the conversation calm and factual. Avoid arguing about fault at the scene.
Source: California Vehicle Code, Division 10 accident-reporting duties
5. Preserve photographs, video, and physical evidence
If your condition and the scene allow it, document:
- The positions and visible damage of all vehicles
- The roadway, lanes, traffic controls, skid marks, debris, and nearby construction
- Weather, lighting, and visibility
- Visible injuries, when appropriate and respectful
- Nearby businesses, homes, transit vehicles, or intersections that may have cameras
- The other vehicle’s identifying features
Save original files rather than relying only on copies posted to a social-media platform. Preserve dash-camera footage promptly because some devices overwrite old recordings. Do not alter or dispose of a seriously damaged vehicle before obtaining appropriate advice if its condition may be important evidence.
6. Write down what you remember
As soon as you reasonably can, record your recollection of:
- The direction and lane in which each vehicle was traveling
- Traffic-light or stop-sign conditions
- Approximate speeds, distances, and sequence of impacts
- What you saw and heard immediately before and after the crash
- Statements made by drivers or witnesses
- Pain, dizziness, confusion, or other symptoms
- The agencies and emergency providers that responded
Separate what you personally observed from what someone else told you. Do not guess when you do not know an answer.
7. Understand California’s separate DMV reporting requirement
A police or CHP report does not replace the driver’s potential duty to report the collision to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
According to the DMV, a driver—or the driver’s insurance agent, broker, or legal representative—must submit an SR-1 report within 10 days when anyone was injured, however minor the injury may appear, anyone was killed, or property damage exceeded $1,000. The DMV states that this requirement applies regardless of fault and is separate from reports made to police, CHP, or an insurer.
The DMV’s threshold and instructions can change. Confirm the current requirement directly on the DMV website rather than relying on an old form or article.
Official filing resource: California DMV SR-1 accident reporting
8. Notify your insurer, but be deliberate about statements and documents
An insurance policy may require prompt notice and cooperation. Review the policy and report the collision accurately. At the same time, remember that different insurers have different roles:
- Your insurer has contractual duties under your policy.
- The other driver’s insurer represents its insured’s interests.
- Commercial, rideshare, employer, uninsured-motorist, underinsured-motorist, and medical-payments coverage may require separate analysis.
Before signing a release, providing broad authorizations, accepting a settlement, or giving a recorded statement when you are uncertain about your obligations, consider obtaining individualized legal advice. A signed settlement release can affect the ability to pursue further compensation.
9. Organize records of your injuries and financial losses
Create a secure file for:
- Medical records, bills, referrals, and prescriptions
- Mileage and transportation related to treatment
- Time missed from work
- Employer correspondence and income records
- Repair estimates, towing, rental-car, and storage charges
- Insurance letters, emails, claim numbers, and notes from calls
- Receipts for out-of-pocket expenses related to the collision
Accurate records are more useful than estimates reconstructed months later. Protect your privacy and do not send sensitive medical, financial, or identification information through an ordinary website contact form.
10. Get advice promptly when the injuries or issues are serious
Consider speaking with a qualified California attorney when:
- Someone suffered a serious, lasting, or fatal injury
- Responsibility is disputed
- Several vehicles or parties were involved
- The crash involved a truck, rideshare vehicle, employer, defective product, or dangerous roadway condition
- A driver was uninsured or underinsured
- A government entity may be involved
- An insurer denies coverage, disputes treatment, or pressures you to settle
- Important video, vehicle, or electronic evidence may disappear
- You are uncertain about a deadline
Deadlines depend on the claim, the parties, and other circumstances. Claims involving a public entity may involve procedures and time limits different from an ordinary injury claim. Do not assume that a general deadline found online applies to your situation.
Mistakes to avoid after a Los Angeles collision
Common problems include:
- Leaving the scene without fulfilling applicable duties
- Delaying necessary medical attention
- Failing to preserve photographs, video, or witness information
- Assuming that a police report automatically satisfies the DMV’s SR-1 requirement
- Posting detailed accounts, photographs, or activity updates publicly
- Signing a release without understanding its effect
- Exaggerating, minimizing, or guessing about facts or symptoms
- Waiting until evidence is lost or a deadline is close
The safest approach is to be truthful, organized, and careful about decisions that cannot easily be reversed.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to file an SR-1 if the police came to the scene?
Potentially, yes. The California DMV states that the SR-1 requirement is separate from a report made to police, CHP, or an insurance company. The current DMV rule requires reporting within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed or property damage exceeded $1,000.
Does filing an SR-1 mean I was at fault?
No. The DMV describes the SR-1 as a reporting requirement that applies regardless of fault. Filing the report does not, by itself, resolve liability.
Should I move my vehicle after a Los Angeles accident?
Safety comes first. For a property-damage-only collision, California Vehicle Code section 20002 directs the driver to stop at the nearest location that does not impede traffic or jeopardize other motorists. Injury crashes involve additional duties, and drivers should follow emergency and law-enforcement instructions.
Should I post photographs of the accident online?
Public posts can be copied, misunderstood, or reviewed during a claim. Preserve original photographs securely and consider keeping details off public social media while the matter is unresolved.
What if the other driver left the scene?
Prioritize safety and medical needs, notify law enforcement, and preserve whatever identifying information is available. Photograph the scene and damage, ask witnesses what they observed, and promptly notify the appropriate insurer. Uninsured-motorist or other coverage may be relevant depending on the policy and facts.
How soon should I contact a lawyer?
There is no single answer for every collision. Prompt advice can be especially important when injuries are serious, responsibility or coverage is disputed, evidence may disappear, a commercial or government defendant is involved, or you are unsure about deadlines.
Talk with a Los Angeles car accident attorney
Masjedi & Associates evaluates car-accident claims in Los Angeles and throughout California. To request a confidential consultation, call (800) 800-6512 or use the firm’s contact form.
Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not send confidential or time-sensitive information until the firm confirms representation in writing.
Editorial disclaimer
This article provides general information about California law and accident-response considerations. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, agency procedures, and reporting thresholds may change. Consult the current official sources and obtain advice about your individual circumstances.