What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a Car Accident in California
A car accident can leave you shaken, confused, and unsure what to do next. The decisions you make during the first few minutes and hours can affect your health, the evidence available, and any insurance or personal injury claim that follows.
If you are wondering what to do after a car accident in California, start with safety, document the crash carefully, exchange the required information, seek medical attention when needed, notify your insurer, and preserve every record connected to the collision.
Here is a practical California car accident checklist for the first 24 hours.
1. Check for Injuries and Get to Safety
Your first priority should be safety.
Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone is seriously hurt, experiencing significant pain, dizziness, confusion, bleeding, or other concerning symptoms, call 911 and request medical assistance.
If the vehicles can be moved safely and no one appears to have a serious injury that makes movement unsafe, getting out of an active traffic lane may help prevent a secondary collision. Turn on your hazard lights and stay in a safe location.
Do not assume that feeling fine immediately after a crash means you were not injured. Some symptoms can develop later. Our guide to delayed pain after a car accident explains this issue in more detail.
2. Call Police or the California Highway Patrol When Appropriate
Contact law enforcement when someone is injured, the collision is serious, a driver appears impaired, someone leaves the scene, or there is a dispute that may require police assistance.
Depending on where the collision happened, the responding agency may be a local police department or the California Highway Patrol.
If an officer responds, note the officer’s name, agency, badge number, and incident or report number if available. A police or CHP report may later help identify the drivers, witnesses, vehicles, and circumstances surrounding the crash.
3. Exchange Driver, Vehicle, and Insurance Information
One of the most important steps after a California car accident is collecting accurate information from every involved driver.
Record or photograph, when appropriate:
- Full name and contact information
- Driver’s license information
- Vehicle license plate
- Vehicle make, model, and color
- Vehicle registration information
- Insurance company and policy information
- Registered vehicle owner’s information if different from the driver
Double-check the details before leaving the scene. A blurry insurance-card photo or incorrect phone number can create unnecessary problems later.
4. Photograph the Scene Before Evidence Disappears
Physical car accident evidence can change quickly. Vehicles are moved, debris is cleared, traffic resumes, and skid marks or road conditions may become harder to document.
If it is safe, take photographs or video showing:
- All vehicles from multiple angles
- Close-ups of vehicle damage
- Vehicle positions
- License plates
- Broken glass or debris
- Skid marks
- Traffic lights and stop signs
- Lane markings
- Road and weather conditions
- Visible injuries
Take both wide-angle accident scene photos and close-ups. The goal is to preserve what the crash scene looked like before conditions changed.
5. Get Witness Information and Preserve Digital Evidence
Independent witnesses may be able to describe which vehicle entered an intersection first, the color of a traffic signal, or how the collision occurred.
Ask witnesses for their names and contact information before they leave.
Also look for evidence that may exist electronically. Depending on the accident, important evidence could include:
- Dashcam footage
- Nearby business surveillance cameras
- Residential security cameras
- Traffic-camera footage
- Photos or videos taken by witnesses
Some video systems automatically overwrite recordings, so identifying potential footage early can be important.
6. Avoid Speculating About Fault at the Scene
Keep conversations with the other driver calm and factual.
You should exchange required information and cooperate with law enforcement, but the accident scene is not the best place to debate who caused the collision.
Avoid guessing about your speed, visibility, distances, or who was responsible when you do not know all the facts.
California accident liability can depend on photographs, witness accounts, vehicle damage, traffic laws, electronic evidence, and other factors.
7. Seek Medical Care and Document Your Symptoms
Medical attention is important for your health and also creates a record of symptoms following the accident.
Some collision-related conditions, including whiplash, concussions injuries, soft-tissue injuries, and back or neck problems, may not become obvious immediately.
If you develop pain, headaches, dizziness, stiffness, numbness, confusion, or other symptoms, seek appropriate medical evaluation and explain that you were involved in a motor vehicle accident.
Follow medical recommendations and keep copies of medical records, bills, prescriptions, and appointment information.
8. Notify Your Insurance Company and Start a Claim File
Notify your auto insurer promptly according to your policy requirements.
When reporting the crash, provide accurate basic information and avoid guessing about facts you do not know.
Before the first day ends, create a physical or digital accident folder containing:
- Accident photos and videos
- Police or CHP information
- Driver and witness information
- Insurance correspondence
- Medical paperwork
- Towing receipts
- Rental-car expenses
- Repair estimates
- Lost-work documentation
If insurance coverage becomes an issue, our guide explaining what happens if the other driver is uninsured or underinsured in California will cover the available considerations in greater detail.
9. Know California's 10-Day DMV SR-1 Requirement
The first 24 hours are also a good time to determine whether you will need to file a California DMV SR-1.
The California DMV requires an SR-1 within 10 days when anyone is injured or killed or when property damage exceeds $1,000.
The SR-1 requirement is separate from reports made to police, CHP, or an insurance company. It generally applies regardless of who caused the accident.
Knowing about this deadline on day one can prevent it from being forgotten while you are dealing with repairs, medical appointments, and insurance calls.
First 24 Hours After a California Car Accident – Quick Checklist
Before the first day ends, try to make sure you have:
- Checked for injuries and reached a safe location.
- Contacted emergency services or law enforcement when appropriate.
- Exchanged driver and insurance information.
- Photographed the vehicles and accident scene.
- Collected witness information.
- Preserved potential video evidence.
- Obtained appropriate medical care.
- Notified your insurance company.
- Saved receipts, records, and claim documents.
- Checked whether the DMV SR-1 requirement applies.
Conclusion
Knowing what to do during the first 24 hours after a California car accident can help protect your health and preserve important evidence before it disappears.
Accidents involving injuries, disputed responsibility, multiple vehicles, serious property damage, or complicated insurance issues may require additional investigation.
A California car accident lawyer can review the available evidence, insurance coverage, medical documentation, and circumstances of the crash and explain what options may be available.
Avalon Law Firm represents injured Californians, including clients in Canoga Park, Los Angeles County, Sacramento, and surrounding communities. Taking organized steps from the first day can make the claims process easier to understand and help preserve information that may matter later.
Common Questions About Your Rights
What is the first thing I should do after a car accident in California?
Check yourself and others for injuries and move to a safe location when it is safe to do so. Call 911 when anyone may need emergency medical attention.
What information should I collect from the other driver?
Collect the driver’s name, contact information, driver’s license details, vehicle registration and license plate information, and insurance information. Also obtain witness contact details when possible.
Should I take pictures after a minor car accident?
Yes. Even when vehicle damage looks minor, photographs can document vehicle positions, damage, road conditions, traffic controls, debris, and other evidence that may disappear after the scene is cleared.
Should I see a doctor if I feel fine after the accident?
Monitor your condition carefully. Some accident-related symptoms may not appear immediately. Seek appropriate medical care if you experience pain, dizziness, headaches, stiffness, numbness, confusion, or other concerning symptoms.
How long do I have to report a California accident to the DMV?
When the accident causes an injury or death or more than $1,000 in property damage, the California DMV generally requires an SR-1 report within 10 days.
What if the other driver says the accident was my fault?
Do not assume another driver’s statement determines liability. Accident fault may depend on physical evidence, witnesses, traffic laws, vehicle damage, photographs, and other facts.
