Hurt in a car or truck crash?
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At the scene
If you can move safely, turn on your hazard lights and get out of traffic. Call 911 if anyone is injured. A driver involved in a crash that causes injury or death must stop, give their name, address, license and registration information, and give reasonable help, and leaving the scene of an injury crash is a crime (Vehicle Code 20001 and 20003).
Exchange information with the other driver: name, phone, license, plate, insurance company and policy number. Photograph both cars, the plates, the road, traffic signals, skid marks and any injuries. Ask witnesses for their names and phone numbers before they leave. If the police come, ask for the officer’s name and the report number, and write both down before you leave.
In the next 10 days
See a doctor as soon as you can, even if you feel only sore. Some injuries take hours or days to show up, and a record made soon after the crash helps link your injuries to it. Read how long injuries can take to appear. Follow the treatment plan and keep every appointment you make.
If anyone was hurt or killed, or property damage is over $1,000, each driver must report the crash to the DMV on form SR-1 within 10 days, whether or not they were at fault (Vehicle Code 16000). This is separate from any police report and from your insurance claim. Report the crash to your own insurer too, and keep that call short and factual.
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Getting the police report
If police or the CHP wrote a collision report, you can ask for a copy. The agency must release it to people with a proper interest, such as a driver involved, an injured person or a vehicle owner, and can charge no more than its actual cost (Vehicle Code 20012). Your lawyer can request it for you. Step by step: how to get a police report.
If no officer came, you can still build a strong record. Photos, witness contacts, medical records and the SR-1 form all help show what happened. Write your own notes the same day while details are fresh: the time, the weather, which way each car was going and anything the other driver said. See no police report after a car accident.
Insurance and fault in California
California uses pure comparative fault. If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your share, but you can still recover (Li v. Yellow Cab Co.). A separate rule applies to people without insurance: under Proposition 213, an uninsured owner or a driver who cannot show the required insurance generally cannot recover pain and suffering, with some exceptions, though medical bills and lost wages stay recoverable (Civil Code 3333.4).
If the other driver has no insurance or flees, your own uninsured motorist coverage may pay for your injuries (Insurance Code 11580.2). That claim has strict steps, including a two-year window to sue, settle or start arbitration (Insurance Code 11580.2(i)). Hit-and-run claims also need a police report within 24 hours. See hit and run in California.
What to do now
Keep everything in one folder: photos, the report number, claim numbers, medical records and receipts for medicine, rides and car rentals. Write down the name of every adjuster you talk to and the date of each call. Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer before you talk to a lawyer.
Deadline: an injury lawsuit in California generally must be filed within two years (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1). If a city, county or other public entity vehicle was involved, a written claim generally must be presented within six months (Government Code 911.2). Call Beverly Law at (310) 552-6959 or use the form on this page, and we can tell you where your claim stands.
- Get medical care and follow up if symptoms change.
- Take photos of the vehicles, the scene and your injuries.
- Write down witness names and phone numbers.
- Keep every claim number and adjuster name in one place.
- Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement before talking to a lawyer.
- Save receipts for medical care, medicine, rides and car rentals.
Common questions
Do I have to call the police after a car accident in California?
Call 911 when someone is hurt or the road is blocked. Drivers in an injury crash must stop, exchange information and give reasonable help. Separately, a crash with injury, death or more than $1,000 in property damage must be reported to the DMV on form SR-1 within 10 days.
What information should I get from the other driver?
Get their full name, phone number, driver’s license number, plate number, insurance company and policy number. Photograph their license and insurance card if they agree. If they are driving for work, note the company name on the vehicle. Ask any witnesses for their names and phone numbers.
Should I see a doctor if I feel fine?
Yes. Adrenaline can hide pain, and injuries like whiplash or a concussion can take time to show. A visit soon after the crash protects your health and creates a record. Insurers often point to gaps in treatment to argue that the crash did not cause your injuries.
When should I call a lawyer after a car accident?
As soon as you can, ideally before you give a recorded statement or sign anything. Evidence such as camera footage can disappear quickly. A lawyer can deal with the insurers, track the deadlines and help you get care. Call Beverly Law at (310) 552-6959.
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If you were hurt in a car or truck crash in California and Washington, talk to a personal injury attorney. Free, confidential, English or Spanish. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
Related pages
Car accident not my fault: what to do · Car accident not my fault: do I call my insurance? · Do I pay my deductible if the accident wasn’t my fault? · Will my insurance rates go up if I wasn’t at fault? · What to do after a minor car accident · All car and truck accident questions
Sources
- Cal. Veh. Code §§ 20001(a)-(b), 20003(a)-(b)
- Cal. Veh. Code § 16000(a); DMV form SR 1 (Rev. 6/2025)
- Cal. Veh. Code § 20012
- Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804, 828-829; CACI No. 405
- Cal. Civ. Code § 3333.4(a)(1)-(3), (b), (c); Hodges v. Superior Court (1999) 21 Cal.4th 109 (upholding statute)
- Cal. Ins. Code § 11580.2(a)(1)-(3), (b)(1)-(2), (f)
- Cal. Ins. Code § 11580.2(i)(1)(A)-(C), (b)(1)-(2)
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1
- Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2(a); see also §§ 911.4, 945.4
Important: This page is general information about California and Washington law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Last reviewed: November 5, 2026.