After a collision, deal with immediate safety and medical needs first. Then organize the records that explain what happened, who was involved and what injuries or losses followed. This checklist separates emergency response, DMV reporting and insurance communications because one does not replace the others.
At the scene
- Call 911 for an emergency or injured person. Follow responders’ instructions and stay out of moving traffic.
- Move to a safe location when possible and appropriate. Do not place yourself at risk to photograph vehicles or debris.
- Exchange driver, vehicle, contact and insurance information. Record the investigating agency and report number if available.
- Photograph the wider scene, vehicle positions, damage and visible conditions only if it is safe. Keep the original files.
- Ask witnesses for contact information and what they personally observed. Respect a person’s decision not to provide a statement.
California DMV reporting is a separate step
Each involved driver must submit an SR-1 to DMV within 10 days if someone was injured or killed, or damage to the property of any one person exceeded $1,000. A police report or insurance report does not replace the SR-1. Review the DMV collision and reporting guidance for the applicable requirements.
In the following days
- Seek appropriate medical evaluation and follow the provider’s instructions. Report new or worsening symptoms rather than diagnosing yourself.
- Notify your insurer under the policy’s reporting requirements and keep its acknowledgment.
- Preserve dashcam or phone video before it is overwritten. Give counsel the location and time window for relevant third-party footage.
- Save repair estimates, towing receipts, treatment records, bills, work restrictions and wage-loss documentation.
- Keep written offers and releases. Determine what rights a release would resolve before signing.
Describe facts accurately
Tell responders and insurers what you personally know. Identify estimates and uncertainty. Do not guess speed, repeat another person’s statement as your own observation or conceal relevant facts. A collision report is evidence to review, not a final civil judgment on fault.
When to obtain legal advice
Seek an individual review when there are injuries, disputed responsibility, missing footage, coverage questions, a public entity or an approaching deadline. Insurance discussions do not automatically extend a filing deadline. Bring what you have and explain which records are missing. Our California car accident lawyer guide explains the claim review and representation process.
For the next steps, see our witness statement guide, accident lawsuit evidence guide, and injury evidence checklist.
Find the guide that matches your next question
- Was a phone involved? Our cellphone use and distracted-driving evidence guide explains how to distinguish direct observations from assumptions and organize relevant materials.
- Has a lawsuit already been filed? Use our first case management conference preparation guide to organize service status, outstanding records, and scheduling questions.
Discuss your claim with Weiss Attorneys
Call (213) 583-0977 or request a free consultation. Our office is in Sherman Oaks, with phone and video consultations available throughout California. Hablamos Español. For accepted contingency matters, attorney fees and case costs are governed by the written agreement. No outcome is guaranteed.
Prepared by Weiss Attorneys. Updated October 13, 2026. General information; the facts, applicable law, insurance terms and deadlines require an individual review.
