What to Do After a Car Accident in California

Make Sure Everyone Is Safe

Your first concern is the physical safety of everyone at the scene. Check whether anyone in your vehicle or the other vehicle appears to be injured. If vehicles are blocking active traffic and can be moved safely, move them to the shoulder or a nearby side street. Turn on your hazard lights.

If anyone is visibly injured or complaining of pain, do not ask them to move. Wait for emergency responders unless there is an immediate danger such as fire or oncoming traffic.

If you were driving and you feel disoriented, confused, or unwell after the collision, stay with your vehicle and wait for help. Some symptoms of concussion or shock are not obvious immediately.

Call 911 If Needed

Call 911 if:

• Anyone at the scene is injured or complaining of pain
• A vehicle cannot be moved out of active traffic
• The other driver appears impaired, is behaving erratically, or flees the scene
• There is a hazard such as a fuel leak or fire
• The accident involved a pedestrian, cyclist, or large vehicle

When law enforcement responds, they will typically create an incident report. Ask for the report number before officers leave the scene. The report itself may not be available immediately, but the number allows you to request it later.

In California, there are circumstances under which drivers must also report an accident to the California DMV. The specific threshold depends on the nature and severity of the accident. Woodoombu cannot advise on reporting obligations. For authoritative guidance, contact the California DMV, the California Highway Patrol, or a licensed California attorney.

Stay at the Scene

California requires drivers involved in an accident to remain at the scene until they have exchanged the required information with any other involved party. Leaving the scene of an accident, particularly one involving injury, can carry serious legal consequences regardless of who caused the accident.

If the other driver attempts to leave before exchanging information, note as many details as you can: their license plate number, vehicle make and color, and direction of travel. Report this to law enforcement as soon as possible.

Exchange Information With the Other Driver

California law requires drivers to exchange certain information after a collision. At the scene, collect from every driver involved:

• Full legal name and contact phone number
• Driver's license number and the issuing state
• Vehicle license plate number
• Insurance company name and policy number
• Vehicle make, model, and color

If law enforcement is at the scene, they will typically document this exchange in their report. It is still worth recording the information yourself rather than relying solely on the report, which may take days to become available.

Use your phone to photograph the other driver's license and insurance card if they agree. If they do not agree, write the information down.

Document the Scene

If it is safe to do so, photograph the scene before vehicles are moved. Scene evidence changes quickly. The position of vehicles, skid marks, road debris, and damage are all easier to capture immediately than to reconstruct later.

• All vehicles involved, from multiple angles
• The specific points of damage on each vehicle
• License plates for every vehicle
• The overall scene: road layout, lane markings, traffic signals, signs
• Skid marks and any road debris
• Road and weather conditions
• Visible injuries, if you are able to photograph them safely

If there are bystanders who witnessed the accident, ask politely whether they would share their name and phone number. You are not asking for a statement, just contact information in case you need to follow up later.

For a detailed breakdown of what to photograph, record, and preserve, see How to Document a Car Accident Scene in California.

Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company

Most insurance policies require you to report accidents promptly, even if you were not at fault. Review your policy or contact your insurer directly to begin that process.

When you report, you will typically be asked for basic facts: the date, time, and location of the accident, who was involved, and whether there were injuries. Initial reporting is separate from providing a recorded statement about the details of the accident.

Before providing any detailed recorded statement to an insurance company, it is worth understanding what you are being asked and what your obligations are. Woodoombu cannot advise on insurance claim obligations. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a licensed California attorney. See also: What Not to Say After an Accident, which covers common communication mistakes in the claims process.

Seek Medical Attention

See a medical professional as soon as possible after the accident, even if you feel fine right now. Some injuries from car accidents, including neck and back injuries, do not cause obvious symptoms immediately. Symptoms can appear or worsen over the hours and days following a collision.

A medical evaluation shortly after the accident creates a formal record of your condition close in time to the event. Your primary care doctor, an urgent care clinic, or an emergency department can provide this evaluation.

Keep any paperwork you receive: visit summaries, treatment records, referrals, and receipts. These become part of your documentation of the accident and its impact on you.

Decide on Your Next Steps

After the immediate situation is handled, you have decisions to make about how to proceed. These may include pursuing an insurance claim, consulting a personal injury attorney, or both.

If you were injured in a California accident and do not currently have an attorney representing you for this incident, you may be eligible to document your experience through the Woodoombu accident intake line. The intake line is phone-based, available 24 hours a day, and does not require any paperwork or appointment. You leave a recorded statement describing the accident and your injuries. Submissions are reviewed against intake eligibility criteria and follow-up is determined from there.