To reiterate the legal obligations following a collision:
👮 Reporting to Police
- If anyone is injured or killed, you must notify law enforcement within 24 hours – even if they didn’t respond at the scene.
- Practically, calling 911 at the scene fulfills this.
- If for any reason you left without police arriving (e.g., you took someone to the hospital), you should:
- Go to the nearest police station
- File a report as soon as possible
📨 Reporting to DMV (SR-1 Form)
- You must file a DMV SR-1 form within 10 days if:
- Anyone was injured or killed, or
- There was over $1000 in property damage
- The SR-1 form requires:
- Information on all involved drivers
- Insurance details for each party
📌 Important: This is a separate requirement from any police report.
📄 Police Reports
- If officers respond to the crash:
- They typically file a CHP 555 Traffic Collision Report for any injury or significant incident.
- For minor, non-injury crashes:
- A formal report may not be filed, unless requested.
- While helpful, a police report does NOT replace the SR-1 DMV report.
🚨 DMV may use police findings if:
- There’s a question of license suspension
- You caused an injury and lacked insurance
☎️ Notify Your Insurance Agent
- Not a legal authority, but still critical.
- Inform your insurer as soon as possible after a crash.
- Delay can hurt your claim:
- The other party might file first
- They could control the narrative
- Most policies require prompt notice of any accident or claim.
🗂️ Keep Records
- Keep a copy of the SR-1 form you submit.
- You can request a copy of accident records from DMV later if needed.
- Also ask your insurer and police for copies of any statements or reports filed.
✅ Reminder: Failing to report to either police (if injuries involved) or DMV (when required) can lead to license suspension or other penalties.