What to do after a car accident in Los Angeles
After a crash, prioritize safety and medical care. Then preserve the information you can safely collect, meet reporting requirements, and keep a record of what happens next. You do not need to resolve fault or the value of an injury claim at the roadside.
1. Stop, get to safety, and request help
Stop after a collision. Call 911 when someone needs emergency assistance or there is an immediate danger. Do not stand in a traffic lane to photograph damage or argue about what happened. Follow emergency responders’ instructions and seek appropriate medical attention.
Exchange identifying and insurance information with the other driver. If you cannot safely collect it because you are hurt, tell the responding officer and ask a trusted person to help when feasible. California DMV’s collision guidance explains drivers’ responsibilities, including reporting an injury or fatal collision to law enforcement within 24 hours.
2. Preserve a useful record of the scene
If it is safe, take both close-up and wider photographs. A close-up may show a dent; a wider picture may show where the vehicles stopped, lane markings, an intersection, or a traffic signal. Record the date, approximate time, exact location, and direction of travel while those details are fresh.
- Keep driver, vehicle, license plate, and insurance information.
- Ask willing witnesses for their names and contact information.
- Save original photographs and dashcam footage, including the moments before the impact.
- Write down the responding agency and any incident or report number.
- Keep towing, storage, rental, and repair documents together.
Do not edit or delete original evidence. If a nearby business may have video, note its location promptly so preservation can be discussed. Identifying a possible camera does not establish that footage exists or that you are entitled to receive it.
3. Keep medical and work records organized
Give treating professionals an accurate account of the collision and your symptoms. Follow their medical advice. Keep appointment information, discharge instructions, bills, and receipts in one place. Record missed work and practical limitations accurately, without exaggeration.
A simple timeline can help: collision date, medical visits, calls from insurers, and documents received. You can use it to explain events during a consultation without relying entirely on memory.
4. Check the separate DMV reporting requirement
A police report and a DMV accident report serve different purposes. DMV says an SR-1 must be submitted within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed, or property damage exceeded $1,000. The report can be completed by you, your insurance agent or broker, or your legal representative. Do not assume that contacting police or starting an insurance claim completes this step. See the DMV’s SR-1 instructions and reporting portal.
5. Handle insurance communications carefully
Check your own policy’s notice and cooperation requirements and report the collision promptly. Keep the claim number and the adjuster’s contact details. Describe what you know truthfully; distinguish your observations from guesses about speed, fault, or the other driver’s intentions.
Before signing a release or accepting a settlement, understand what claims it resolves. If you are uncertain about a recorded statement, authorization, or settlement document, get advice about the specific request and any deadline rather than ignoring it. Obligations to your own insurer may differ from requests by another driver’s insurer.
6. Get advice about deadlines and the injury claim
California Courts explains that personal-injury lawsuits usually have a two-year filing deadline, but government cases have shorter deadlines and other circumstances can change the analysis. Do not treat that general rule as a deadline calculation for your case. An insurance negotiation is not a substitute for meeting a legal filing requirement. Read the California Courts personal-injury overview.
For a first conversation, gather your collision date and location, injury and treatment summary, insurance information, photographs, report number, and any insurer letters. You can still request a consultation before you have every document.
Speak directly with a personal-injury attorney
The Masjedian Law Firm handles only personal-injury matters, including car-accident injuries. Based in Los Angeles, the firm serves clients throughout California. Brian Masjedian works directly with clients. Initial case reviews are free; representation depends on the facts and a written agreement.
Learn how the firm’s 33% contingency attorney fee and separate costs work, or request a case review.
General information, not legal advice. Deadlines and outcomes depend on the facts. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship or extend a deadline.