A serious car accident can affect your health, finances and legal rights within hours. What you do next can shape how insurance companies evaluate your claim and how well the facts are preserved.
Step 1: Focus on safety and medical care
Make safety your first priority. Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone needs medical help. Move vehicles out of traffic when you can do so safely.
Some injuries do not show symptoms right away. When you seek medical care, doctors create records that help explain when and how the accident caused your injuries.
Step 2: Exchange information as required by law
California Vehicle Code Section 16025 requires drivers to exchange specific information after a crash. You must share names, addresses, driver’s license numbers, vehicle registration and insurance details. The law applies even when damage appears minor.
Avoid apologies or statements about fault. Keep the exchange factual and limited.
Step 3: Document the accident scene
Strong documentation protects you when others later dispute details. Take photos as soon as conditions allow. Capture the following details:
- Vehicle damage: Where and how each vehicle was damaged.
- Road conditions: Traffic signals, skid marks or visibility issues.
- Visible injuries: Bruising, cuts or other signs of harm.
This evidence helps explain how the crash occurred. It also supports your account of events.
Step 4: Report the crash
Police reports play an important role in serious accidents. Officers gather statements, document conditions and identify witnesses. If officers do not respond at the scene, file a report as soon as possible. Insurance carriers often rely on these reports.
Step 5: Consider speaking with an attorney
Serious accidents often involve disputed fault, lasting injuries or significant financial loss. California follows a comparative fault system. Courts can reduce compensation when they assign partial fault to you.
When you understand how auto accident claims work, you avoid common early mistakes. After a serious car accident, focus on medical care and documentation first. When injuries or fault questions arise, consulting an attorney may help you understand your rights, your responsibilities and how the claims process works under California law.