Of
concern for many Southern California drivers are the steps they need to
take, or are required by law to do, when they are involved in a traffic
collision. The most accurate guide to use is whether or not injuries
were sustained in the traffic collision. If there are any injuries,
including a complaint of pain, please notify the local police department
by dialing 9-1-1.
Be aware, if you use a mobile
telephone, dialing 9-1-1 will connect you to the California Highway
Patrol. Tell the dispatcher your location and ask them to direct your
call to the appropriate emergency response agency.
Here is an outline that you can
use to help guide you through the aftermath of a typical traffic
collision.
Injury Traffic Collisions:
If involved in an injury traffic
collision:
- Notify the local police agency
immediately
- Provide any reasonable
assistance to any injured person involved in the collision
- Ask the police agency to take a
collision report
- You are required to exchange
information with the other driver(s), any passengers, and the owners
of any property involved in the collision
Exchange of information must
include:
- Driver’s/passenger's/property
owner's name and current residence address
- Driver's license information
- Vehicle registration
information (including vehicle license numbers, vehicle make, model,
and color)
- Current residence address of
the registered owner of the vehicle (if different from the driver)
Drivers are also required to
present evidence of insurance to a police officer at the scene of a
collision
It is advisable to exchange, if
mutually acceptable, telephone numbers and contact numbers for each
person's insurance company. This will aid in coordinating information at
a later time.
You must submit a Department of
Motor Vehicle’s (DMV) form #SR1, to the DMV within 10 days of the
traffic collision. This is each driver's responsibility, however, you
can arrange for a legal representative or your insurance company to
complete this task for you.
Notify your insurance company
that you were involved in a traffic collision and provide them with the
police department’s case number.
Non-Injury Traffic Collisions –
Damage Greater than $500:
If involved in a non-injury
traffic collision, where the damage is greater than $500:
You are required to exchange
information with the other driver(s), any passengers, and any owners of
property, involved in the collision.
Exchange of information must
include:
- Driver’s/passenger's/property
owner's name and current residence address
- Driver's license information
- Vehicle registration
information (including license numbers, vehicle make, model, and color)
- Current residence address of
registered owner of the vehicle
Drivers are also required to
present evidence of insurance to a police officer at the scene of a
collision
It is advisable to exchange, if
mutually acceptable, telephone numbers and contact numbers for each
person's insurance company. This will aid in coordinating information at
a later time.
You are not required to notify
the local police agency, however, it is advisable to do so if assistance
in exchanging information is needed or the vehicles remain in the
roadway causing a hazard.
You must submit a Department of
Motor Vehicle’s (DMV) form #SR1, to the DMV within 10 days of the
traffic collision. This is each driver's responsibility, however, you
can arrange for a legal representative or your insurance company to
complete this task for you.
Non-Injury Traffic Collisions -
Damage Less that $500:
If involved in a non-injury
traffic collision, where the damage is less than $500:
You are required to exchange
information with the other driver(s), any passengers, and any owners of
property involved in the collision.
Exchange of information must
include:
- Driver’s/passenger's/property
owner's name and current residence address
- Driver's license information
- Vehicle registration
information (including license numbers, vehicle make, model, and color)
- Current residence address of
registered owner of the vehicle
Drivers are also required to
present evidence of insurance to a police officer at the scene of a
collision
It is advisable to exchange, if
mutually acceptable, telephone numbers and contact numbers for each
person's insurance company. This will aid in coordinating information at
a later time.
You are not required to notify
the local police agency, however, it is advisable to do so if assistance
in exchanging information is needed or the vehicles remain in the
roadway causing a hazard.
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