What to Do After a Car Accident in Tustin
After a car accident in Tustin, stop, check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt, exchange information with the other driver, document the scene, get a police report, see a doctor, and report the crash to the DMV and your insurer. California law makes several of those steps mandatory. Here’s the full checklist, with the Tustin contacts you’ll need. If you were hurt, you can also talk to a car accident lawyer at no cost.
At the scene
1. Stop and check for injuries
California requires every driver involved in a crash to stop. If anyone was injured, Vehicle Code section 20001 requires you to stop immediately at the scene; leaving can be a felony. If only property was damaged, you must stop at the nearest spot that won’t block traffic (section 20002). Moving your car out of traffic doesn’t affect who is found at fault.
Call 911 if anyone is hurt. You’re also required to give reasonable help to anyone injured, including arranging transport to a doctor or hospital if it’s needed or requested (section 20003).
2. Exchange information
Exchange the details the law requires. Under Vehicle Code section 16025, drivers must exchange names, addresses, driver’s licence numbers, vehicle identification numbers, the registered owner’s address, and the insurance company’s name, address and policy number. Photograph the other driver’s licence, registration and insurance card.
If you hit a parked car and can’t find the owner, leave a written note in a place it will be seen with your name and address, and notify the Tustin Police Department without unnecessary delay.
3. Document the scene
Take photos and video before the cars are moved, if it’s safe:
- all vehicles, including damage, licence plates and where they came to rest
- the intersection, traffic signals, signs, skid marks and debris
- weather and lighting conditions
- your injuries, that day and over the following weeks
Get the names and phone numbers of witnesses. Look for cameras on nearby businesses and homes: footage is often erased within days. My guide to getting traffic camera footage after an accident explains how to find it and ask for it to be preserved.
4. Be careful what you say
Be polite, but don’t apologise or argue about fault at the scene. Stick to the facts with the police. Fault is decided later from the evidence, and in California it can be shared: as the California Department of Insurance puts it, “in many accidents, both drivers share the fault.” Anything that sounds like an admission can reduce what you recover.
Reports you need to make
5. Get a police report
If anyone was injured, California requires a written report to the police or CHP within 24 hours (Vehicle Code section 20008). In Tustin, call 911 for emergencies, or Tustin Police Dispatch at 714-573-3225 for non-emergencies. The police station is at 300 Centennial Way, and the front counter is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tustin collision reports are available through LexisNexis, with a $10 convenience fee per report (City of Tustin collision reports).
6. File an SR-1 with the DMV
You must report the crash to the DMV within 10 days if anyone was injured, no matter how minor, or killed, or property damage is over $1,000 (DMV accident reporting). The DMV says you must file “whether or not you caused the collision,” and that law enforcement won’t file it for you. If you don’t, your licence can be suspended.
7. Report the crash to your insurer
Tell your insurer promptly, with the basic facts. You don’t have to give the other driver’s insurance company a recorded statement, and it’s rarely in your interest before you know the extent of your injuries. My post on how car insurance companies handle accident claims explains each step of the process and the deadlines insurers have to meet. If you’re worried about your premium, see how much car insurance goes up after an accident.
In the days and weeks after
8. Put your health first
See a doctor even if you feel fine. Concussions and neck and back injuries often show up hours or days later; my post on delayed concussion symptoms lists what to watch for. Follow your doctor’s advice and go to every appointment. Gaps in treatment are one of the first things an adjuster points to.
9. Write down what happened
As soon as you can, write a detailed account while it’s fresh. Some claims take months or longer, and memory fades. Answer questions like:
- What were the weather, lighting and traffic like?
- Who was in your car, and was everyone wearing a seatbelt?
- When did you first see the other car? What was it doing?
- Where were you going, and was it a familiar route?
- What happened at impact and right after?
- What did the other driver say?
10. Keep a record of your losses
Start a folder (paper or on your phone) and keep:
- a symptom journal: pain, sleep, what you can’t do, and how it affects work and family
- every medical bill, prescription receipt and mileage to appointments
- a log of missed work, with a note from your employer if possible
- repair estimates, rental car costs and any other expenses
11. Stay off social media
Don’t post about the crash, your injuries or your activities. Insurers look at social media, and a single photo can be used to argue you weren’t really hurt.
Deadlines to know
| Step | Deadline | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Report an injury crash to police/CHP | 24 hours | Vehicle Code 20008 |
| SR-1 report to the DMV | 10 days (injury, death or over $1,000 damage) | Vehicle Code 16000 |
| Claim against a public entity (city vehicle, road defect) | 6 months | Government Code 911.2 |
| Personal injury lawsuit | Generally 2 years | Code of Civil Procedure 335.1 |
Car accident FAQs
Do I have to call the police after a minor car accident in California?
If anyone was injured, the crash must be reported to the police or CHP within 24 hours. For a property-damage-only crash you must still stop and exchange information, and file an SR-1 with the DMV if damage is over $1,000.
What’s the Tustin police non-emergency number?
Tustin Police Dispatch is 714-573-3225. For an emergency, call 911.
How do I get a Tustin police collision report?
Tustin collision reports are available online through LexisNexis for a $10 convenience fee per report. Questions about reports: 714-573-3200.
Do I need to file an SR-1 if the accident wasn’t my fault?
Yes. The DMV requires an SR-1 within 10 days for any crash with an injury, a death or over $1,000 in damage, regardless of fault.
Talk to a Tustin car accident lawyer
I spent the early part of my career defending insurance companies, and I know what they look for after a crash. If you were hurt in an accident in Tustin, call me at (714) 461-6003 or request a free consultation. You’ll work directly with me, and under my No Recovery, No Fee Guarantee you pay nothing unless I recover compensation for you. Learn more about how I handle car accident claims in Tustin.