What to Do After a Car Accident in San Diego
If you have been in a car accident in San Diego, the steps you take immediately after can significantly impact your health, your insurance claim, and any future legal action. Here is what to do, in order.
Check for Injuries and Call 911
Your safety comes first. Check yourself and passengers for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately. In San Diego, emergency response times in the urban core average 6-8 minutes.
Do not move injured people unless there is an immediate danger (fire, oncoming traffic). Wait for paramedics to assess the situation.
Move to Safety and Turn on Hazards
If the vehicles are drivable and it is safe to do so, move them to the shoulder or a nearby parking lot to avoid blocking traffic. Turn on your hazard lights. San Diego freeways like the I-5 and I-8 are high-speed corridors where secondary accidents are a real danger.
File a Crash Report
California law requires you to report accidents that involve injury, death, or property damage over $1,000.
Who to Contact:
- City streets: San Diego Police Department (SDPD) - (619) 531-2000
- Freeways/highways: California Highway Patrol (CHP) - (858) 637-3800
- Unincorporated areas: San Diego County Sheriff - (858) 565-5200
You must also file a DMV SR-1 report within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed, or if property damage exceeds $1,000.
Document Everything at the Scene
Use your phone to document the accident before vehicles are moved (if safe to do so):
- Photos of all vehicle damage from multiple angles
- The intersection or road where the accident occurred
- Traffic signals, stop signs, and road conditions
- License plates and insurance cards of all parties
- Contact information from any witnesses
- Skid marks, debris, or broken glass on the road
Seek Medical Attention
Even if you feel fine, see a doctor within 24-48 hours. Some injuries (whiplash, concussions, internal bleeding) do not show symptoms immediately.
San Diego Trauma Centers
- Scripps Mercy Hospital - 4077 5th Ave, San Diego (Level I Trauma)
- UCSD Medical Center - 200 W Arbor Dr, San Diego (Level I Trauma)
- Palomar Medical Center - 2185 Citracado Pkwy, Escondido (Level II Trauma)
For non-emergency injuries, urgent care centers throughout San Diego County can provide same-day evaluations.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Report the accident to your insurance company promptly. Stick to the facts - do not speculate about fault or the extent of your injuries. Avoid giving a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company without consulting an attorney first.
Consult a Personal Injury Attorney
Consider consulting a personal injury lawyer if:
- You suffered injuries requiring medical treatment
- The other driver was uninsured or underinsured
- Fault is disputed or unclear
- The insurance company's settlement offer seems low
- You missed work due to injuries
Most San Diego personal injury attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency.
California-Specific Rules to Know
- Statute of Limitations: You have 2 years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in California.
- Comparative Negligence: California is a "pure comparative negligence" state. You can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault.
- Minimum Insurance: California requires $15,000/$30,000 bodily injury and $5,000 property damage liability coverage.
- No-Fault State? No. California is an at-fault state, meaning the person who caused the accident is responsible for damages.
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