What should I do at the scene of a crash in San Diego?
In order: safety first (move to safety where possible, call 911 for injuries), then evidence. Exchange driver, registration, and insurance information; photograph the vehicles from all four corners, the damage, and the scene before anything moves; write down witness names and how to reach them. The full checklist is in the documentation file.
Do I have to report a crash to the DMV?
In most injury crashes, yes: Vehicle Code §16000 requires a written SR-1 report to the DMV within 10 days when the collision involves injury, death, or property damage over $1,000. The SR-1 is separate from the police report, and it is filed whether or not police responded. Reporting file →
Which agency takes the report — CHP or SDPD?
It depends on where the crash happened. On freeways and unincorporated county roads, the California Highway Patrol takes the report (CHP-555 form); on San Diego city streets, the San Diego Police Department does. San Diego reporting file →
What are California's minimum auto insurance limits?
For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, under SB 1107: $30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 property damage. Older policies may still carry the 15/30/5 floors until renewal. Claims file →
What is the SR-1 form?
The SR-1 is the driver's own written report of a traffic collision to the DMV — separate from the police report. It is required within 10 days where a collision involves injury, death, or property damage over $1,000, and it is filed online or by mail. Reporting file →
How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a crash?
Two years from the date of injury for a personal-injury lawsuit (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). Narrow exceptions exist; whether one applies to a specific case is a lawyer's job. Timeline file →
Who pays the bills after a crash?
That depends on the claim structure: the at-fault driver's liability policy pays after fault and damages are established; your own medical payments coverage (where carried) may pay along the way; UM/UIM coverage steps in when the at-fault driver has no coverage or too little. Claims file →
Is there an average settlement for car crashes?
There is no public average worth trusting, and this desk does not invent one. Value comes from liability, documented damages, and negotiation — the fault file and the claims file explain the structure.
What is the difference between fault and liability?
Fault is a finding about what happened — which driver breached which duty, and by how much. Liability is the legal conclusion about who owes what. California's pure comparative negligence rule (Li v. Yellow Cab) reduces recovery by the claimant's own fault share, but does not eliminate it. Fault file →
What is the CHP-555?
The CHP's traffic collision report form — the standard police crash report on state highways and unincorporated county roads. It marks the vehicles V1 and V2, draws them as rectangles in plan view, and records force arrows and the point of impact. Collision types file →
What should I photograph after a crash?
The vehicles from all four corners, the damage to each, the license plates, the intersection or roadway, and anything that marks positions — skid marks, debris, traffic controls, weather and light. Photograph before anything moves or is repaired. Documentation file →
Does this desk give legal advice?
No. The San Diego Car Accident Desk is an independent editorial publication — not a law firm and not a medical practice. Every page carries that note. For legal questions, consult a licensed attorney; for injuries, get medical evaluation. About this desk →