California Laws on Accident Procedures

Front-end damage

California laws on accident procedures tell you what you must do if you're involved in an auto accident. Know the law -- doing the wrong thing after an accident can be worse than the accident itself.

Driver Duties

If you are involved in an accident, you must stop the car at the scene of the accident. If no one was injured in the accident, you may drive far enough to find a location that will not block traffic or endanger other motorists before you stop. If you hit a parked vehicle or damage other property, you must locate and notify the owner of the car or leave a written notice in a conspicuous place. You must notify the owner of the property of the name and address of the driver and the name and address of the registered owner of the car. The California Vehicle Code provides that fleeing the scene of an accident is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.

Written report

If anyone was injured or killed in the accident, you must make a written report of the accident to the California Highway Patrol or the police department in the city where you had the accident. Law enforcement has authority to take the statement of any witnesses to the accident, including passengers.

Use of report

Your accident report is confidential. It cannot be used in any civil or criminal trial related to the accident. This regulation encourages drivers to make honest reports so law enforcement and other officials can review the reports and accurately assess the cause of the accident and whether unsafe conditions exist on the highway where the accident happened.

References

• California Department of Motor Vehicles: California Vehicle Code Division 10, Chapter 1