California car accidents: the SR-1 report
California DMV requires an SR-1 within 10 days if a crash causes any injury, a death, or more than $1,000 in property damage.
File the right report.
The SR-1 is separate from police and insurance reports. Follow the DMV’s current instructions even if an officer investigated the crash. This reporting rule does not decide fault.
Gather the basics.
Have the collision date and location, driver and vehicle information, and insurance details ready. Keep photographs, messages, and any report number together.
Check other deadlines.
The SR-1 deadline is not the lawsuit deadline. Bring any time-sensitive letters to counsel and ask for a review of the dates that apply to your case. You can request a consultation with incomplete records.
Common questions
Is the SR-1 the same as a police report?
No. It is a report to the California DMV. Check the DMV’s own instructions even when police investigated the collision.
Do I need every record before contacting a lawyer?
No. Start with the facts and documents you have, and identify anything still missing.
Official sources
General information, not legal advice. Laws and deadlines depend on your circumstances.
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