What should I do at the scene of a car accident?
In order: safety first (move to safety if 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. The police report is the anchor document. Documentation file →
Do I have to report a car accident to the DMV?
Yes, in most injury crashes: Vehicle Code §20008 requires a written SR-1 report to the DMV within 10 days when the collision involves injury, death, or property damage above the statutory threshold. The SR-1 is separate from the police report. Reporting file →
What is the most common injury in a car accident?
Soft-tissue injury — muscle, tendon, and ligament damage, most often to the neck (whiplash). Bone fractures are the exception, not the rule. The glossary defines the WAD grades.
What is a T-bone accident?
A collision where one vehicle's front strikes another vehicle's side, usually at an intersection. The struck vehicle's side offers only the door between the impact and the occupant. T-bone file →
How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a car accident in California?
Two years from the date of injury for personal-injury lawsuits (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). Narrow exceptions exist; applying them to a specific case is a lawyer's job. Reporting file →
Who pays my medical bills after a car accident?
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 (if carried) may pay along the way; UM/UIM coverage steps in when the at-fault driver has no or insufficient coverage. Claims file →
What are California's minimum auto insurance limits?
For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 (SB 1107): $30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 property damage. Older policies may still carry 15/30/5 until renewal.
Can a seatbelt or airbag cause injuries?
Yes — the belt bruise, chest-wall strain, and airbag abrasions are real, documented patterns. They are the lesser trade against what restraints prevent: NHTSA estimates seatbelts reduce fatal-injury risk for front-seat occupants by about 45 percent. Restraint file →
What is my car accident case worth?
There is no public number worth trusting, and this desk does not invent one. Value is established from liability, documented damages, and negotiation — the claims file explains the structure, and the documentation file explains the record that feeds it.
What is whiplash?
The common name for the neck injury pattern from rapid acceleration-deceleration — the head lags, then whips. Clinically it is classified as WAD grades 0 through IV by the Quebec Task Force. The rear-end file carries the full detail.
Do I need a lawyer after a car accident?
Not in every case — minor, property-only collisions often resolve without one. Where injuries, disputed fault, or permanent impairment exist, the calculus changes. The claims file and reporting file explain the mechanics; the decision is yours.
How long does a car accident injury take to heal?
It depends on the tissue: soft-tissue injuries follow a three-phase schedule of weeks to months; fractures a schedule of 6–12 weeks for simple cases. The fracture file covers bone.