English 
Español 
Experiencing a car accident is fortunately a rare event for most people. But this can sometimes leave you scrambling to figure out how to handle a situation you’ve never been in before. In California, there are laws in place that make it clear how and when you need to report accidents. Knowing what to do if you’re in a vehicle collision helps you uphold your responsibilities and avoid serious penalties. The experts from Altra Insurance Services, a premier provider of auto insurance Chula Vista drivers rely on for high-quality service and affordable coverage, explain what you need to know about reporting car accidents in California.
Know When You’re Required to Make a Report
People who are involved in a car accident that causes an injury or death to a person must report the incident to the California Highway Patrol or the local police station within a 24-hour period. Depending on the severity of the accident, you may need to have the police make a report at the accident scene. But it’s also common to realize later that an injury has occurred during a minor accident, which is why you’re given the grace period of a full day. If the accident causes property damage or personal injuries that exceed $1,000, you’ll also need to report the accident to the DMV within a 10-day period.
Understand the Consequences of Not Reporting Accidents
If you fail to report the accident in a timely manner, it may appear to others as though you’re trying to avoid taking responsibility. California legal authorities may impose fines and other penalties to discourage you from failing to report incidents in the future. In some cases, you could face having your driver’s license revoked or suspended. Severe cases could involve jail time. Without a police report, you may also encounter challenges with filing a claim with your insurance company.
Take Steps to Avoid Hit-and-Run Charges
One of the biggest consequences of failing to report a car accident is potentially being charged with a hit-and-run incident. If you’re involved in a collision with an unoccupied car, you have a duty to try to find the owner before you leave the scene. Many of these types of incidents occur in crowded shopping centers or downtown areas where the owner might be in a number of different locations. If you cannot find the owner of the vehicle, you must leave your personal information on the vehicle for the driver to find. If the accident is severe, you may need to take the additional step of contacting the local police to ensure you’ve done your due diligence to report the situation.
Maintain Financial Responsibility with Auto Insurance
Considering the rising cost of car repairs, it’s normal to be worried if you’re involved in an accident. Yet this is exactly why there are laws in place that require drivers to maintain adequate auto insurance coverage. Reporting an accident may sometimes lead to a rate increase for your insurance, but this is a small price to pay compared to being required to cover the cost of thousands of dollars’ worth of property damage or personal injuries. When you have good coverage, reporting an accident simply becomes one of the first steps in filing a claim that helps you manage the costs of healthcare and auto repairs.
If you’re in any kind of vehicle accident, the most important thing is to make sure everyone is safe and gets medical attention right away if it’s needed. Then follow the other steps listed above to make sure legal requirements are met and your interests are protected. If you need affordable, reliable auto insurance, reach out to the experienced agents at Altra Insurance Services. We also offer several other types of insurance, including homeowners, renters, and motorcycle insurance. Call one of our friendly agents today for a free quote.