Hurt in a Crash in California? The DMV Report Due Within 10 Days

Quick answer: California law requires traffic accidents to be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days if there was an injury, a death or property damage over $1,000. The form is the SR-1, the driver must file it regardless of fault, and a police report does not take its place. If you were hurt in a crash in San Diego, put this on your list alongside getting checked and calling your insurer.

What is the SR-1?

The SR-1 is the Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California, a DMV form. It applies to accidents on a California street or highway and on private property.

We bring it up because it is easy to miss. After a crash, most of your attention goes to your car, your insurer and how you feel. A state form with a short deadline is the kind of thing that slips by, and it is easy to assume the police or the insurance company took care of it.

When is an SR-1 required?

Here is what the DMV’s form says, situation by situation:

Situation	What the form says
Anyone was injured	Report to the DMV within 10 days
Anyone died	Report to the DMV within 10 days
Property damage over $1,000	Report to the DMV within 10 days
The crash wasn’t your fault	The driver still files, regardless of fault
Police or the CHP made a report	You still file. Their reports do not satisfy the requirement
Off-road vehicle, military base, or only your own property on your own land, with no injury or death	Not reportable

One thing to watch: the California Department of Insurance’s 2021 accident guide says $750. The DMV’s current form, revised in June 2025, says $1,000. The DMV is the agency you are filing with, so go by the form.

What happens if you don’t file on time?

The form says untimely reporting could result in the DMV suspending your driver license. It also says you must fill out the insurance section completely, or the DMV will assume you were not insured for the accident and your license will be suspended.

If you missed the 10 days, don’t assume it is too late to do anything. The form says the DMV does not accept reports, or act against non-reporting or uninsured motorists, unless the SR-1 is sent by someone involved or their designee and received within one calendar year of the accident date. Ask the DMV what applies to you.

Who can file it for you?

An insurance agent, an attorney or another designated representative may file the report for the driver. A passenger can also report, by using the “other” box on the form and writing “passenger.” If someone else offers to handle yours, ask for confirmation that it was actually sent.

Does a sore neck count as an injury?

The form asks you to identify anyone involved “who you saw was injured or complained of bodily injury.” It doesn’t set a minimum, and it doesn’t say how serious an injury has to be. If you are unsure, ask the DMV directly.

Watch the timing. MedlinePlus notes that concussion symptoms may not start right away and may start days or weeks after the injury, and that they can include a headache or neck pain. The form doesn’t spell out what happens when an injury shows up later, so if you start hurting a week later, don’t wait to ask. Read more about whiplash and neck pain after a car accident and headaches after a crash.

What does the form ask for?

Most of it is details you will want on hand anyway:

• The accident: number of vehicles, date, time, city or county, and whether it was on private property
• You: name, driver license number, address, date of birth and phone
• Your vehicle: year and make, plate or VIN, the owner, and whether damage was over $1,000
• Your insurance: company name (not the agent or broker), policy number, policy period, policy holder and the company’s NAIC number
• The other party: the same details. The form says to write “unk” or “none” where you don’t have the information
• Anyone injured or killed: name, address, and whether they were a driver, passenger, bicyclist or pedestrian
• Other property damaged: poles, fences, signs and so on, with the amount

You sign it under penalty of perjury. The NAIC number should be on your insurance ID card, or your agent or company can give it to you. The form goes by mail to the Department of Motor Vehicles, Insurance Unit, Mail Station J237, P.O. Box 942884, Sacramento, CA 94284-0884.

Where does medical care fit in?

The SR-1 is a state accident report, not a medical record. It names who was hurt, but it doesn’t describe your injuries, your exam or your care. That record comes from whoever evaluates you.

So you may need both. File the report if it applies to you, and get checked. If you have a medical payments claim, the Department of Insurance says you must provide documentation of your loss, including injuries, medical expenses and lost wages. See what MedPay is and what the state says to do after a crash.

Why see Dr. Anderson after a crash in San Diego?

At Anderson Chiropractic & Wellness, your first visit includes your medical history and a full exam, and every patient gets an individualized treatment plan. The office is in Scripps Ranch, also serving Poway, and walk-ins are welcome. The SR-1 is yours to file, and the DMV can tell you whether it applies to your crash. Our part is evaluating your injuries.

Read what patients say in their reviews, or call (858) 549-1088. You can also contact the office.