What to do after a car accident in Kern County: a step-by-step checklist

At the scene

1. Check for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 911 right away.
2. Get safe. If the cars can be moved, pull out of traffic and turn on your hazard lights.
3. Exchange information. Get the other driver’s name, phone number, driver’s license number, license plate, insurance company and policy number.
4. Take photos. Photograph both cars from several angles, the damage up close, license plates, the road and any traffic signs.
5. Talk to witnesses. Ask for names and phone numbers.
6. Don’t argue fault. Stick to the facts with the other driver and the police.

In the next few days

7. Call your insurance company and open a claim, or open one with the other driver’s insurer if they caused the accident.
8. Report it to the DMV if required. In California you must file an SR-1 form with the DMV within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed, or if property damage is more than $1,000.
9. Choose your body shop. Your insurer may suggest one, but California law lets you pick. Tell them where you want the car repaired.
10. Get an estimate. Bring the car in, or have it towed, so the shop can document all the damage and send it to the adjuster.

Don’t skip a careful inspection

Even a low-speed crash can bend brackets, crack sensors behind the bumper or shift the frame. A shop that takes the damaged area apart will find problems a quick walk-around misses, and the insurer can only pay for damage that’s documented.

Keep a simple file

Save your claim number, the adjuster’s name and phone number, photos, the police report number and every estimate in one place. It makes every phone call shorter.

If you’ve been in an accident anywhere in north Kern County, call Express Collision Centers at (661) 758-6939. We work with all insurance companies and guarantee our repairs for life.

This checklist is general information, not legal advice. Requirements can change; check the California DMV website for current reporting rules.