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In California alone, there are thousands of car accidents every year. The congested roads, especially around Los Angeles, can cause outcomes resulting in wrongful death, significant injuries, or property damage.

The Department of Motor Vehicles requires you to complete a DMV accident report form known as an SR-1 if you are involved in an accident. Read on to learn about what an SR-1 is and when and why you need to file it. 

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An accident report form is also known as an SR-1 form. It is a crucial form for your injury claim. Also, the Department of Motor Vehicles uses this form for documentation purposes.

It is an important form that gives the Department of Motor Vehicles specific information on a car accident. The California Department of Motor Vehicles provides Form SR-1 as an official record. According to California state law, under California Vehicle Code 16000, anyone involved in an automobile accident must complete and submit their accident report forms within ten days of an automobile accident that resulted in: 

• Property damage that exceeds $1,000
• Death
• Personal injury, no matter how insignificant it appears

You can ask your insurance provider or lawyer to submit the paperwork on your behalf. Or, if you prefer, you can submit the form yourself. 

When Do You Need to Fill Out an SR-1? 

California law mandates that anybody involved in an auto accident must submit an SR-1 form to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Remember, you must take this action within ten days of the event.

This requirement reaches beyond liability, vehicle registration, insurance policies, and traffic accident reports. This means that you must complete accident report forms if any of the following conditions apply: 

• You are the at-fault driver 
• You do not have the required auto insurance 
• Your vehicle registration and driver’s license are out of date 
• There is no traffic accident report
• There is an accident report, and police were present at the scene of the accident 

What to Do Before Filling Out the SR-1

There are a few things that you should gather together before beginning the process of submitting your SR-1. You will need to prepare the following information and documents:

• Your driver’s license or identity card 
• The license plate number or the vehicle identification number (VIN) of your automobile 
• Your vehicle’s insurance information
• If needed, the vehicle and insurance details of any other parties 

Why File an SR-1 Report? 

Even when the police have already sent an investigation, should you still submit an SR-1 form? Yes, you should. SR-1 report forms are needed as evidence in cases when an uninsured or underinsured driver is at fault for a vehicle accident, in addition to obtaining statistics about collisions involving motor vehicles. 

Filling Out and Submitting the DMV SR-1 Form 

If you have all the necessary information on the car accident, filling out the three-page SR-1 should not take more than 15 minutes. Instead of requesting personal identifying information, it asks for information such as the names of the individuals involved and their contact information.

You will also need to provide information on the vehicles involved. This will include the make, model, and license plate numbers, a description of the collision, a breakdown of the property damage, and insurance details. 

Click here to access a PDF of an accident report and submit it. Or, print out the SR-1 and fill it out by hand. You can also visit any local California DMV and pick up an SR-1.

Once finished, you can submit it online or mail it to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Please understand that online forms often get completed faster than forms sent through the mail. 

SR-1 Form Filing Exceptions 

Do you have to report every auto collision using the DMV SR-1 form? The short answer is no. An SR-1 self-report form is no longer necessary, per the Department of Motor Vehicles, if the amount of property damage is less than $1,000, the incident occurred on the driver’s private property, and no one was hurt or killed. In other words, you will not need to submit an SR-1 unless one of the following applies:

• Any person who was engaged in the automobile accident suffered bodily harm
• Any person involved in the traffic accident passed away as a result of their injuries
• Property damage amounts to $1,000 or above 

Failure to Report a Reportable Accident

Your driving privileges may be suspended as a result of failing to report a “reportable accident.” It’s a violation of California Vehicle Code 20002 regarding accidents and accident reporting.

It is a requirement that the driver of any automobile involved in an accident, resulting in damage to any property, including automobiles, must immediately stop the motor vehicle at the nearest location that will not hinder traffic or otherwise endanger the safety of other motorists. If you leave the scene while disregarding any part of California Vehicle Code 20002, you risk facing up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

If you do not submit an SR-1 form, many things could go wrong. The insurance company can reject your claim to the other party, meaning they can pass all obligations on to you. This is why an accident reporting form is so important and why you should submit an SR-1 to the Department of Motor Vehicles if the occurrence qualifies as a reportable accident, regardless of how small it may seem. 

Can a DMV Accident Report Form Be Amended? 

You can make changes to your SR-1 form. To make modifications to your submitted Department of Motor Vehicles accident report form, you must send a written request to the DMV. 

What Happens After Filing Form SR-1?

After the Department of Motor Vehicles receives your SR-1 form, it will investigate the accident and determine who was at fault. They will also look to see if any drivers involved had expired licenses or were operating their vehicles without insurance.

You can end up with a suspended license if the DMV determines that you contributed to the collision. You must seek the help of a knowledgeable auto accident attorney to ensure your rights are honored. They will also assist you in receiving your entitled compensation. 

A Reputable California Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You

There is no need to worry if you are not sure how to submit an accident report form. We can help you with your SR-1 and the entire automobile accident claim process. If you or someone you love is a victim of an accident that was someone else’s fault, call us at
(800) 719-9779.