A collision at Market and Octavia, the most dangerous intersection in San Francisco happens in seconds. So does one at Van Ness and Market, at Gough and Market, or on the 101 corridor near the city center. San Francisco sees roughly 2,800 car crashes every year. Most people caught in one have no idea what the next 72 hours should look like.

The decisions you make immediately after a crash can protect your health, your legal rights, and the full value of your claim. The mistakes made in those same hours are what insurance companies count on. At Pacific Law Firm, Attorney Aria Noosha handles car accident cases throughout San Francisco. This is the step-by-step guide we give every client.

Step 1: Check for Injuries and Move to Safety

Check yourself, your passengers, and everyone else involved. Do not rely on how you feel adrenaline masks serious injuries for hours. If the vehicles can be moved without worsening injuries, move them to the shoulder or a safe spot. Leaving a disabled car in a traffic lane on US-101 or near any Market Street on-ramp invites secondary collisions. Turn on hazard lights immediately.

On foggy SF corridors near Ocean Beach or the Presidio approaches, set out flares or warning triangles if you carry them. If anyone is seriously injured, do not move them. Call 911 and wait.

Step 2: Call 911 and Know What San Francisco Police Will and Will Not Do

Call 911 for any accident involving injuries. Under California Vehicle Code § 20008, a written report to the police or CHP is required within 24 hours when anyone is injured or killed. The San Francisco Police Department only prepares a formal traffic collision report for accidents involving injury, a hit-and-run, or a DUI driver. For property-damage-only crashes, SFPD may not respond or file a report.

If your crash is property damage only and no officer responds, call SFPD non-emergency dispatch at (415) 553-0123 and request an officer. If none comes, go directly to the SFPD Records Management Division at 1245 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94158 to document the incident yourself. Get a report number before you leave the scene when one is available.

A police report creates an official record that protects you when the other driver’s account changes later.

Step 3: Exchange Information and Document the Scene

California law requires every driver to exchange their full legal name, contact information, driver’s license number, license plate, vehicle information, and insurance company name and policy number.

Then document everything before you leave:

  • Photograph all vehicles from every angle, including wide shots showing positions
  • Photograph skid marks, debris, traffic signals, and intersection geometry
  • Photograph any visible injuries on yourself or your passengers
  • Record a 30-second video walkthrough it captures spatial detail photos
  • Get names and phone numbers of every witness, even brief ones
  • Note the addresses of nearby businesses with security cameras

Surveillance footage typically gets overwritten within 7 to 30 days. The names you collect at the scene make it possible to send a legal preservation letter before that window closes. If a rideshare driver was involved, screenshot the Uber or Lyft app immediately. The driver’s app status at the moment of the crash determines which insurance layer applies to your claim.

Step 4: Seek Medical Care the Same Day

Go to the emergency room or urgent care the day of the crash, even if you feel fine. Concussions, cervical disc injuries, and lumbar injuries frequently show no symptoms for 24 to 72 hours, then worsen progressively as inflammation develops. Subdural hematomas are slow bleeds between the brain and its outer membrane can become life-threatening days after a crash with no immediate warning.

When you see a doctor, say this clearly: “I was in a car accident on [date].” That one sentence connects every subsequent symptom and treatment to the crash in your medical record. Without it, insurers argue the injuries arose from something unrelated. Delaying medical care is the single most common mistake that weakens otherwise strong San Francisco car accident claims. This is not always the case, but a significant delay can give an insurer an argument about when an injury began.

Step 5: File the SR-1 Form with the California DMV Within 10 Days

This is the step every competitor in this space skips. California law requires it. Under California Vehicle Code § 16000, you must file Form SR-1 with the California DMV within 10 days if:

  • Anyone was injured or killed, or
  • Property damage to any person’s property exceeds $1,000

Critical facts about the SR-1:

  • Required regardless of fault even when you were not at fault
  • Required even when SFPD already filed a report police reports do not satisfy this obligation
  • Required even when the accident happened on private property
  • Failure to file can result in license suspension

The SR-1 is not an admission of fault. It is a legal compliance requirement. Download it directly from the California DMV website or file through your insurance company or attorney.

Step 6: Notify Your Own Insurer 

Your policy almost certainly requires you to notify your insurance company promptly after a crash. Call them. Failure to report can void coverage you may need later. But be precise in what you say. Stick to facts: when, where, who else was involved. Do not speculate about fault. Do not minimize your injuries. One 2026 update matters here. Under Senate Bill 1107, California’s minimum auto insurance liability limits increased for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025.

The new minimums are $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage. Under Senate Bill 1107, California’s minimum auto insurance liability limits increased beginning January 1, 2025. The new minimums for standard auto policies are $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage. California Department of Insurance guidance continues to identify these as the minimum limits in 2026.

Those are minimum liability limits, not a guarantee that every driver has enough coverage to pay for a serious injury. If the at-fault driver’s policy falls short, check your own declarations page for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage before assuming you have no further options. When the at-fault driver’s policy falls short, your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may provide another source of compensation.

How a San Francisco Car Accident Attorney Can Help

Building a strong case requires more than exchanging insurance cards and filing a claim.

At Pacific Law Firm, Attorney Aria Noosha and our team can:

  • Request SFPD and CHP reports and interpret their findings
  • Send evidence preservation letters to secure surveillance footage before it is deleted
  • Identify every responsible party including third parties and government entities
  • Document current and future medical costs through treating providers
  • Calculate lost wages and reduced earning capacity
  • Challenge the insurer’s comparative fault arguments
  • Handle all communications with adjusters so nothing is said that damages your claim
  • Prepare your case for litigation when a fair settlement is not offered

We handle car accident cases throughout San Francisco on a contingency-fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

FAQs

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in California?

Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. If your crash involved a Muni bus, BART train, city vehicle, or any government entity, California Government Code § 911.2 requires a government tort claim within six months.

What is the SR-1 form and when do I need to file it?

The SR-1 is California’s Report of Traffic Accident form, filed directly with the DMV. You must file it within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed or if property damage exceeds $1,000. It is required regardless of fault and even if police already filed a report.

Should I give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company?

No. You are not legally required to give one. Adjusters ask questions designed to produce answers that minimize your claim. Decline politely, and ask for any requests in writing.

Talk to a San Francisco Car Accident Attorney About Your Case

The steps you take in the first 72 hours shape everything that follows. The right evidence preserved, the right deadlines met, and the right statements avoided can mean the difference between a full recovery and an inadequate offer you cannot reopen. At Pacific Law Firm, we give you honest answers and help you understand every option without pressure.

Call 855-722-5290 for a free case evaluation or contact us online. Our office is at 535 Mission Street in San Francisco.