Using California DMV forms to get information about a car accident

In California, the law requires that traffic accidents on street, highway, or private property to be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles within ten days of the accident if there was an injury, death, or property damage more than $1,000.00. Untimely reporting of the traffic accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles could result in the Department of Motor Vehicle suspending a driver license. California Vehicle Code § 1806 requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to record accident information regardless of fault and requires that the driver file an SR-1 form with the Department of Motor Vehicles regardless of whether they caused the collision.

The form can be found at https://www.dmv.ca.gov/web/eng_pdf/sr1.pdf and there are no fees for submitting the form. It can be mailed to:

Department of Motor Vehicles

P.O. Box 942884

Sacramento, CA 94284-0884

California DMV Form SR-19

This form can be used to obtain insurance information of a vehicle, a photocopy of a reported DMV Form SR-1, or an uninsured motorist certificate. This can be useful to obtain insurance information of another driver or to confirm that the other driver does not have insurance for the incident. This can then be used to open up a claim for uninsured motorist under an insurance policy.

The form can be found at https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/wcm/connect/4acbfc87-082f-4183-b307-8db1c82f7cac/sr19c.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID= and must be submitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles with a nonrefundable fee of $20.00 and can be mailed to:

Department of Motor Vehicles

Financial Responsibility Department

P.O. Box 942884

Mail Station J237

Sacramento, CA 94284-0884

California DMV Form INF 1161E

In a pending civil or criminal action, this form can be used by an attorney licensed to practice in California to obtain driver’s license information or vehicle registration records of another vehicle. This is useful with collision reports do not have the correct information or in cases of a hit and run.

The form can be found at https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/wcm/connect/7a06a225-a00a-49be-b994-479c72a9fa04/inf1161e.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID= and must be submitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles with the appropriate fees and mailed to:

Department of Motor Vehicles

Public Operations – G199

P.O. Box 944247

Sacramento, CA 94244-2470

Consult with an attorney

Lawyers are not experts in math, but they are experts in the law. Following an auto accident, it is important to have an attorney when reporting a claim to make sure all rights are protected and to ensure maximum recovery of the claim. Regardless of whether there are any injuries or damages, if an accident is being reported, an attorney should be consulted.

Do not wait, never hesitate, and reach out to a professional attorney who is ready to work for you.