What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Santa Monica, CA

If you were just in a crash on a Santa Monica street or the Santa Monica Freeway, the next few hours will shape both your recovery and any claim that follows. California law imposes specific duties on drivers at the scene, and some insurance protections depend on reports filed within 24 hours. Our Santa Monica, CA personal injury lawyer can step in quickly to preserve evidence and deal with the insurers so you can focus on getting care. Cohen Injury Law Group prepared this guide around the agencies, laws, and situations that come up most often in local crashes.

Who Responds Depends on Where You Crash

Call 911 if anyone is hurt. The responding agency depends on location. The Santa Monica Police Department handles collisions on city streets, while the California Highway Patrol’s West Los Angeles Area patrols the Santa Monica Freeway. Note which agency arrives and get the officer’s name and report number, because that determines where you will later request the collision report described in our guide to the evidence that supports a claim.

Your Legal Duties at the Scene

A driver involved in a crash that injures someone must provide their name and home address, the vehicle’s registration number, and the name and address of the vehicle’s owner to the injured person and any officer at the scene. The same law requires reasonable assistance to anyone hurt, including arranging transport to a doctor or hospital when treatment appears necessary or the injured person asks for it.

Ask for the same information in return, along with the other driver’s insurance details. If the other driver refuses, record the license plate and a description of the vehicle and driver for the police.

If the Other Driver Flees

Hit-and-run crashes are a serious problem in Santa Monica, including a fatal one on Wilshire Boulevard in October 2025. If the driver leaves before you can identify them, your own uninsured motorist coverage may pay for your injuries, but only if you meet strict requirements. The fleeing vehicle must have made physical contact with you or your vehicle, the crash must be reported to the police within 24 hours, and you must file a sworn statement with your insurer within 30 days of that report.

Missing either deadline can jeopardize the claim. Our hit-and-run clients also benefit from early requests for nearby business and doorbell video, which often captures the plate or vehicle.

Steps for Rideshare Passengers, Scooter Riders, and Visitors

Different situations call for a few extra steps:

• Rideshare passengers: Take a screenshot of the trip in the app, report the crash through the app, and photograph both vehicles. The driver’s app status at the moment of the crash decides which policy applies in a rideshare accident.
• Scooter and e-bike riders: Photograph the scooter’s ID number or QR code and report the crash to the operator, along with the driver’s details if a car was involved. Our scooter accident clients often need these records later.
• Visitors and rental car drivers: Notify the rental company, keep copies of every form you sign, and get examined locally before flying home, so your medical records begin in Santa Monica.

Getting Medical Care

Even if you feel fine, get checked the same day. Adrenaline can mask pain, and symptoms of concussion and other traumatic brain injuries can take hours or days to appear. Our guide to trauma centers and emergency rooms in Santa Monica lists nearby options. Tell every provider that your symptoms began with the crash, so your records connect the two.

The First Week After the Crash

A few steps in the following days protect your claim:

• File an SR-1 report with the DMV within 10 days if anyone was hurt or damage exceeded $1,000, one of several dates covered in our guide to the statute of limitations.
• Notify your own insurer, but decline a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer until you have advice, a key part of dealing with insurance companies after an accident.
• Ask nearby businesses to save their video before it is overwritten.
• Keep the damaged vehicle available for photos and inspection before it is repaired or salvaged.

Our car accident lawyer in Santa Monica, CA can handle these steps for you once you call.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney in Santa Monica, CA After Your Crash

Attorney Wayne R. Cohen has practiced law since 1991, and his commentary on vehicle crashes has appeared in USA Today and The Detroit News. Attorney Nicholas E. Cohen, a graduate of USC and Loyola Law School, works with him on crash cases throughout the Westside. Cohen Injury Law Group also represents drivers hurt in nearby Venice.

Consultations are free, and you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation. Contact our team as soon as you are able.

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