After a collision, classify injury or death before property damage, then separate scene duties from later reporting. For child restraints, classify by age, size, seating and who is responsible before deciding which restraint branch applies.
Handle the scene before the report
When a collision injures a person other than the driver or causes any death, the involved driver stops immediately at the scene. The driver then supplies the required identifying and vehicle details, shows the driver's license when an involved person or officer requests it, and provides reasonable assistance. That help includes arranging transport for medical care when treatment appears necessary or is requested. These direct duties cannot be replaced by going home, leaving only a note or planning a report for later.
| Situation | Required path |
|---|---|
| Injury to another person or any death | Stop immediately at the scene, identify, assist and complete the applicable notification duties. |
| Property damage only | Stop at the nearest safe place without unnecessarily obstructing traffic, then identify the driver and vehicle. |
| Owner of damaged property cannot be found | Leave the required written notice and notify local police or highway patrol without unnecessary delay. |
| DMV reporting trigger | For a covered collision, report within 10 days for bodily injury, death or more than 1,000 dollars of damage to any one person. |
| Government-directed vehicle | Check the exception for a vehicle owned or leased by, or under the direction of, the United States, California, another state or a local agency. |
The 10-day DMV report applies to a collision originating from operation on a street or highway, and to the defined reportable off-highway case, when a trigger is present. Bodily injury and death each trigger it. Property damage must exceed 1,000 dollars to any one person; exactly 1,000 does not exceed that line. No report is required under this rule when the vehicle is owned or leased by, or under the direction of, one of the listed government bodies.
Apply the 2026 child-restraint branches
Through December 31, 2026, a child under eight in the ordinary qualifying highway situation is properly secured in an appropriate compliant child restraint in a rear seat unless a stated exception or alternative applies. When the child's parent or legal guardian rides along, only the driver is exempted from this particular duty; the parent or guardian remains responsible. A rear-facing restraint is never placed in front of an active frontal passenger airbag.
For a child under two, begin with a federally compliant rear-facing restraint used within the manufacturer's height and weight limits. The rear-facing requirement ends when the child is at least 40 pounds or at least 40 inches tall. Crossing either threshold does not erase the separate under-eight restraint duty. The next restraint still must be appropriate for the child and remain within its manufacturer limits.
Check the listed exceptions and alternatives
| Branch | Current through December 31, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Court exemption | Physical unfitness, medical condition or size may support an exemption; the court may require proof of that basis and that an appropriate special-needs restraint is unavailable. |
| Emergency transport | Use a safety belt during a life-threatening emergency or in an authorized emergency vehicle only when no child restraint is available. |
| Belt alternatives | A child weighing more than 40 pounds may use a lap-only belt in a rear seat with no combination lap-and-shoulder belt; an under-eight child at least four feet nine inches tall may use a safety belt. |
| Front-seat conditions | A properly restrained under-eight child rides in front only when there is no rear seat, the rear seats are side-facing jump seats or rear-facing seats, the restraint cannot be installed properly in the rear, all rear seats are occupied by children seven or younger, or medical reasons require the front. Never place a rear-facing restraint in front of an active frontal passenger airbag. |
The traps
- Leaving an injury scene to report later. When another person is injured or anyone dies, the involved driver stops immediately at the scene before carrying out the remaining duties.
- Leaving only an insurance-company note after damaging unattended property. The notice must carry the required identification, and local police or highway patrol must also be notified without unnecessary delay.
- Treating exactly 1,000 dollars of property damage as exceeding the reporting threshold. The property trigger is more than 1,000 dollars to any one person.
- Extending the parent-present driver exemption to every adult. It exempts only the driver; the parent or legal guardian riding along remains responsible for the child's restraint.
Try it
After a California collision in which another person is injured, which duties apply to the driver? Select all that apply.
- Provide the required identifying and vehicle information
- Leave only a written note and continue the trip
- Present the driver's license when an involved person or officer requests it
- Give reasonable assistance and arrange medical transport when needed or requested
On September 1, 2026, a 22-month-old child weighs 42 pounds and is under 40 inches tall. The child is riding in an ordinary qualifying car, and no listed exception applies. Which restraint treatment follows?
- Use an adult belt alone because the child weighs more than 40 pounds
- Use a rear-facing restraint regardless of manufacturer limits
- Use an appropriate compliant child restraint; rear-facing is no longer required solely because the child reached 40 pounds
- Use any forward-facing seat after 40 pounds, even when the child exceeds that restraint's manufacturer height or weight limits