Here's exactly what to do after a crash in California. Must-do legal requirements: File DMV report within 10 days.If you meet with a severe car accident in California, the law requires you to fill out and submit Form SR1 with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Complete and submit the workers' compensation claim form your employer provides within 24 hours of informing them about the injury. You should call your own insurance company first to let them know what happened. Make this call on the day of your accident if possible. The DMV requires that accidents be filed using the SR-1 Accident Reporting Form. MedPay is an optional coverage that California auto insurers sell to provide coverage for injuries suffered in a car accident. MedPay. California Vehicle Code §20008 requires drivers to report car accidents involving injuries or death within 24 hours of the crash. 4. If the case is recordable, decide which form you will fill out as the injury and illness incident report.