Vehicle Code § 20008 – Requirement to Report Certain Accidents
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Vehicle Code § 20008 – Requirement to Report Certain Accidents
California Law
Vehicle Code – VEH
DIVISION 10. ACCIDENTS AND ACCIDENT REPORTS [20000 – 20018]
( Division 10 enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3. )
CHAPTER 1. Accidents and Accident Reports [20000 – 20018]
( Heading of Chapter 1 added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 281, Sec. 2. )
20008.
(a) The driver of a vehicle, other than a common carrier vehicle, involved in any accident resulting in injuries to or death of any person shall within 24 hours after the accident make or cause to be made a written report of the accident to the Department of the California Highway Patrol or, if the accident occurred within a city, to either the Department of the California Highway Patrol or the police department of the city in which the accident occurred. If the agency which receives the report is not responsible for investigating the accident, it shall immediately forward the report to the law enforcement agency which is responsible for investigating the accident.
On or before the fifth day of each month, every police department which received a report during the previous calendar month of an accident which it is responsible for investigating shall forward the report or a copy thereof to the main office of the Department of the California Highway Patrol at Sacramento.
(b) The owner or driver of a common carrier vehicle involved in any such accident shall make a like report to the Department of California Highway Patrol on or before the 10th day of the month following the accident.
(Amended by Stats. 1970, Ch. 224.)
California Law Summary
This statute requires that within 24 hours of a traffic accident involving injury or death, the driver (or a representative) must submit a written report of the accident to the California Highway Patrol or local police department if no officer was present at the scene.
If law enforcement responds to the accident and completes a report, the driver is not required to file an additional report under this section.
Purpose
To ensure timely official documentation of serious accidents, facilitating investigations, insurance claims, and legal accountability.
Application
This reporting requirement supports the creation of an official accident record. In personal injury claims, this report can serve as key evidence regarding fault, injuries sustained, and the overall context of the collision.
