What is Personal Injury (PI)?

Personal Injury (PI) is a term that encompasses claims by individual persons for damages to their physical and financial health, emotional well being, and to their reputation. The most common type of PI case involves bodily injury resulting from an auto accident but encompasses matters such as slip and fall accidents and dog bites.

What other reports are required besides the police report?

In addition to filing a police report, any driver involved in a motor vehicle accident in California must within 10 days of the accident file a combined accident report and verification of financial responsibility form known as an SR-1 with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This is required whenever there is injury in the accident or where there is $750 or more of property damage. You need Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4.0 or higher to view this form which you can download here.

What information should I obtain from the other driver at the accident scene?

Be sure to get the other driver's name, address, and license number and expiration date. Also get the driver's telephone number and insurance company's policy number and expiration date. Write down the other car's make, model, and license plate number, and ask to see the registration for the other vehicle. Additionally, get the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of any passengers in the other car and any witnesses. Additionally, you can also print out the accident report records form we have provided for you to keep in your car for your convenience.