What to Do After a Teen Driver Car Accident in California

If you were in a teen driver car accident in California, get medical care first, then report the crash. Call 911, exchange information, and photograph the scene. File form SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days if anyone was injured or property damage tops $1,000. Most injury claims must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1.

Crashes involving young drivers can get complicated fast. Two insurance policies may apply. A parent may share legal responsibility. And if the injured person is a minor, a judge may need to approve any settlement.

Here is what California law actually says, and what to do next.

What Should You Do First After a Teen Driver Car Accident in California?

In the first hour, focus on safety, documentation, and medical care. Do not discuss fault at the scene. Do not accept a cash offer to skip the police report. Small details you collect now often decide the claim months later.

Work through these steps in order:

1. Call 911. Ask for police and, if anyone is hurt, an ambulance.
2. Get medical attention the same day. Neck, back, and head symptoms often appear hours later.
3. Photograph everything. Vehicle positions, damage, skid marks, street signs, and the roadway.
4. Collect names. Get the driver's license, insurance card, and the name of the registered owner. They are often different people in teen crashes.
5. Note the passengers. Their ages matter under California's provisional license rules.
6. Get witness contact information before people leave.
7. File an SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days if there was injury, death, or over $1,000 in property damage (Vehicle Code § 16000).

If the teen driver's parent arrives at the scene, be polite but brief. Give your information and let the insurance process begin.

Who Pays When a Teen Driver Causes a Crash in California?

Often more than one person is financially responsible. Under Vehicle Code § 17707, the adult who signed a minor's driver's license application is jointly and severally liable for damage the minor causes while driving. That usually means a parent or guardian.

Under Vehicle Code § 17708, a parent or guardian who gives a minor permission to drive any vehicle is also liable for the minor's negligence. So permission itself can create exposure, even for a borrowed car.

There is an important limit. Vehicle Code § 17709 can relieve the person who signed the license application if an insurance policy meeting state minimum amounts covers the minor driver. And when liability rests on vehicle ownership and permissive use, Vehicle Code § 17151 caps the owner's liability at $15,000 for one injured person, $30,000 for more than one, and $5,000 for property damage.

Those caps are why serious teen-crash claims often reach beyond a single policy. The teen's own coverage, a parent's policy, and your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may all come into play.

How much insurance does a California driver have to carry?

As of January 1, 2025, California's minimum liability limits rose to $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage. The prior minimums, in place since 1967, were $15,000/$30,000/$5,000. Those limits are scheduled to rise again on January 1, 2035.

Check your own declarations page for underinsured motorist coverage. In crashes with young drivers carrying bare-minimum policies, that coverage frequently matters.

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim After a California Teen Driver Crash?

Adults generally have two years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit in California, under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Claims for vehicle damage alone get three years under Code of Civil Procedure § 338.

Minors get more time. Code of Civil Procedure § 352 pauses the clock while the injured person is under 18. In most cases, a child injured in a crash has until two years after their eighteenth birthday to sue.

One deadline is far shorter. If a public entity is involved — a school district van, a city truck, a transit bus — you generally must file a written government claim within six months under Government Code § 911.2. That six-month rule applies to minors too. Missing it can end the case before it starts.

Do not wait for the deadline. Evidence like intersection camera footage and vehicle event data is often overwritten within weeks.

Free case evaluation for a California car accident: what to bring

What Driving Rules Do California Teens Have to Follow?

California uses a graduated licensing system, and breaking its rules can be evidence of negligence. Teens may apply for a permit at 15 years and 6 months. A provisional license is available at 16 after driver education, driver training, and six months with a permit.

During the first 12 months with a provisional license, Vehicle Code § 12814.6 says a driver under 18 may not:

• Drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. without a licensed adult 25 or older in the car
• Transport passengers under age 20 without a licensed adult 25 or older in the car

Two more rules apply to every minor driver. Vehicle Code § 23124 bans all wireless phone use while driving for drivers under 18 — including hands-free. And Vehicle Code § 23136 sets a zero-tolerance blood alcohol limit of 0.01% for drivers under 21.

When a driver breaks a safety statute and causes the exact harm the statute was written to prevent, California courts may apply negligence per se. That can shift the presumption of fault. You can review the current rules on the California DMV teen licensing page.

What If Your Teen Was the One Who Got Hurt?

A minor cannot bring a lawsuit on their own. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 372, a parent or another adult must be appointed guardian ad litem to act for the child in court.

Settlements work differently too. California requires court approval of a minor's compromise under Probate Code §§ 3500 and 3600. A judge reviews the settlement, the medical bills, and the attorney's fees before approving anything.

Approved funds usually go into a blocked account or an annuity until the child turns 18. Parents cannot simply withdraw the money. This process protects the child, but it adds weeks to the timeline, so plan for it.

Keep every medical record, therapy note, and school absence log. For a young person, missed development and long recovery can matter as much as the ER bill.

How Do Insurers Handle Teen Driver Crash Claims?

Insurers often investigate teen crashes aggressively, because coverage questions and multiple policies are common. Expect an early call requesting a recorded statement. You are not required to give one to the other driver's insurer.

California follows pure comparative negligence, established in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804. Your compensation is reduced by your share of fault, but you are not barred from recovering even if you were mostly at fault. Adjusters know this, so they look hard for any fault to assign to you.

If a claim is denied or stalls, you have options. what to do when a California insurance claim is denied

When should you talk to a lawyer?

Consider speaking with a California personal injury attorney early if anyone was hospitalized, if fault is disputed, or if more than one insurance policy might apply. Justin for Justice focuses on personal injury matters throughout California, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno, and Bakersfield.

This article is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Results depend on the facts of each case. free case review after a car accident in Los Angeles

For safety data and prevention resources, see the NHTSA teen driving safety pages.