Riverside County guide
After a crash: practical steps
After a crash in Riverside County, the practical tasks usually are: get your car released from the tow yard, file the DMV SR-1 within 10 days when it is required, deal with ambulance and hospital bills, request your medical records, and understand the liens Medi-Cal, Medicare or a hospital can place on a settlement.
The days after a crash bring a string of practical problems that have nothing to do with who was at fault: the car is at a tow yard, the DMV wants a report, an ambulance bill arrives, and the hospital has your records. These pages explain the California rules and the Riverside County procedures for each one, using official sources only.
If you were hurt, two deadlines frame everything else: generally two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1) and six months to present a claim against a public entity (Government Code § 911.2). Our claims guide covers the second one.
- Printable crash checklistWhat to do at the scene and in the days after, with legal duties.
- Getting a towed car backRelease rules, agency fees and your rights at the tow yard.
- The DMV SR-1 reportWhen the 10-day DMV report is required and how to file it.
- Ambulance billsCalifornia's ground ambulance billing limits and county rates.
- Getting your medical recordsYour right to copies within 15 days, and what they can charge.
- Medical liens, Medi-Cal and MedicareWho can claim part of your settlement, and the limits.
Every fact on this page links to the official source it came from. We checked each one in September 2026. Agencies change fees and procedures, so confirm with the agency before you go. How we research.
Related pages
Hurt in Riverside County?
Talk with our Riverside team about what happened. Consultations are free, in English or Spanish.