What happens after a fatal crash

A fatal collision follows a different and much longer process than an ordinary crash. This is written for families trying to understand what is happening.

The investigation takes months, not weeks

Fatal collisions in CHP jurisdiction are typically handled by a Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) or an equivalent specialist unit. The work involves scene mapping, vehicle inspection, data recovery from vehicle event recorders, and reconstruction. A final report commonly takes several months. It is normal to hear very little during that period.

The coroner is a separate process

The county coroner or medical examiner conducts its own examination and issues its own report, independently of the collision investigation. Coroner records are generally available to next of kin. These also take time — commonly several weeks — and they are released separately from the collision report.

Records available to families

As next of kin, you are a party of interest for the collision report. The estate's legal representative also qualifies. The investigating office can confirm what proof of relationship it requires, which usually means a death certificate and identification.

Financial assistance with funeral costs

The California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) can help eligible families with funeral and burial expenses. Eligibility rules apply, and applying earlier is generally better. The official site is victims.ca.gov.

On the information published here

Dispatch data indicating a fatality is preliminary and occasionally wrong. It records what responders reported in the first minutes. It is not a determination by the coroner, and it never identifies anyone.

If you are a family member and something on this site concerns you, you can contact us through the accuracy notice.