Tip #36: At a multi-car crash, get people safe before you think about the cars
At a crash with several cars, the biggest danger is the traffic still coming. Call 911, get everyone out of the travel lanes and away from the vehicles, and arrange the tow once police control the scene.
Tip #36 in one line
At a crash with several cars, the biggest danger is the traffic still coming. Call 911, get everyone out of the travel lanes and away from the vehicles, and arrange the tow once police control the scene.
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Call nowFirst: 911 and distance
A crash involving three or four vehicles is a police scene. Call 911 even if nobody looks hurt; injuries are not always obvious, blocked lanes cause secondary crashes, and New Jersey requires reporting crashes with injuries. Tell the dispatcher how many vehicles, whether any are in travel lanes and whether anyone is hurt or trapped.
Then move people, not cars. If you can get out safely, get away from the vehicles and behind a barrier, a guardrail or well onto the grass. Do not stand between cars, in front of a car or next to the lane. The cars that have already crashed are not the threat; the next driver who does not see the scene is.
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Call nowMoving the vehicles
If no one is hurt and your car still drives, steering it out of the travel lanes to the shoulder or a nearby lot is usually safer than leaving it in place. If there are injuries, fluid leaking, smoke or a car that will not move, leave it and let police direct the scene. Turn on hazard lights if you can do it without stepping into traffic.
Police may call a rotation tow company to clear the road quickly. You can ask whether you may use your own tow company. If they allow it, call us and give the exact location; if the road has to be cleared before we can arrive, the car goes to the rotation yard and we can pick it up from there later on a signed release.
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Call nowThen the paperwork
Exchange insurance and registration details with every driver, get the police report number, and take photos once it is safe. New Jersey is a no-fault state, so your own PIP coverage handles your medical bills first; your insurer will want the report number. Our accident towing page and the accident towing guide explain how we handle a crashed car, priced as a flat hook fee plus per-mile rate quoted on the call.
If a crash happens in front of you and you were not involved, keep going unless you can help without becoming another hazard. Slowing to look causes the next collision. If you do stop to help, pull well beyond the scene, turn on your hazards, and call 911 with a precise location rather than walking back along the shoulder.
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Call nowMore on accidents & insurance
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- What to do after a car accident in New Jersey
- Tip #37: Take timestamped photos before the car moves an inch
- Tip #59: Check whether your policy covers roadside help, and keep the receipt either way
- Tip #60: In New Jersey, your own PIP pays your medical bills first after a crash
- Tip #61: Your insurer will ask for a claim number, photos and the police report number
- Tip #66: You can usually choose your tow, but the police decide when safety requires it
- Tip #67: A roadside club and a local tow operator each have a place, so know when to use which
- Tip #69: Getting a tow reimbursed is four steps, and the first happens at the car
- All posts
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