What to do after a car accident in New Jersey
Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt, get the vehicles out of traffic if they can move, call the police, exchange information, photograph everything, and choose your own tow and destination before a car gets taken somewhere you did not pick.
The short answer
Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt, get the vehicles out of traffic if they can move, call the police, exchange information, photograph everything, and choose your own tow and destination before a car gets taken somewhere you did not pick.
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Call nowSafety and 911
Check yourself and your passengers, then the people in the other car. If anyone is injured, if a car is on fire, or if a vehicle is blocking a live lane on a highway, call 911 right away. Turn on your hazards. If the cars can be driven and nobody is hurt, move them to the shoulder or a nearby lot so the crash does not cause another one.
If the car cannot be moved, stay inside with your belt on unless there is smoke or a fuel smell. Standing between wrecked cars on a highway is how a minor crash turns into a serious one.
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Call nowCall the police and get a report
In New Jersey, a crash that causes injury or significant property damage must be reported to police, and in practice it is wise to call for any crash on a public road. The officer documents the scene and prepares a report. Ask for the report number and the officer's name and department before you leave. Your insurer will ask for them.
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Call nowExchange information and document the scene
Get each driver's name, address, phone, license number, plate number, and insurance company and policy number. Note the make, model and color of every vehicle involved. Get names and numbers from any witnesses.
Photograph the vehicles from every side, the damage up close, the plates, the road, skid marks, debris, traffic signals and signs. A few minutes of photos at the scene can settle a lot of questions later. Do not argue about fault at the scene, and do not sign anything other than what the police officer asks you to sign.
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Call nowNew Jersey PIP in plain terms
New Jersey is a no-fault state for medical claims. Your own auto policy's Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, pays your medical expenses after a crash regardless of who caused it, up to your policy's limits. Property damage to the cars is handled differently, through liability or collision coverage depending on who was at fault and what coverage you carry. Report the crash to your insurer promptly and ask them to explain your specific coverage. Get checked by a doctor even if you feel fine, because some injuries show up later.
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Call nowIn the days after the crash
Call your insurer and open a claim as soon as you can, even if you think the other driver was at fault. Give them the police report number, the photos and the other driver's details. Keep a folder, paper or digital, with every document: the report, the tow receipt, medical bills, estimates and rental car receipts. Note the date and the name of everyone you speak with.
Before any repair begins, get a written estimate, and if your insurer sends an appraiser, make sure they see the car. If the car is in your driveway, the appraiser can usually inspect it there. If the car is in a storage yard, move it promptly so daily charges do not pile up while the claim is reviewed.
If someone was hurt or the fault is disputed, many people speak with an attorney before giving recorded statements. That is your decision; the point is to make it deliberately, not under pressure at the scene.
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Call nowChoose your own tow and destination
If the car cannot be driven and you do not call a tow, the officer will call the next company on the town's rotation list, and the car will go to that company's yard, where storage usually adds up daily and you may need to visit in person to get it released. That is the normal process, not a scam, but it is the most expensive default.
You can avoid it by calling your own tow as soon as everyone is safe and telling the officer a private tow is on the way and where the car is going. Call (908) 444-0129. Our accident towing service recovers the car, sweeps the debris out of the lane, photographs the vehicle and delivers it to the body shop, dealer or driveway you choose. The price is a flat hook fee plus a per-mile rate to that destination, quoted on the call, with an itemized receipt for your adjuster.
If you are not sure which body shop to use yet, the car can go to your driveway first. Your insurer may recommend shops, but in most cases you can choose where the repair is done. A badly damaged car usually needs a flatbed. More detail is in our accident towing guide.
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Call nowMore on accidents & insurance
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- Tip #36: At a multi-car crash, get people safe before you think about the cars
- 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
Questions drivers ask about this
Short answers.
Do I have to call the police after a minor accident in New Jersey?
Crashes with injury or significant property damage must be reported. Calling the police for any crash on a public road is the safest choice, and the report helps your insurance claim.
What does PIP cover in New Jersey?
Personal Injury Protection on your own auto policy pays your medical expenses after a crash regardless of fault, up to your policy limits. Ask your insurer about your specific coverage.
Can I choose my own tow company after an accident?
Yes, if you call before the police call one. Tell the officer a private tow is on the way and where the car is going.
Where should my car go after a crash?
To the body shop, dealer or driveway you choose. If you have not picked a shop, your driveway is a safe first stop.
Ask the dispatcher anything.
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