The first day after a crash decides what goes into the police report and how an insurer later values your claim. New Jersey adds its own rules, including lawsuit limits many drivers chose without realizing it. Here is a checklist, then the law offices Hudson County drivers call, starting with The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone.
What should you do in the first 24 hours after a New Jersey car accident?
1. Do you have to stay at the scene?
Yes. N.J.S.A. 39:4-129 requires any driver in a crash involving injury or property damage to stop and remain. Leaving can bring license suspension and criminal charges.
2. When do you have to call the police?
Call 911 if anyone is hurt. Even without injuries, N.J.S.A. 39:4-130 requires reporting a crash with apparent property damage over $500. The officer will usually complete an NJTR-1, New Jersey’s standard crash report.
3. What information should you get from the other driver?
Get their name, address, license number, plate, registration, and insurance company with the policy number. Photograph the license and insurance card.
4. What evidence is worth collecting?
Photograph the vehicles, lane markings, traffic signals, and any visible injuries, plus wide shots of where each car stopped. Ask witnesses for contact details before they leave. Look for security cameras nearby, since footage is often erased within days.
5. Should you see a doctor if you feel fine?
Yes, ideally the same day. Adrenaline can hide whiplash and concussions, and insurers read treatment gaps as proof you weren’t hurt. Personal Injury Protection (PIP), the no-fault part of New Jersey auto policies, pays medical bills regardless of fault. Standard policies default to $250,000 in PIP coverage.
6. When should you tell your insurance company?
Within a day. Most policies require prompt notice, and PIP benefits begin with an open claim. Stick to basic facts.
7. Should you give the other driver’s insurer a statement?
Not yet. You aren’t required to give their adjuster a recorded statement, and early remarks get used to assign blame. Under New Jersey’s comparative negligence law (N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1), you recover nothing if found more than 50 percent at fault, and any smaller share reduces your award.
8. Does the verbal threshold apply to you?
Most New Jersey drivers carry the “limitation on lawsuit option,” the verbal threshold. It allows a lawsuit for pain and suffering only for injuries listed in N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8(a): death, dismemberment, significant disfigurement or scarring, a displaced fracture, loss of a fetus, or a permanent injury.
9. How do you get the police report?
Ask the officer for the report number before you leave. Reports typically become available within a few days to two weeks, often online.
10. Which deadlines start running?
Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2). If a government vehicle was involved, such as an NJ Transit bus, a notice of claim is generally due within 90 days (N.J.S.A. 59:8-8). Talk to a lawyer well before either date.
Which law offices do Hudson County drivers call after a crash?
- The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone
- Bhatt Law Group
- Levow DWI Law
- Marshall Criminal Defense & DWI Lawyers
- Law Offices of Anthony J. Vecchio, LLC
The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone
The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone, P.C. is a Jersey City firm where attorney Anthony Carbone has practiced for 35 years. The firm handles car, pedestrian, and Uber and Lyft accident claims. It also defends criminal and DUI charges, which helps when one crash creates both an injury claim and a court date. The firm serves Hudson and Essex counties and offers consultations in English, Hindi, and Punjabi.
Bhatt Law Group
A Jersey City firm whose practice includes car accident and other personal injury claims.
Levow DWI Law
A Jersey City office focused on DWI defense, relevant when a crash leads to a drunk driving charge.
Marshall Criminal Defense & DWI Lawyers
A Jersey City office that handles criminal, DWI, and traffic matters.
Law Offices of Anthony J. Vecchio, LLC
A Kearny office that handles traffic violations and DUI defense.
What matters most on day one?
What protects a claim mostly happens in the first hours: a police report, photographs, a medical visit, and prompt notice to your insurer. Arguments about fault can wait. If you were hurt or charged after a Hudson County crash, The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone offers free consultations to review your options.
Attorney advertising. This article is general information and not legal advice.