What to Do After a Car Accident in New Jersey: A Step-by-Step Guide

The minutes and days after a New Jersey car accident matter for your health and your claim. Follow these steps to protect your rights under NJ's no-fault insurance system.

Stay Safe at the Scene

Your first priority is safety. If anyone is injured, or if vehicles are blocking traffic in a dangerous way, call 911 immediately. If you can move your vehicle safely, pull it out of the travel lane to prevent a secondary collision. Turn on your hazard lights and use warning triangles or flares if you have them.

Call the Police and Get the Report

New Jersey law requires you to report any accident that involves injury, death, or property damage exceeding $500. The responding officer will prepare a crash report that documents the scene, identifies the drivers and insurance carriers, and may note traffic violations. Ask the officer for their name and badge number, and find out how to request a copy of the report — you will need it when you file your claim.

Gather Information Before You Leave

While you wait for help, collect what you can: the other driver's name, address, license number, and insurance policy information; photos of all vehicles, the roadway, traffic controls, weather and lighting conditions, and any visible injuries; and contact information for every witness. Do not admit fault, apologize, or speculate about what happened — anything you say can be used by the insurance company to reduce your recovery.

Seek Medical Attention Right Away

Even if you feel fine, get examined by a doctor as soon as possible. Serious injuries — concussions, whiplash, internal injuries, and soft-tissue damage — often do not show symptoms for hours or even days. Prompt medical care protects your health and, just as importantly, creates a clear record linking your injuries to the crash. Insurance adjusters look for gaps in treatment to argue your injuries are unrelated or exaggerated.

Understand New Jersey's No-Fault (PIP) System

New Jersey is a no-fault insurance state. After a car accident, your own auto insurance pays your medical bills through Personal Injury Protection (PIP), regardless of who caused the crash. Standard policies carry a minimum of $15,000 in PIP, with higher limits available. Report the accident to your insurer promptly, but keep your statement brief and factual. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company before speaking with a lawyer.

Watch the "Verbal Threshold" for Pain and Suffering

Whether you can sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering depends on your insurance policy. New Jersey drivers choose between a "limitation on lawsuit" (verbal threshold) option and a "no limitation" option. With the verbal threshold, you can recover non-economic damages only if your injury falls into one of several defined categories — such as death, dismemberment, significant disfigurement or scarring, a displaced fracture, loss of a fetus, or a permanent injury. Understanding which threshold applies to your policy is one of the first things an attorney will review.

Don't Rush to Settle

Insurance adjusters often contact injured people within days, offering a quick, low settlement. Once you accept, you almost always give up the right to seek more — even if your injuries turn out to be far worse than expected. Before you sign anything or accept a check, have an attorney evaluate whether the offer is fair.

How Diana Lakic Helps

Diana Lakic personally handles every car accident case. She investigates your crash, preserves the evidence, documents your injuries, navigates New Jersey's PIP and verbal-threshold rules, and fights the insurance companies for the full compensation you deserve — with no fee unless she recovers money for you. Call 800-330-HURT (4878) for a free consultation.

Injured in the Elizabeth Area?

Diana Lakic personally represents people injured in crashes across Union County. Learn more about working with a car accident lawyer serving Elizabeth, NJ, or see the locations we serve across New Jersey. The consultation is free. Call 800-330-HURT (4878).