NJ Car Accident Checklist: What to Do at the Scene, in 24 Hours and Beyond
After a car accident in New Jersey, check for injuries and call 911, move to safety if you can, exchange information and take photos. Within 24 hours, see a doctor and tell your own insurer, because your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays medical bills first. Keep every record, avoid recorded statements to the other driver's insurer, and talk to a lawyer before you sign anything.
Nobody plans for a crash. One minute you're driving to work on Route 80, the next you're standing on the shoulder with your hands shaking. That's exactly why a checklist helps. You don't have to remember everything. You just have to follow the next step.
This guide walks you through what to do, in order, from the first minute to the first month.
Key points at a glance
First minutes: safety, 911, information and photos.
First 24 hours: a doctor visit and a call to your own insurer.
First week: your police report, your policy and a free lawyer review.
First month and beyond: follow your treatment, keep records and watch your deadlines.
Never: admit fault, give the other insurer a recorded statement, or accept a fast offer.
At the Scene: Your First 15 Minutes
Your safety comes before any claim. Work through this list as calmly as you can.
Stop the car. Leaving the scene can bring serious penalties in New Jersey, even when the damage looks minor.
Check for injuries and call 911. Ask for police and an ambulance if anyone is hurt. If someone may have a neck or back injury, don't move them.
Get out of traffic. If the cars can move and nobody is hurt, pull to the shoulder. Turn on your hazard lights.
Exchange information. Get the other driver's name, phone number, license number, plate number and insurance company. Take a photo of their license and insurance card.
Take photos and video. Capture both cars from every angle, the road, skid marks, traffic signals, weather and any visible injuries.
Find witnesses. Ask for names and phone numbers. Witnesses tend to leave fast, and they are hard to track down later.
Ask for the police case number. You'll need it to request your report.
What not to say: skip "I'm sorry" and "I didn't see you." They feel polite, but insurers can treat them as admissions of fault. Stick to facts.
Within 24 Hours: Get Checked and Notify Your Insurer
See a doctor, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline can hide pain for hours. Whiplash, concussions and back injuries often show up a day or two later. A same-day or next-day visit also creates a medical record that ties your injury to the crash.
Tell your own insurance company. New Jersey is a no-fault state. Your own PIP coverage pays your medical bills first, no matter who caused the crash. Reporting late can cause delays.
Write down what happened. While it's fresh, note the time, the direction each car was going, what the other driver said and how you felt.
Stay off social media. Don't post photos, updates or "I'm okay!" messages. Adjusters do look.
If the crash involved an Uber or Lyft, a commercial truck or a driver who fled, more than one insurer may be involved. See our pages on rideshare accidents and truck accidents.
Within the First Week: Build Your Paper Trail
Request your police crash report. Read every page. Check names, plates, insurance details and the officer's notes. Reports for State Police, Turnpike and Parkway crashes are requested through the official NJ State Police crash report portal. For local police, contact the department that came to the scene. Our NJ car accident report lawyer page explains how.
Pull out your auto policy. Look at three things: your PIP limit, your uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and your lawsuit option.
Start a claim folder. Keep medical bills, receipts, repair estimates, rental car costs and pay stubs in one place.
Get a free lawyer review before you give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement.
Why Your Lawsuit Option Matters So Much in New Jersey
This is the step most checklists skip, and it can change the value of your case.
Many New Jersey drivers choose the limitation on lawsuit option, often called the "verbal threshold," because it lowers the premium. With it, you can only sue for pain and suffering if your injury falls into certain categories under N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8(a):
Death
Dismemberment
Significant disfigurement or scarring
A displaced fracture
Loss of a fetus
A permanent injury, supported by objective medical evidence
If you chose the no limitation option, you can sue for pain and suffering without meeting those categories.
This is why steady medical care matters. A permanent injury has to be backed by doctors' findings and tests, not just how you feel. Gaps in treatment make it much harder to prove. Our post on PIP, BI and UIM coverage explains the other parts of your policy.
Within the First Month: Protect Your Recovery and Your Claim
Follow your treatment plan. Go to every appointment, physical therapy session and follow-up. Missed visits give the insurer an argument that you weren't really hurt.
Keep a short pain journal. A few lines a day about pain, sleep, missed events and tasks you couldn't do. It becomes strong evidence later.
Track lost income. Save notes from your employer about missed shifts and reduced hours.
Don't rush a settlement. An early offer usually comes before anyone knows the full cost of your injury. Once you sign a release, the claim is closed for good.
Mistakes That Can Hurt Your NJ Car Accident Claim
Waiting days or weeks to see a doctor
Giving a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer without advice
Guessing about speed, distance or fault when you aren't sure
Repairing your car before the damage is photographed and inspected
Posting about the crash or your activities online
Signing medical authorizations or releases you haven't read
Missing a deadline, especially the 90-day notice when a government vehicle is involved
Key NJ Deadlines to Keep on Your Calendar
Police report: a crash with injury, death or more than $500 in damage must be reported. If police don't file a report, the driver must file the state's SR-1 form within 10 days.
Government vehicles: if a police car, town truck or NJ Transit bus was involved, a written Notice of Claim is due within 90 days.
Lawsuit: most NJ personal injury lawsuits must be filed within 2 years of the crash.
Our page on the NJ statute of limitations for personal injury explains these deadlines and their exceptions.
When Should You Call a NJ Car Accident Lawyer?
Call as early as you can, ideally before talking to the other driver's insurance company. A call is especially important if:
You were hurt and needed medical care
The other driver is blaming you, or the police report is wrong
The other driver had no insurance or fled the scene
A truck, rideshare or government vehicle was involved
The insurer is pushing you to settle quickly
A NJ car accident checklist lawyer makes sure every step on this list is done right, from preserving camera footage to proving a permanent injury. At Barreto Law Firm, Attorney Elizabeth Barreto handles the insurers and the paperwork so you can focus on healing. Learn more about our NJ auto accident lawyer services. There's no fee unless we win, and our personal injury lawyer cost page explains how that works.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accidents in New Jersey
What should I do first after a car accident in NJ?
Check yourself and others for injuries and call 911. If the cars can move and nobody is hurt, pull out of traffic and turn on your hazard lights. Then exchange information, take photos and get witness contact details.
Do I have to call the police after a minor accident in New Jersey?
Yes, if anyone was hurt or the damage is more than $500, which most crashes pass. If police don't file a written report, the driver must file the SR-1 form within 10 days. Calling police also gives you an official record for your claim.
Who pays my medical bills after a car accident in NJ?
Your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays first, no matter who caused the crash. That's how New Jersey's no-fault system works. Your policy sets the limits, so check your declarations page.
Can I sue for pain and suffering after a car accident in New Jersey?
It depends on your policy. With the limitation on lawsuit option, your injury must meet certain categories, such as a permanent injury or a displaced fracture. With the no limitation option, you can sue for pain and suffering without meeting those categories.
Should I talk to the other driver's insurance company?
You can confirm basic facts, but you don't have to give a recorded statement. Adjusters may use your words to lower or deny your claim. Talk to a lawyer first.
What if the other driver has no insurance or leaves the scene?
Report it to police right away. Your own PIP coverage can pay medical bills, and your uninsured motorist coverage may cover other losses if the driver is never found or has no insurance.
Hurt in a Crash? Get a Free Case Review
You don't have to work through this checklist alone. Barreto Law Firm helps accident victims in Rockaway, across Morris County and throughout New Jersey protect their health and their claims. Call 862-418-3389 or request your free case review. No fee unless we win. Hablamos español.
See what past clients say on our Google Business Profile, and follow Barreto Law Firm on Instagram for quick legal tips after an accident.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every crash is different, so speak with a licensed New Jersey attorney about your situation.