What to Do After a Car Accident in New Jersey: Step-by-Step Checklist (2026)

# What to Do After a Car Accident in New Jersey: Your Complete Checklist

> **QUICK SUMMARY — After an accident in New Jersey:**
> 1. Check for injuries and call 911
> 2. Move to safety
> 3. Exchange information
> 4. Document the scene
> 5. Report if $500+ damage (within 10 days)
> 6. **File PIP claim with YOUR OWN insurance** (no-fault)
> 7. Seek medical attention

**Key NJ difference:** New Jersey is a **choice no-fault state**. Your policy type (Basic vs Standard) and threshold choice (Verbal vs No Threshold) affect your claim options.

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## Step 1 — Check for Injuries and Call 911

– Check yourself and passengers
– Call 911 if anyone is hurt
– Do not move seriously injured people unless immediate danger
– NJ law requires stopping and rendering aid

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## Step 2 — Move to Safety

– Move vehicles out of traffic if safe and drivable
– Turn on hazard lights
– Stay out of traffic lanes

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## Step 3 — Exchange Information

Collect from the other driver:
– Full name, contact info, driver’s license number
– Insurance company and policy number
– **Ask about their policy type** — Basic Policy holders may have no BI liability coverage
– License plate number, vehicle details

Get witness names and phone numbers.

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## Step 4 — Document Everything

– Photos of all vehicle damage from multiple angles
– Road conditions, traffic signs, signals
– Skid marks, debris, license plates
– Your injuries, weather conditions

Write down time, date, location, and your account.

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## Step 5 — File a Report

### When Required
– Property damage exceeds **$500**
– Anyone is injured or killed

### Deadline: 10 days

### How
– Call 911 at the scene
– File with the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC)

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## Step 6 — File Your PIP Claim (No-Fault)

Under NJ’s no-fault system:
1. Contact **your own insurance company**
2. File a **PIP claim** for medical expenses (and lost wages if Standard Policy)
3. PIP covers **$15,000 minimum** regardless of fault
4. PIP pays for medical treatment, lost income, and essential services

**For property damage:** This is fault-based. File with the at-fault driver’s insurer.

**Know your policy:** Your claim options depend on whether you have a Basic or Standard Policy, and Verbal Threshold or No Threshold.

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## Step 7 — Seek Medical Attention

– See a doctor even if you feel fine
– Delayed injuries: whiplash, concussions, internal injuries
– Medical records are critical for PIP claims and for proving “serious injury” under the Verbal Threshold

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## Your Rights Under New Jersey Law

– **Choice no-fault:** Basic Policy vs Standard Policy
– **Verbal Threshold vs No Threshold** — affects right to sue for pain/suffering
– **Modified 51% bar** — at 51%+ fault, you recover nothing
– **Statute of limitations:** 2 years PI, 6 years PD
– **PIP:** $15,000 minimum for all policy types
– **Minimum insurance:** 35/70/25 (Standard) or PIP-only (Basic)

Full guide: [New Jersey Car Accident Laws](/new-jersey/car-accident-laws/)

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## What NOT to Do

– Do not leave the scene
– Do not admit fault
– Do not skip PIP filing — it is your primary medical coverage
– Do not post on social media
– Do not accept the first settlement offer
– Do not skip medical treatment — especially if you may need to prove “serious injury”

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## Frequently Asked Questions

### Do I file with my insurance or the other driver’s?
**Medical bills:** Your own PIP (no-fault). **Vehicle damage:** The at-fault driver’s insurer (fault-based). **Pain and suffering:** Depends on your threshold choice and injury severity.

### What if the other driver has a Basic Policy?
Basic Policy holders may have **no bodily injury liability** and limited/no property damage coverage. Your UM/UIM coverage is your protection.

### How long to file a lawsuit?
**2 years** for personal injury, **6 years** for property damage (longest PD deadline among all 10 states).

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## Related Guides

– [How to File an Insurance Claim in New Jersey](/new-jersey/insurance-claim/)
– [Do You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident in New Jersey?](/new-jersey/do-i-need-a-lawyer/)
– [New Jersey Car Accident Laws](/new-jersey/car-accident-laws/)

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**DISCLAIMER:** This website is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page provides general educational information only. Always consult a licensed attorney in your state for advice specific to your situation. This is not medical advice. If you have been injured, seek immediate medical attention. Last updated: March 2026.