What to Do After a Car Accident in New Jersey
Seven steps for the first hour after a crash in New Jersey: safety, police report, photos, insurance, choosing your body shop and towing.
A crash is stressful, even a small one. Knowing the steps in advance makes the next hour a lot easier. This is what we tell our own customers in Little Falls and the surrounding towns.
1. Make the scene safe
Turn on your hazard lights. If the cars can be moved and nobody is hurt, move them out of traffic. Check yourself and your passengers, and call 911 if anyone is injured or a vehicle is blocking the road.
2. Call the police when required
In New Jersey, a crash with an injury or with property damage of $500 or more has to be reported to the police. With today’s repair costs, that covers almost every collision. A police report also helps your insurance claim, so when in doubt, call.
3. Exchange information
Get the other driver’s name, phone number, license, plate number, insurance company and policy number. Write down the make and color of the car and the exact location. Stay calm and do not discuss who was at fault; that is for the insurers.
4. Take photos
Photograph both cars from several angles, the damage up close, the road, traffic signs and any skid marks. These photos are useful for your claim, and you can send them to us for a first estimate.
5. Report it to your insurance company
Call your insurer or use their app the same day. New Jersey is a no-fault state for injuries, so your own policy covers your medical bills first. For the car, the claim goes to your insurer or the other driver’s, depending on who was at fault and your coverage.
6. Choose your body shop
Your insurer may recommend a shop, but in New Jersey the choice is yours. Pick a shop you trust, that writes estimates for OEM parts and stands behind its work. We work with every insurance company, talk to the adjuster for you and handle supplements when hidden damage shows up.
7. Arrange towing if the car is not safe to drive
If a light, wheel or the steering is damaged, do not drive it. Call us from the scene and we tow it straight to our shop on East Main Street, so it does not end up in a storage yard that charges by the day.
Keep this list in your glovebox
Need help right now? Call (201) 777-3300 or send photos through our free estimate form.