Car Accident Claims in New Jersey

A driver in a crash that injures or kills anyone, or damages any one person's property by more than $500, must give notice by the quickest means available to the local police department, the nearest county police office, or the State Police. If a passenger is able and the driver is not, the passenger must give the notice. A knowing violation carries a fine of $30–$100, and the MVC can suspend or revoke license and registration privileges.

For the same crashes (injury, death, or more than $500 in damage to one person's property), the driver must send a written report to the Motor Vehicle Commission on its forms within 10 days — unless a law enforcement officer submits a written report of the crash to the Commission. If the driver cannot, a passenger or (for a non-owner driver) the vehicle owner must report. These reports are not open to public inspection and cannot be used as evidence except to prove the report was made. Knowingly failing to file carries a $30–$100 fine and possible license and registration suspension or revocation.

A driver knowingly involved in a crash causing injury or death, or damage to an attended vehicle or property, must stop at or as close to the scene as possible, stay, give their name and address and show their license and registration to the injured person, the other driver or occupants, any witness and any police officer, and give reasonable help to anyone injured (including transport for treatment if needed). If no one can receive the information and no officer is present, the driver must report to the nearest police office. Under the motor vehicle law, leaving an injury or death crash carries a $2,500–$5,000 fine and/or 180 days in jail, plus a one-year loss of driving privileges (permanent for a repeat offense). Leaving a property-damage crash (attended or unattended) carries a $200–$400 fine and/or up to 30 days in jail and a six-month loss of driving privileges for a first offense. For an unattended vehicle, the driver must find the owner or leave a secure written note.

New Jersey is a no-fault (choice) state. Standard liability minimums for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026 are $35,000 per person and $70,000 per accident for bodily injury (they were $25,000/$50,000 from 2023 through 2025), and $25,000 for property damage. A low-cost basic or special policy may be used instead. Standard policies must include personal injury protection (PIP) medical benefits of up to $250,000 per person regardless of fault. Drivers choose a tort option; under the "limitation on lawsuit" option, a person may sue for noneconomic loss only for death, dismemberment, significant disfigurement or scarring, displaced fractures, loss of a fetus, or a permanent injury.

Modified comparative negligence (51% bar). The injured person's negligence does not bar recovery if it was not greater than the negligence of the defendant (or the combined negligence of the defendants); damages are reduced by the injured person's percentage of negligence.

Two years. An action for injury to the person caused by the wrongful act, neglect or default of another must be filed within two years after the cause of action accrues.

Six years for any tortious injury to real or personal property.