Do I Have to Tell the DMV After a Car Crash in New Jersey?
Yes, you are legally required to tell the New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles of any New Jersey car accident that results in injuries, deaths or property damage worth more than $500. You have 10 days to file this report if the police did not visit the scene and file it for you.
New Jersey Car Accident Reporting Requirements
It is the law in New Jersey that any driver who is involved in a serious car accident must report it to the MVC within no more than 10 days. A “serious accident” is defined as one involving property damage of $500 or more to either vehicle, bodily injury, or wrongful death.
If your car accident meets these parameters, you are required to report the crash to local law enforcement right away (while still at the scene, if possible). Typically, the police will visit the crash scene, draw up a police report and submit it to the MVC themselves. In this situation, you don’t have to file a separate report on your own.
If the police did not come to the scene of the accident and submit a report, however, you are required by state law to report it yourself to the MVC within 10 days as one of the involved drivers. You must also report the crash to your auto insurance provider.
How to Notify the DMV About Your New Jersey Car Accident
If you are legally required to notify the MVC of a car crash in the absence of a police report, you can do so by filling out and submitting the Self-Reporting Crash Form (SR-1). This form will request basic details about the collision, such as:
- The date, time and location of the accident
- Whether or not the police investigated the crash
- The make, model, year and license plate numbers of both vehicles
- Descriptions of vehicle damage
- Both drivers’ names and insurance information
- A drawn diagram of the positions of both vehicles
- Road, light and weather conditions
Be sure to remain at the scene of your car accident long enough to gather this information and exchange contact details with the other driver. You can print out the SR-1 form and mail it in (or drop it off in person), or you can submit your crash report online.
Can I Face Penalties From the DMV for Not Reporting a Car Crash?
Yes. If the New Jersey MVC does not receive notice regarding your car accident within 10 days, you could face fines of up to $100, plus additional court costs. You could also have your driver’s license and vehicle registration temporarily suspended.
If you are found guilty of a “hit-and-run,” which is a crime in New Jersey, the penalties significantly increase. A hit-and-run means you fled the scene of a car accident without stopping, rendering aid or exchanging information with the other party involved.
If you are convicted of a hit-and-run crime in New Jersey, you could face fines of $200 to $5,000 and/or up to 180 days in jail. The penalties depend on the severity of the injuries suffered by the other party involved.
How to Get a Copy of Your Police Accident Report in New Jersey
A crash report can turn into a key piece of evidence during a subsequent personal injury claim in New Jersey. A car insurance company that receives notice of a collision from a policyholder will typically ask for a copy of the crash report to process the claim.
If you notified the New Jersey MVC yourself, print out and keep an additional copy of the SR-1 form for your own records. If the police arrived at the scene and filed their own report, however, you will need to contact the local police department to request a copy.