Few things are as traumatic as being involved in a traffic accident. In addition to sustaining damage to your motor vehicle, you also may have suffered a personal injury as well. The State of New Jersey has a vested interest in keeping its roads safe. As one of the busiest transportation corridors in the Northeast, New Jersey sees more than its fair share of car accidents. This is why you should always call 911 when you are involved in a car accident in the State. Law enforcement can assist you with the aftermath of the accident, help you or another person get emergency medical attention, and provide a police report to use when you file an insurance claim. If you fail to call the police, you can face consequences for this, which is why an experienced accident attorney can be of great assistance.
What Is the New Jersey Law for Reporting Car Accidents?
The law requires that anyone involved in a vehicle accident must call 911 if the accident results in the injury or death of a driver or passenger, or if the property damage is estimated to exceed over $500. With the average cost of new cars at $47,000 according to Kelley Blue Book, getting a dent in your quarter panel or a broken window can quickly add up to that amount. As a result, if you are involved in a collision where no one is hurt, you should still call for the police since it is more than likely that the combined damage to the cars involved will easily exceed the $500 figure. Also, there may be cases where the passengers think they are feeling fine but in fact sustained things like internal injuries that are not immediately apparent following the accident. The police can examine everyone at the scene and call for emergency medical assistance if necessary.
What Happens if I Don’t Call 911?
If you decide not to call law enforcement, you are taking a very big risk. If it turns out that the accident resulted in bodily injury or death to a passenger, you may have inadvertently committed the crime of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury under N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.1. If convicted, you could face fines or even imprisonment, as well as suspension of your driver’s license depending on the severity of the injuries involved.
What Will Happen to My Auto Insurance Claim?
Beyond the legal consequences of failing to report an accident and leaving the scene, you could also have problems with your car insurance company. Most auto insurance companies require that their policy holders file a police report along with the other documentation and evidence as part of a claim. When you call 911, the police officers on the scene will provide you and the other driver with a copy of a police report. This will list such crucial information as the names and contact information for each driver, information from any witnesses, the time and place of the accident, and a reconstruction of the accident based on information from all who were involved. When you file a claim without a police report, there is a very good chance that your insurance company will deny the claim. This will not only leave you having to pay for the damage to your vehicle out of your own pocket. It could also expose you to personal liability for any damage to the other vehicle, as well as for the injuries or wrongful death claims from passengers or other third parties.
What Happens if the Other Driver Is Uninsured?
When you call 911, the police will take down all of the pertinent information, including copies of the drivers’ licenses, car registrations, and insurance cards. If one of the drivers is an uninsured motorist, this fact will be noted in the police report and the police may take action against the uninsured driver. Car insurance policies provide for instances where the other driver is an uninsured motorist. However, if you did not get a police report because you failed to call 911, there is a very strong chance that your insurance company will deny uninsured motorist coverage for your claim.
If You Are Involved in a Car Accident, Call the Cassidy Law Firm Today
Getting involved in a car accident can not only cause you and your passengers to suffer physical injuries, you may also have some legal exposure. The experienced accident attorneys at the Cassidy Law Firm will provide you with the assistance you need to defend yourself against a potential law suit and to recover for your injuries as well.