I was hurt in an accident on the Garden State Parkway. What do I do now?

What is the first thing I should do after an accident on the Parkway?

You may be shaking, or sore, or not sure where to start. That is normal. Do these things in order, one at a time:

1. If anyone is hurt, call 911. On the Parkway a state trooper usually comes.
2. If it is safe, stay on the shoulder with your four-ways on. Do not stand in a lane.
3. Write down the exit number or the milepost sign you were near. It helps you find your report later.
4. If someone stops to help, get their name and phone number before they leave.
5. See a doctor that day or the next, and tell them everything that hurts.

Want the longer list? See what to do in the first 24 hours. For road closures right now, check 511NJ or the Turnpike Authority's travel alerts.

I felt fine at the scene. Why does it hurt more now?

Your body was full of adrenaline. Many people feel the real pain in the neck or back a day or two later. That does not mean it is not real.

Go back to the doctor and say when the pain started. Write down what hurts each day.

Being scared to drive, or jumping when a car brakes near you, is common too. Tell your doctor about that as well.

Who pays my doctor bills after a Parkway accident?

Your own car insurance pays first. The part that pays your doctors is called PIP, and you will see that word on your bills and letters. It pays no matter who caused the accident.

This is what people mean when they say New Jersey is "no-fault": it is about who pays the doctors first, not about who is to blame.

Money for your pain and suffering is different: it comes from the driver who hit you. It depends on who was at fault, and on the choice about suing that you made on your own policy. See how no-fault works in NJ.

If they say you were partly to blame, you can still get paid, as long as you were not more to blame than the other driver. Your money goes down by your share. See how fault gets split.

The driver who hit me was from out of state. Now what?

Don't worry: New Jersey rules usually still apply to you if the other driver's insurance company also sells insurance here. If you think the road itself caused it, a claim against the Turnpike Authority, which runs the Parkway, needs a written notice within 90 days. See how that notice works.

I hit the divider and no other car was involved. Who pays?

One person told us the road was wet, the car hit the divider, and the airbag never went off. The car was a total loss (the insurance company would not fix it).

How do I get my police report for a Parkway accident?

Parkway reports come from the State Police and the Turnpike Authority, not your town police. Go to the NJ.gov crash report site and pick the toll road option. It costs $5.

• Search by the case number with no dashes, or by your license number, plate or last name.
• It can take up to 14 business days for the report to show up. If it is not there, try again in a few days.
• If someone died, ask for the report with the Turnpike Authority's public records form. Questions: 732-442-8600, extension 2431.¹

Not sure which police came? Try the crash report finder or our guide to getting your NJ accident report.

How long do I have after a Parkway accident?

• To sue the driver: in New Jersey you usually have two years from the day of the accident (the statute of limitations).
• If a town, the state or the Turnpike Authority is to blame: you must send a written notice within 90 days.
• To report it: if someone is hurt, or damage to the cars is over $500, tell the police right away. If no officer wrote a report, send your own to the Motor Vehicle Commission within 10 days.²

Waiting does not end things, but it makes them harder. See what happened to people who waited.

What should I not tell the insurance company?

Don't guess. If you are not sure about speed or fault, say "I don't know". Don't say you are fine, because pain often shows up a day or two later.

Before a recorded call, ask who will hear it and if written answers would do. With your own insurance company, you do have to help, so stick to what you know. See what to expect when the insurance company calls.

I asked for help. Why do I keep getting calls from numbers I don't know?

If you fill in a form or ask a law office to call, they will call from numbers you do not know.

You can wait a day before you sign anything, and it is fine to ask questions first. Here is what happens after you ask for help.

Where can I see the accident numbers for the Parkway?

Is your exit a crash hot spot? See where and when people get hurt, exit by exit, in our Garden State Parkway accident data, and if you drive the Turnpike too, see NJ Turnpike accidents.

For first steps anywhere in the state, see New Jersey car accident help.