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A hit-and-run leaves you with injuries or damage and no one to hold responsible on the spot. The driver who left may never be found, which means your recovery often depends on your own insurance and on evidence gathered in the first hour. New Jersey has specific tools for these cases, including uninsured motorist coverage and a state fund for people without insurance. Here are six steps to take, followed by local law offices, starting with The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone.
What should you do after a hit-and-run in New Jersey?
1. Should you follow the driver who left?
No. Chasing a fleeing car puts you and others at risk. Pull over where it’s safe, turn on your hazards, and call 911 if anyone is hurt. A driver who leaves the scene of a crash involving injury faces serious consequences under N.J.S.A. 39:4-129. Knowingly leaving a crash that causes serious bodily injury is a third-degree crime under N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.1.
2. What should you write down about the other car?
Everything you can remember, as soon as you can. Details fade within minutes, so record them on your phone before talking to anyone:
- Any part of the license plate, even two or three characters
- Make, model, color, and body style
- Visible damage, stickers, or roof racks
- The direction the car went and the street it turned onto
3. Do you have to report a hit-and-run to police?
Yes, and it matters for your insurance claim as much as the investigation. N.J.S.A. 39:4-130 requires reporting any crash with injury or apparent property damage over $500. Uninsured motorist claims for hit-and-runs typically require a prompt police report, and an insurer may question a claim that was reported days later. Ask for the report number and the officer’s name before leaving.
4. Where can you find evidence if the driver is gone?
Look for cameras and witnesses right away. Businesses, apartment buildings, and homes with doorbell cameras may have captured the car, but many systems record over footage within days. Ask witnesses for names and numbers. Photograph paint transfer and debris on your car, since those can help match a vehicle later.
5. How does your own insurance help?
Your policy likely covers much of the loss.
- PIP: Personal Injury Protection, the no-fault medical coverage in New Jersey auto policies, pays your medical bills regardless of who caused the crash.
- Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage: Included in standard New Jersey policies, UM applies when the at-fault driver cannot be identified. It can compensate you for injuries the way the other driver’s liability insurance would have.
- Collision coverage: If you carry it, collision pays for vehicle repairs.
Notify your insurer promptly and give them the police report number.
6. What if you don’t have auto insurance?
You may still have options through the Unsatisfied Claim and Judgment Fund, a state program under N.J.S.A. 39:6-61 and following sections. The Fund can pay certain claims for New Jersey residents with no other coverage, including some pedestrians struck by unidentified drivers. It has strict notice requirements, generally within 90 days of the crash, so act quickly. Any injury lawsuit must also meet New Jersey’s two-year filing deadline under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2.
Which law offices serve hit-and-run victims in Hudson County?
- The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone
- John D. Lynch
- Jon Kearney Law Office
- The Law Offices of Joel Silberman
- Law Office of Michael Pastacaldi
The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone
The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone, P.C. is a Jersey City firm where attorney Anthony Carbone has practiced for 35 years. The firm represents drivers, passengers, and pedestrians injured in crashes, including hit-and-runs where the claim runs through uninsured motorist coverage. It also defends criminal and DUI charges. Consultations are free and offered in English, Hindi, and Punjabi.
John D. Lynch
A Union City attorney who handles criminal and traffic matters.
Jon Kearney Law Office
A Kearny office that handles criminal defense.
The Law Offices of Joel Silberman
A Journal Square office that handles criminal defense.
Law Office of Michael Pastacaldi
A Journal Square office that handles criminal defense and post-conviction matters.
What matters most after a hit-and-run?
The driver may be gone, but your claim doesn’t have to be. Record what you saw, report it quickly, and look for footage before it disappears. If you were hurt in a hit-and-run anywhere in New Jersey, The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone can review your options in a free consultation.
Attorney advertising. This article is general information and not legal advice.
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