Bergen County sees thousands of car accidents every year — on Route 4 near Fort Lee, Route 17 through Paramus, the I-95 corridor, and surface roads throughout Hackensack, Saddle Brook, and East Rutherford. If you were hurt in one of those crashes, the steps you take in the first 72 hours will significantly shape your claim.

Here is a practical, step-by-step guide for Bergen County drivers navigating the aftermath of a car accident.

Step 1: Call 911 and Secure the Scene

Always call 911, even if injuries seem minor. A police report creates an official, independent record of the crash — documenting the date, location, vehicles involved, preliminary fault assessment, and witness information. Insurance companies and courts treat police reports as foundational evidence.

Do not move vehicles unless there is a safety risk. Do not apologize or admit fault at the scene, even casually.

Step 2: Document Everything You Can

While waiting for police to arrive, if you are physically able:

• Photograph all vehicle damage from multiple angles
• Photograph road conditions, skid marks, traffic signals, and any debris
• Take photos of any visible injuries
• Collect the other driver’s name, license number, insurance company, and policy number
• Get names and phone numbers from any witnesses

Dashcam footage — yours or anyone nearby — should be preserved immediately. Surveillance cameras at nearby businesses can also capture the crash, but that footage is typically overwritten within days.

Step 3: Seek Medical Attention the Same Day

Even if you feel relatively stable, seek medical care on the day of the accident. Whiplash, herniated discs, and concussions frequently don’t peak in severity until 24 to 72 hours after impact. A same-day medical record creates the critical connection between the crash and your injuries.

Delays in seeking treatment — even of just a few days — are consistently used by insurance companies to argue that injuries were minor or pre-existing.

Step 4: Notify Your Own Insurer — Carefully

Notify your own insurance company of the accident as required by your policy. But be careful about what you say. Stick to the basic facts: date, location, vehicles involved. Do not speculate about fault, and do not provide a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer without first speaking to an attorney.

Step 5: Understand Your NJ No-Fault Rights

New Jersey is a no-fault state. Your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays initial medical expenses regardless of who caused the crash. However, if your injuries meet the serious injury threshold — fractures, permanent limitation, significant scarring, or substantial medical bills — you have the right to pursue a direct claim against the at-fault driver for full compensation, including pain and suffering.

Most accident victims don’t know this threshold exists. Insurance companies rarely bring it up.

Step 6: Contact a Bergen County Car Accident Lawyer Before Settling

Insurance companies move quickly. Initial settlement offers often arrive within days of the accident — before the full extent of injuries is known and before future medical costs can be properly calculated. Accepting an early offer waives your right to seek more, permanently.

An experienced car accident lawyer in Bergen County will review your claim, identify every source of compensation, and negotiate from a position of full information — not urgency.

The Law Offices of Raffi T. Khorozian P.C. has represented Bergen County car accident victims since 1993, with five local offices across the county and a 25% contingency fee — significantly below the 33⅓% standard.

Free consultations are available 24/7: 👉 Car Accident Lawyer in Bergen County — Get a Free Case Review 📞 (888) 658-4284

No upfront cost. No fee unless compensation is recovered. Home and hospital visits available.