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New Jersey car accident laws
Is New Jersey a no-fault state? Partly. New Jersey lets drivers choose between no-fault and traditional at-fault coverage. Your treating doctor must notify your PIP insurer within 21 days of starting treatment, or your insurer can cut what it pays. Report the accident to your own insurer within 30 days as well.
New Jersey gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a)).
The legal minimum liability coverage in New Jersey is $35,000 per injured person, $70,000 per crash and $25,000 for property (35/70/25).
You can recover if your negligence is not greater than the defendant's (50% or less); your award is reduced by your percentage of fault, and at 51% or more you recover nothing.
Quoted from New Jersey statutes and official pages, checked October 2, 2026 · not legal advice
The rules in one table
| Rule | New Jersey | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline to sue for an injury | Two years after the cause of action accrues | N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a) |
| Deadline for vehicle damage | Six years for tortious injury to real or personal property | N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1(a) |
| Deadline for a wrongful death claim | Two years after the death of the decedent (no deadline if the death resulted from a murder or manslaughter conviction) | N.J.S.A. 2A:31-3 |
| Claims against a government body | A notice of claim for death, injury or property damage against a public entity or employee must be presented within 90 days after the claim accrues, and suit must be filed within two years of accrual. | N.J.S.A. 59:8-8 |
| Insurance system | choice no-fault; PIP required ($15,000). To sue: Under the 'limitation on lawsuit' option you can sue for pain and suffering only if the injury results in death, dismemberment, significant disfigurement or scarring, displaced fractures, loss of a fetus, or a permanent injury; under the 'no limitation on lawsuit' option you can sue for any injury. Which option applies depends on the tort option elected on the policy covering you. | N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8(a) (tort options); 39:6A-4.3(e) (PIP medical expense amounts) |
| Deadline to use your PIP coverage | Your treating doctor must notify your PIP insurer within 21 days of starting treatment, or your insurer can cut what it pays. Report the accident to your own insurer within 30 days as well. | N.J.A.C. 11:3-25.3(a) |
| If you were partly at fault | modified comparative (51% bar). You can recover if your negligence is not greater than the defendant's (50% or less); your award is reduced by your percentage of fault, and at 51% or more you recover nothing. | N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1 |
| Minimum liability coverage | $35,000 per person / $70,000 per crash / $25,000 property | N.J.S.A. 39:6B-1(a) |
| Dog bites | strict liability. A dog's owner is liable for a bite to someone in a public place or lawfully on private property (including the owner's), regardless of whether the dog was known to be vicious. | N.J.S.A. 4:19-16 |
Deadlines can be shorter or longer for minors, for injuries found later, and for claims against a government. A lawyer licensed in New Jersey can tell you the date that applies to you.
Next steps after a New Jersey crash
How to get a New Jersey crash report ($13.00 non-toll road or boat crash report; $5.00 toll road crash report; $20.00 serious/fatal investigation reports, media, photos and statements).
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
A filing date and a rough value range for New Jersey. Both take under a minute.
Questions
How long do you have to sue after a car accident in New Jersey?
Two years for an injury claim (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a)) and six years for vehicle damage. Shorter notice rules can apply to claims against a government.
Is New Jersey a no-fault state?
New Jersey lets drivers choose between no-fault and traditional at-fault coverage. Your treating doctor must notify your PIP insurer within 21 days of starting treatment, or your insurer can cut what it pays. Report the accident to your own insurer within 30 days as well.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault in New Jersey?
New Jersey follows modified comparative (51% bar). You can recover if your negligence is not greater than the defendant's (50% or less); your award is reduced by your percentage of fault, and at 51% or more you recover nothing.
What is the minimum car insurance in New Jersey?
The legal minimum liability coverage in New Jersey is $35,000 per injured person, $70,000 per crash and $25,000 for property (35/70/25).
Sources
- Deadline to sue for an injury (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a)): law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-2a/section-2a-14-2/
a. Except as otherwise provided by law, every action at law for an injury to the person caused by the wrongful act, neglect or default of any person within this State shall be commenced within two years next after the cause of any such action shall have accrued;
- Deadline for vehicle damage (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1(a)): law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-2a/section-2a-14-1/
a. Every action at law for trespass to real property, for any tortious injury to real or personal property, for taking, detaining, or converting personal property, for replevin of goods or chattels, for any tortious injury to the rights of another not stated in N.J.S.2A:14-2 and N.J.S.2A:14-3, or for recovery upon a contractual claim or liability, express or implied, not under seal, or upon an account other than one which concerns the trade or merchandise between merchant and merchant, their factors, agents and servants, shall be commenced within six years next after the cause of any such acti…
- Deadline for a wrongful death claim (N.J.S.A. 2A:31-3): law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-2a/section-2a-31-3/
Every action brought under this chapter shall be commenced within 2 years after the death of the decedent
- Claims against a government body (N.J.S.A. 59:8-8): law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-59/section-59-8-8/
A claim relating to a cause of action for death or for injury or damage to person or to property shall be presented as provided in this chapter not later than the 90th day after accrual of the cause of action.
- Insurance system (N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8(a) (tort options); 39:6A-4.3(e) (PIP medical expense amounts)): law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-39/section-39-6a-8/
One of the following two tort options shall be elected, in accordance with section 14.1 of P.L.1983, c.362 (C.39:6A-8.1), by any named insured required to maintain personal injury protection coverage [...] unless that person has sustained a bodily injury which results in death; dismemberment; significant disfigurement or significant scarring; displaced fractures; loss of a fetus; or a permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, other than scarring or disfigurement.
- Deadline to use your PIP coverage (N.J.A.C. 11:3-25.3(a)): www.nj.gov/dobi/pipinfo/21dayrule.pdf
When medical treatment is rendered for which a claim for payment will be made pursuant to the PIP coverage of a private passenger automobile insurance policy, a treating health care provider shall provide notice to the PIP insurer no later than 21 days following the date of the commencement of such treatment.
- If you were partly at fault (N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1): law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-2a/section-2a-15-5-1/
Contributory negligence shall not bar recovery in an action by any person or his legal representative to recover damages for negligence resulting in death or injury to person or property, if such negligence was not greater than the negligence of the person against whom recovery is sought or was not greater than the combined negligence of the persons against whom recovery is sought. Any damages sustained shall be diminished by the percentage sustained of negligence attributable to the person recovering.
- Minimum liability coverage (N.J.S.A. 39:6B-1(a)): law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-39/section-39-6b-1/
(1) an amount or limit of $15,000 for plans issued or renewed prior to January 1, 2023, $25,000 for plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2023 but prior to January 1, 2026, and $35,000 for plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, exclusive of interest and costs, on account of injury to, or death of, one person, in any one accident; and (2) an amount or limit, subject to such limit for any one person so injured or killed, of $30,000 for plans issued or renewed prior to January 1, 2023, $50,000 for plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2023 but prior to January 1, 2…
- Dog bites (N.J.S.A. 4:19-16): law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-4/section-4-19-16/
The owner of any dog which shall bite a person while such person is on or in a public place, or lawfully on or in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, shall be liable for such damages as may be suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of such dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness.
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.