Are car accident reports public Record in NJ?

When the unthink­able hap­pens and you’re involved in a car acci­dent, it can be a stress­ful and trau­mat­ic expe­ri­ence. But what hap­pens after­wards? For those liv­ing in New Jer­sey, the answer is that car acci­dent reports are, in fact, pub­lic record. This means that a next-of-kin, insur­ance inves­ti­ga­tor, or attor­ney can access the report. But what does this mean for you? Let’s find out!

Car Crashes in NJ: An Open Book?

In the Gar­den State, all car acci­dent reports are con­sid­ered pub­lic record. This means that any­one can access the basic infor­ma­tion con­tained with­in the report. This can include the date and time of the crash, the vehi­cle infor­ma­tion, and any evi­dence col­lect­ed. Gen­er­al­ly, this infor­ma­tion is released with­in a few days of the acci­dent occurring. 

How­ev­er, the report will not include the names of indi­vid­u­als involved in the crash, unless they were charged with a traf­fic vio­la­tion. Pri­va­cy is still of utmost impor­tance, but the pub­lic still has access to an overview of the crash.

Uncovering the Truth About Car Accidents in NJ

When an acci­dent occurs in NJ, the police have the author­i­ty to inves­ti­gate the case. They will take pic­ture evi­dence, speak to any wit­ness­es, and inves­ti­gate the scene. After their inves­ti­ga­tion, their report is sent to the local prosecutor’s office. 

The police report will become part of the pub­lic record if the pros­e­cu­tor files any charges against any­one involved in the crash. This includes a deter­mi­na­tion of fault and any cita­tions giv­en. The pub­lic doc­u­ment will include the details of the inves­ti­ga­tion, any charges filed, and the dis­po­si­tion of the case. 

So while the names of those involved in the crash may not be dis­closed, it is still pos­si­ble to access the infor­ma­tion con­tained in the acci­dent report.

In the end, car acci­dent reports in New Jer­sey are con­sid­ered pub­lic records. This means that any­one can access the basic infor­ma­tion con­tained in the report, with cer­tain excep­tions to pro­tect the pri­va­cy of those involved. How­ev­er, the police report can become part of the pub­lic record if the pros­e­cu­tor files any charges against any­one involved in the crash, includ­ing a deter­mi­na­tion of fault and any cita­tions giv­en. With this knowl­edge, you can be bet­ter pre­pared in the event of a car acci­dent in New Jersey.