What should you do if you hit an animal in New Jersey?

If you hit an animal in New Jersey with your car, you should immediately stop. Then ascertain the extent of the animal’s injuries and report the accident to the nearest police station or the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. You are required to follow this course of action by the applicable New Jersey statute. If this has happened to you, contact us at Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. for more information on how we may be able to assist you.

Filing a police report and other steps to take

After hitting an animal, if possible, take photographs at the accident scene in case you need them as evidence for any potential claims with your insurance company. For example, your car was damaged, or you were injured. Perhaps you stopped abruptly and sustained injuries from the airbag, or the animal shattered your windshield, and you’ve been cut by shards of glass.  

Further, make sure you don’t get too close to the animal because you could sustain more injuries if it is still alive. Finally, provide the police with as detailed an account as possible so the police report accurately depicts the accident. Request a copy of it in case you decide to file a claim with your insurance company.

Potential claims after hitting an animal

In New Jersey, you may be able to seek compensation for the damage to yourself or your car. New Jersey is a no-fault state, so you would be able to seek compensation for your medical injuries regardless of who is liable for the accident. You may be able to file a claim with your insurance company for the damage to your vehicle, depending on your coverage. If you hit an animal that belonged to someone else, you may be able to seek compensation from its owner. However, this would depend on whether they were negligent.

Contact us today for a free consultation

Since 1975, we have provided large-firm, full-service legal work at Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. We are big enough to do it all and small enough to care. We are experienced and compassionate and fight for the rights of our injured clients. If you need help after being involved in an accident with an animal, reach out to us today to schedule a free case review with our team of car accident lawyers. We proudly serve residents of Rockland County in New York and Bergen County in New Jersey. Contact us today.