Every New Jersey car accident investigated by police produces a standardized report called the NJTR-1. It records the drivers, vehicles, insurance, witnesses, road conditions, and the investigating officer’s view of what happened. Insurers use it to assign fault. Lawyers use it to find witnesses and evidence. You will need a copy, and getting one is easier than most people expect.
Step 1: Figure out which agency responded
The report is held by the agency that investigated the crash, not by a central state office. There are two possibilities:
- New Jersey State Police investigate crashes on the Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Atlantic City Expressway, most interstates and state highways in rural areas, and in municipalities without their own police department.
- Local or county police investigate crashes on municipal and county roads and on state highways within their jurisdiction. In East Brunswick, that is the East Brunswick Police Department; in New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Police Department, and so on.
The officer at the scene should have given you a card or slip with the agency name and a case or report number. If not, the agency name is usually obvious from the road.
Step 2: Request the report
From the New Jersey State Police
The State Police provide crash reports through an online request portal on the NJSP website (search “crash report request”). You will need the date and approximate location of the crash and, ideally, the case number. Reports are generally available five to ten business days after the crash and can be downloaded as a PDF once approved. A modest fee applies for the electronic copy.
From a local police department
Most New Jersey municipalities, including most in Middlesex County, sell crash reports through a third-party portal such as LexisNexis BuyCrash or a similar vendor linked from the department’s website. Others accept requests in person at the records bureau or by mail. Check the department’s website under “Records” or “Crash Reports.” Fees are typically a few dollars for an electronic copy; in-person copies under the Open Public Records Act are priced per page.
Timing
Reports are usually filed within a few days of the crash but may take longer if the officer is investigating a serious injury or fatality. If the report is not available after two weeks, call the records bureau with your case number.
Step 3: Read the report
The NJTR-1 is a coded form. The most important sections:
- Box 1 area (top): date, time, location, county, municipality, and road identifiers.
- Driver and vehicle sections: names, addresses, license numbers, insurance carriers and policy numbers for each vehicle. This is where you find the other driver’s insurance.
- Occupant and pedestrian sections: everyone involved, with a physical condition code (killed, incapacitated, moderate injury, complaint of pain, no injury). The code assigned to you matters to insurers.
- Apparent contributing circumstances: coded entries for each driver (following too closely, failure to yield, unsafe speed, driver inattention, and so on). Insurers read these as the officer’s fault opinion.
- Diagram and narrative (page 2): the officer’s sketch and written description of what happened, plus witness names and contact information.
- Summons issued: whether either driver was ticketed, and for what.
The State Police publish an NJTR-1 code reference sheet that translates every numeric code; it is worth downloading alongside the report.
Step 4: Check it for errors
Reports contain mistakes: wrong insurance information, a contributing-circumstance code assigned to the wrong driver, a missed witness, a diagram that contradicts the physical evidence. An incorrect report is not evidence of fault in court, but insurers treat it as though it is. If you find an error, contact the investigating officer or the records bureau promptly and request a supplemental report. Your lawyer can do this for you and will also gather the evidence (photos, video, witness statements) that the report does not capture. Fault, and how the report is used to argue it, is covered in our post on New Jersey’s 51% comparative negligence rule.
What if police did not respond?
If police did not come to the scene, there is no NJTR-1. New Jersey law requires you to file your own written report (Form SR-1) with the MVC within 10 days if the crash involved injury or $500 or more in damage; see how long you have to report a car accident in New Jersey. Exchange information at the scene, photograph everything, and notify your insurer immediately.
Why the report matters to your claim
The crash report is where insurers start. It identifies the at-fault driver’s carrier, records the officer’s fault opinion, and documents your injury condition at the scene. A report that lists you as “no injury” or “complaint of pain” will be used to argue that later-diagnosed injuries were minor or unrelated, which is why prompt medical evaluation after a crash matters, regardless of what the report says. For the broader picture, see our honest checklist on whether you need a lawyer.
How Ibrahim Personal Injury Law uses the report
We obtain the report for every client, review it for errors, run down every witness listed, and send preservation letters for any video the report suggests exists. Free consultation, contingency fee. Call (844) 315-4878 or contact us online.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a crash report in NJ?
Usually five to ten business days for routine crashes; longer for serious-injury investigations.
How much does a NJ crash report cost?
A few dollars for an electronic copy through the State Police portal or a local department’s vendor. In-person paper copies are priced per page under OPRA.
Can I get the other driver's insurance information from the report?
Yes. The NJTR-1 lists each driver’s carrier and policy number.
Is the police report admissible in court?
Generally not for the officer’s opinion of fault, since the officer usually did not witness the crash. It is used for the factual information it contains and to identify witnesses.
