New Jersey § 39:4-130

§ 39:4-130.

The driver of a vehicle or street car involved in an accident resulting in injury

to or death of any person, or damage to property of any one person in excess of $500.00

shall by the quickest means of communication give notice of such accident to the local

police department or to the nearest office of the county police of the county or of

the State Police, and in addition shall within 10 days after such accident forward

a written report of such accident to the commission on forms furnished by it. Such written reports shall contain sufficiently detailed information with reference

to a motor vehicle accident, including the cause, the conditions then existing, the

persons and vehicles involved and such information as may be necessary to enable the

chief administrator to determine whether the requirements for the deposit of security

required by law are inapplicable by reason of the existence of insurance or other

circumstances. The chief administrator may rely upon the accuracy of the information contained in any such report, unless

he has reason to believe that the report is erroneous. The commission may require operators involved in accidents to file supplemental reports of accidents

upon forms furnished by it when in the opinion of the commission , the original report is insufficient. The reports shall be without prejudice, shall be for the information of the commission , and shall not be open to public inspection. The fact that the reports have been so made shall be admissible in evidence solely

to prove a compliance with this section, but no report or any part thereof or statement

contained therein shall be admissible in evidence for any other purpose in any proceeding

or action arising out of the accident. Whenever the driver of a vehicle is physically incapable of giving immediate notice

or making a written report of an accident as required in this section and there was

another occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident capable of giving notice

or making a report, such occupant shall make or cause to be made said notice or report

not made by the driver. Whenever the driver is physically incapable of making a written report of an accident

as required by this section and such driver is not the owner of the vehicle, then

the owner of the vehicle involved in such accident shall make such report not made

by the driver. In those cases where a driver knowingly violates the provisions of this section by

failing to make a written report of an accident, there shall be a permissive inference

that the registered owner of the vehicle which was involved in that accident was the

person involved in the accident; provided, however, if that vehicle is owned by a

rental car company or is a leased vehicle, there shall be a permissive inference that

the renter or authorized driver pursuant to a rental car contract or the lessee, and

not the owner of the vehicle, was the person involved in the accident, and the requirements

and penalties imposed pursuant to this section shall be applicable to that renter

or authorized driver or lessee and not the owner of the vehicle. Any person who suppresses, by way of concealment or destruction, any evidence of a

violation of this section or who suppresses the identity of the violator shall be

subject to a fine of not less than $250 or more than $1,000. A written report of an accident shall not be required by this section if a law enforcement

officer submits a written report of the accident to the commission pursuant to R.S.39:4-131 . Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who knowingly violates this section shall be fined not less than $30 or more

than $100. The chief administrator may revoke or suspend the operator's license privilege and registration privilege

of a person who violates this section. For purposes of this section, it shall not be a defense that the operator of the motor

vehicle was unaware of the existence or extent of personal injury or property damage

caused by the accident as long as the operator was aware that he was involved in an

accident.