SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No. 4342
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: DECEMBER 4, 2025
The Senate Transportation Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 4342.
This bill provides that victims of motor vehicle accidents are eligible to receive compensation from the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) under certain circumstances and establishes the Traffic Crash Victim’s Bill of Rights.
Under current law, victims of certain crimes are eligible to receive compensation from the VCCO for certain expenses, including certain medical bills, counseling, loss of earnings, and funeral costs. This bill expands the instances for which this compensation is available to include a motor vehicle crash involving a fatality or the removal of a victim from the scene of the crash by an ambulance.
Finally, the bill establishes the Traffic Crash Victim’s Bill of Rights, which entitles traffic crash victims and the victims’ families to:
1) obtain, upon request, a free, timely copy of the initial police report and, upon completion, any investigation report, evidence, and certain materials related to the crash;
2) be notified of court proceedings and be permitted to give an impact statement in related adjudicatory proceedings, including any hearing regarding the suspension or revocation of the driver’s license of the other driver;
3) have the right to reasonable leave from the person’s employer to participate in any hearings conducted by the Motor Vehicle Commission that are related to the motor vehicle crash or exercising any other rights provided by law;
4) be free from intimidation, threats, or harassment from the other driver;
5) be eligible to receive compensation and assistance pursuant to the provisions of the “Criminal Injuries Compensation Act of 1971”; and
6) receive, upon request of information from a law enforcement agency regarding the crash, a copy of the provisions set forth in the bill and information provided by the VCCO regarding the rights set forth in the bill.