GWB Approach Accidents: What to Do After a Crash Near the George Washington Bridge

The I-95/Route 4 interchange feeding the George Washington Bridge is one of the most congested intersections in the entire country, and Fort Lee sits right in the middle of it. Hundreds of thousands of vehicles funnel through a small handful of local streets every day, which means the crashes that happen here come with a few wrinkles that a typical New Jersey accident doesn’t have.

If you’ve been in a crash on the GWB approach — on I-95, Route 4, Palisade Avenue, or the bridge itself — here’s what to do, and why this location makes your situation a little different.

Figure Out Exactly Where the Crash Happened

This matters more here than almost anywhere else in New Jersey. The GWB corridor crosses several different jurisdictions in a very short distance, and where your crash happened determines who responds, who investigates, and which claims process you’re in.

• On I-95 or Route 4 approaching the bridge — this falls under New Jersey State Police or local Fort Lee police jurisdiction, and standard New Jersey accident procedures apply.
• On Palisade Avenue, Lemoine Avenue, or another local street — Fort Lee police typically respond, and again, this is a standard New Jersey claim.
• On the bridge itself or in a GWB toll plaza — this is Port Authority of New York and New Jersey property, a bi-state agency, and it comes with its own rules. More on that below.

Call 911 and Get the Right Police Report

Get medical attention first, always — adrenaline hides injuries, and whiplash or soft-tissue damage can take hours or days to show up. Once you’re safe, make sure a police report gets filed, and note which agency responded. If Port Authority Police responded because your crash happened on the bridge or in a toll plaza, that report is different from a standard New Jersey State Police or Fort Lee PD report, and you’ll need to know which one applies to your claim.

Understand the Port Authority Wrinkle

This is the part most people don’t know until it’s almost too late: if your crash happened on the George Washington Bridge structure itself or in a toll plaza, you may be filing a claim against the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — a bi-state agency with its own procedural rules. Claims against the Port Authority generally require a formal notice of claim filed within 90 days of the accident, far shorter than the standard two-year window for an ordinary New Jersey car accident claim. Miss that window, and you could lose the right to pursue that portion of your claim entirely.

If you’re not sure whether your accident falls under this rule, don’t guess — get legal advice quickly. Ninety days moves faster than most people expect.

Document Everything — Especially on This Corridor

The GWB approach is one of the most heavily monitored stretches of road in the region. E-ZPass records, toll plaza cameras, and traffic cameras along I-95 and Route 4 often capture crashes in this corridor, and that footage can be critical evidence — but it doesn’t stay available forever. On top of the usual steps (photos of the vehicles, the road, and any visible injuries), note your E-ZPass or toll lane if you crossed one, and get the names of any commercial drivers involved — this corridor carries heavy truck traffic heading to and from the bridge.

Know That You Might Be Dealing With a New York Driver

Fort Lee’s proximity to the bridge means a significant share of the traffic here is coming from or heading to New York. If a New York-insured driver caused your crash, you can still file a claim against their New York policy, but it’s governed by New Jersey law if the accident happened on the New Jersey side. If that driver’s coverage turns out to be insufficient, your own New Jersey Underinsured Motorist coverage can help make up the difference. This cross-state insurance question comes up constantly in Fort Lee, and it’s worth having someone familiar with it review your policy early.

Don’t Give a Recorded Statement Before You’re Ready

Insurance adjusters — yours or the other driver’s — often call quickly after a crash like this, especially when a commercial vehicle or multiple insurers may be involved. You’re not required to give a recorded statement on the spot, and anything you say can be used to minimize your claim later. It’s worth talking to an attorney before that call, not after.

The Two-Year Clock Still Applies — Except When It Doesn’t

For a standard Fort Lee accident on New Jersey roads, you generally have two years to file a personal injury claim. But as noted above, a Port Authority claim shrinks that to 90 days, and if a government or NJ Transit vehicle was involved elsewhere in the crash, that notice period can be short too. Given how many overlapping jurisdictions converge at this one intersection, it’s worth confirming which deadline applies to your specific situation rather than assuming the standard rule.

How The Law Office of Raffi T. Khorozian Can Help

Our office sits directly on Palisade Avenue in Fort Lee — this isn’t a satellite location, it’s home. Attorney Raffi T. Khorozian has represented Fort Lee accident victims since 1993, including cases involving the Port Authority, cross-state insurance claims, and the GWB approach corridor specifically.

• We work for just 25% of your recovery — not the 33⅓% most firms charge.
• You pay nothing unless we win your case.
• Free consultations, home and hospital visits, available 24/7.

If you were hurt in a crash near the George Washington Bridge — on I-95, Route 4, Palisade Avenue, or the bridge itself — contact The Law Office of Raffi T. Khorozian today for a free consultation, or find the office nearest you across our New Jersey locations.