What to Do if You Are in a Nashville, Tennessee Car Accident

Nashville, Tennessee's heavy traffic and distracted drivers put you at a relatively high risk of being involved in a car crash compared with the rest of the state.

In 2022, Nashville traffic fatalities accounted for around 23% of all fatal crashes reported in Tennessee. Since the beginning of 2023, more than 20,000 crashes have been reported in Nashville, making it one of the most dangerous areas for motorists and pedestrians.

Knowing what to do if you're involved in a Nashville, Tennessee car accident will help you handle this stressful situation and ensure you take the necessary steps to protect your rights.

Nashville, Tennessee Car Accident Immediate Safety Measures

Safety should always come first. It's your responsibility to check yourself and others for injuries and contact 911 if someone needs medical assistance. If someone is injured, don't attempt to move them. Follow all of the instructions the 911 dispatcher gives you.

You should never leave the scene of an accident until you have contacted the necessary authorities and reported the accident. Leaving the scene of an accident can result in jail time and fines if someone is injured.

If no one is hurt or the crash only caused minor injuries, Tennessee law states that you should move your vehicles out of the way. Clearing the roadway will prevent subsequent crashes, reduce congestion, and make the scene easier to access.

Notifying Authorities and Gathering Information

If a crash doesn't cause major injuries, you can report it by calling the non-emergency number for the Nashville Police Department at 615-862-8600. You should also call this number if the crash involves impaired or uninsured drivers. The Nashville Police Department will dispatch an officer to the accident scene to file a police report.

If the accident didn't cause injuries and resulted in less than $50 in property damage, you can self-report the crash online instead.

If the accident is severe, you should also file a report with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. This includes accidents that result in death, injuries, or more than $1,500 in property damage.

After reporting the crash, collect as much information as possible to support your insurance claim or any potential personal injury lawsuits. The steps to follow include:

• Exchange contact and insurance information with everyone involved.
• Note as many details as possible about the vehicles involved, including the license plate numbers.
• Take pictures of the scene of the crash and damage to your vehicle.
• If there are any witnesses, get their contact information.
• Write down everything you can remember about the accident and how it happened. Some details can be difficult to remember later.
• Have a doctor examine you, even if the accident only caused minor injuries.
• Request a copy of your police report through CrashDocs.
• Don't volunteer any additional information, and don't admit responsibility. These common mistakes can reduce your compensation, even if you're not liable for the crash.

Filing an Insurance Claim

Tennessee is an at-fault state with a modified comparative fault rule. This means that the driver who is liable for the accident is responsible for any damages, but you won't qualify for compensation if your share of the liability exceeds 50%. Your comparative fault percentage will also reduce the amount you can receive.

Typically, you would file a claim with the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident. However, you can file a claim with your own insurer to speed up this process. Later, your insurer can recover funds from the at-fault driver's insurance company.

If you're at fault, filing a claim with your insurer is your best option. The amount you'll receive depends on your coverage.

There are no statewide time constraints for filing an insurance claim following an accident, but your insurer might have its own rules. It's usually best to file a claim as quickly as possible since this process can take time.

Tennessee requires that you carry $25,000 in coverage per death or injury, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 to cover property damages. If your medical bills or property damage exceed these limits or the at-fault driver carries insufficient coverage, your best option is to seek compensation via a personal injury lawsuit.

Documenting the accident, injuries, and damage is crucial when dealing with insurance companies or filing a personal injury lawsuit. You can use medical records, repair bills for your vehicle, pictures, or testimonies from witnesses to support your claim.

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Find an Experienced Attorney With Accident.com

Safety should be your top priority after a Nashville, Tennessee car accident, followed by reporting and documenting the crash.

Next, you should file an insurance claim. It's helpful to have a legal representative by your side to navigate this process since questions of liability can be complex and affect your compensation.

Accident.com can put you in touch with a Nashville car accident attorney to review your case and advise you on the best course of action. Get started by filling out our online form to tell us more about your accident.