What to Do After a Car Wreck in Tennessee: A Step-by-Step Guide

One moment you are driving down Poplar Avenue or merging onto I-40, and the next you are sitting in a damaged car with your heart pounding, trying to figure out what just happened. Nobody plans for a wreck, which is exactly why so many people make costly mistakes in the minutes and days that follow one.

The steps below protect two things: your health and your legal claim. Tennessee gives injured drivers just one year to file a lawsuit, one of the shortest deadlines in the country, so what you do early matters more here than in almost any other state.

Step 1: Get to safety and check for injuries

If the vehicles are drivable and you can move safely, pull to the shoulder or a nearby parking lot. Turn on your hazard lights. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries before anything else. If anyone is hurt, say so when you call 911 so paramedics are dispatched.

Do not assume you are fine because you feel fine. Adrenaline masks pain, and some of the most serious crash injuries, including internal bleeding, concussions, and disc injuries, may not produce symptoms for hours or days.

Step 2: Call 911 and report the wreck

Tennessee law requires you to report a crash involving injury, death, or property damage above a threshold amount, and in practice you should call the police after any wreck that is more than a trivial bump. The responding officer will document the scene and create a crash report, which becomes one of the most important pieces of evidence in your insurance claim.

When the officer asks what happened, stick to the facts. Do not guess, do not speculate about speed or distance, and never say “I’m sorry” or accept blame, even out of politeness. Fault is determined by evidence, not by roadside apologies, but your words can be used against you later.

Step 3: Exchange information with the other driver

Tennessee law requires drivers involved in a crash to exchange information. Get the following from every driver involved:

• Full name and phone number
• Driver’s license number
• License plate number
• Insurance company and policy number
• Make, model, and color of the vehicle

Keep the interaction brief and civil. Do not discuss fault, do not argue, and do not negotiate any private deal to skip the insurance companies. Uninsured drivers frequently offer cash at the scene and disappear afterward.

Step 4: Document everything

Your phone is your best tool at a crash scene. Before the vehicles are moved, if it is safe:

• Photograph all vehicles from multiple angles, including close-ups of damage
• Capture the wider scene: skid marks, debris, traffic signals, road conditions, and weather
• Photograph your visible injuries
• Get names and phone numbers of witnesses before they leave
• Note the exact location, time, and direction each vehicle was traveling

Witnesses disappear fast, and road evidence like skid marks can be gone by the next rain. What you capture in the first fifteen minutes may never be available again.

Step 5: See a doctor within 24 to 72 hours

Even if you declined an ambulance, get examined promptly. This matters for your health first, but it also matters for your claim. Insurance adjusters treat gaps between the crash and your first medical visit as evidence that you were not really hurt. Prompt treatment creates a medical record that connects your injuries to the wreck.

Follow through on all recommended treatment and keep every appointment. Missed appointments become insurance company talking points.

Step 6: Notify your insurance company, but be careful

Report the crash to your own insurer promptly, as your policy requires. Stick to basic facts.

The other driver’s insurance company is a different story. Their adjuster may call within days, sounding friendly and asking for a recorded statement. You are not required to give one, and you should not before speaking with an attorney. Adjusters are trained to ask questions that minimize the value of your claim, and early settlement offers rarely account for the full extent of your injuries.

Step 7: Preserve evidence and start a file

Keep everything connected to the wreck in one place: the crash report number, photos, medical records and bills, receipts, a record of missed work, and correspondence from the insurance companies. If your vehicle is totaled, photograph it thoroughly before it is scrapped. If the crash involved a commercial truck, evidence like driver logs and black box data can be lost quickly unless a preservation letter goes out.

Step 8: Talk to a car accident lawyer before you settle anything

The statute of limitations for a car accident injury claim in Tennessee is one year from the date of the crash under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 28-3-104. That year moves quickly when you are dealing with treatment, repairs, and insurance calls.

An experienced Memphis car accident lawyer can determine what your claim is actually worth, deal with the adjusters for you, and make sure nothing is signed away before the full extent of your injuries is known. At Greer Injury Lawyers, consultations are free and we charge no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What information should I exchange in a car accident?

Exchange names, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance company and policy numbers with every driver involved. Also note each vehicle’s make, model, and color. Do not discuss who was at fault.

Should I call the police for a minor car accident in Tennessee?

Yes. Tennessee requires reporting crashes involving injury, death, or significant property damage, and a police report protects you even in a seemingly minor wreck. Injuries and vehicle damage are often worse than they first appear, and without a report your claim becomes your word against theirs.

What happens if I leave the scene of an accident?

Leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or property damage is a crime in Tennessee. Stay at the scene, render reasonable aid, and exchange information as the law requires.

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Tennessee?

You have one year from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit under T.C.A. Section 28-3-104. Insurance claims should be started much sooner. If you miss the one-year deadline, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case.

Should I accept the insurance company’s first settlement offer?

No, not before you know the full extent of your injuries and have spoken with an attorney. First offers are almost always lower than what your claim is worth, and once you accept and sign a release, you cannot ask for more money later, even if your injuries turn out to be more serious.

Injured in a wreck? We can help.

If you were hurt in a car wreck in Memphis, Jackson, Nashville, or anywhere in West Tennessee, the attorneys at Greer Injury Lawyers, PLLC are ready to take the pressure off. Since 1986, we have recovered more than $300 million for injured Tennesseans. Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation by calling 901-680-9777 or filling out our contact form.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tennessee law cited includes T.C.A. Section 28-3-104 (statute of limitations). Laws change; consult a licensed Tennessee attorney for advice specific to your situation.