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

A car crash is disorienting, and in the first minutes you’re usually thinking about safety — not legal deadlines. But what you do right after a wreck can protect both your health and your ability to recover compensation later. Here’s a practical Tennessee-specific roadmap.

Step 1: Get to Safety and Call 911

If you can, move your vehicle out of traffic and check for injuries. Tennessee law expects drivers to stop and render reasonable assistance. Calling 911 creates a record that can matter later.

Step 2: Make Sure Police Respond

Even if the wreck seems “minor,” a crash report is one of the strongest pieces of early evidence. The report notes location, conditions, parties involved, and initial statements. Insurance companies often treat a missing report as a reason to doubt a claim.

Step 3: Document the Scene

Use your phone to capture:

• vehicle positions
• damage close-ups
• skid marks, debris, traffic signs
• lighting/weather conditions
• visible injuries

Also, get witness names and numbers. Independent witnesses can make or break a disputed-fault case.

Step 4: Exchange the Right Information

Share and collect:

• driver’s license + insurance
• plate numbers
• employer info if it’s a commercial vehicle

Avoid discussing fault; just focus on facts.

Step 5: Get Medical Care Immediately

Many injuries (concussions, soft-tissue damage, internal bleeding) don’t feel serious at first. Delaying treatment gives insurers room to argue your injuries weren’t caused by the crash.

Step 6: Understand Tennessee Is a Fault State

Tennessee uses a fault-based system, meaning the at-fault driver (and their insurer) should pay damages. But insurers fight hard to shift blame — even partially.

Step 7: Be Careful Talking to Insurers

Expect a quick call asking for a recorded statement. You are not required to give one to the other driver’s insurer. If you do speak, keep it simple. Don’t guess, speculate, or downplay pain.

Step 8: Know the Deadline

Most Tennessee personal injury cases have a one-year statute of limitations. If you miss it, your case is usually barred no matter how strong it is.

How a Lawyer Helps Early

Early involvement often means:

• preserving evidence (video, vehicle data, witness statements)
• stopping insurer pressure
• calculating full damages (not just medical bills)
• building a fault defense before blame gets pinned on you

CTA: If you were hurt in a Tennessee car accident, Manson Johnson Conner PLLC can take over the claim, deal with the insurers, and fight for full compensation. Reach out for a consultation.