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
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.
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.