What to Do After a Car Accident in Tennessee: A Farragut Agent's Step-by-Step Guide
After a crash in Tennessee: stop, check for injuries, move to safety, and call 911. Tennessee law requires you to notify law enforcement immediately for any accident involving injury, death, or property damage over $50. Exchange information, photograph everything, and get witness contacts before anyone leaves.
Then two separate deadlines apply. If damage exceeds $1,500 (or $400 to government property), or anyone was injured or killed, you must file a written Owner/Driver Report with the Tennessee Department of Safety within 20 days, regardless of fault and in addition to any police report. Failing to file can result in suspension of your license and registration. Separately, notify your insurance agent as soon as you safely can, since most carriers expect prompt notice.
Nobody plans for this. One second you are on Kingston Pike heading home, the next you are standing on the shoulder with your hazards on trying to remember what you are supposed to do. The steps below are the ones I walk Farragut and Knoxville clients through when they call me from a roadside, in the order they actually matter.
Important local note: the Knoxville Police Department no longer dispatches officers to most minor, non-injury crashes. If no officer comes, the crash is still legally reportable. You are responsible for exchanging information, documenting the scene yourself, and filing the state report if the damage threshold is met. Do not assume that no officer means no obligation.
The Steps, In Order
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Stop and check for injuries
Never leave the scene. Leaving an accident involving injury or significant property damage is a criminal offense in Tennessee, escalating from a misdemeanor to a felony when someone is hurt. Check yourself, your passengers, and the other vehicle. Adrenaline masks injury, so if there is any doubt, say so when you call 911 and let medical personnel evaluate you.
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Move to safety, then call 911
If the vehicles are drivable and the crash is minor, move them onto the shoulder or out of the travel lane. Turn on hazards. Then call 911 or the Knoxville Police non-emergency line. Report the crash even if the damage looks small, because Tennessee's reporting threshold of $50 in property damage is low enough that almost every accident qualifies. Dispatch will decide whether to send an officer.
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Exchange information with every driver involved
Collect all of the following from each driver, and give them yours:
- Full name, phone number, and address
- Insurance company and policy number
- Driver license number
- Vehicle make, model, year, and license plate
- The registered owner's name if it differs from the driver
Photograph their insurance card and license rather than writing it down. It is faster and eliminates transcription errors.
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Photograph everything before vehicles move
This is the step people skip and regret. Take more photos than feel necessary, and take them before the cars are moved if it is safe to do so:
- All four sides of every vehicle involved, close up and wide
- The overall scene showing vehicle positions relative to each other
- Skid marks, debris fields, and any damaged property
- Traffic signals, stop signs, lane markings, and road conditions
- Visible injuries
- The other driver's insurance card and license
Shoot a slow 30-second video walking around the scene narrating what you see. Your phone timestamps and geotags everything, which builds a record no one can dispute later.
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Get witness names and numbers
Witnesses disappear within minutes and are almost impossible to find afterward. If anyone stopped or saw it happen, get a name and phone number. In a disputed-fault claim, one neutral witness is worth more than any argument you make later.
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Do not admit fault or speculate
Be courteous, check that everyone is alright, and stick to facts when you talk to the other driver or the officer. Saying "I'm so sorry, I didn't see you" at the scene can be treated as an admission even when the facts later show you were not at fault. Fault is determined by evidence and adjusters, not by who apologized first.
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Call your insurance agent, not just the 1-800 line
Call or text me at (865) 288-3532. I open the claim, tell you exactly what your policy covers before you commit to anything, arrange a rental if you carry rental reimbursement, and follow the claim through to resolution. Most policies require prompt notice, and prompt notice also gets the repair started sooner. This is the step where having a local agent instead of a call center actually changes the outcome.
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File the state Owner/Driver Report within 20 days if required
If the crash caused injury or death, more than $1,500 in property damage to anyone involved, or more than $400 in damage to state or local government property, you must file a written report with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security within 20 days. This is required regardless of fault, and it is required in addition to any report an investigating officer files. Missing this deadline can result in suspension of your driver license and vehicle registration.
Which Coverage Pays for What
The single most common question I get after a crash is which part of the policy handles the damage. Here is the short version.
| Situation | Coverage that responds |
|---|---|
| You caused damage or injury to someone else | Liability (Tennessee minimum is 25/50/25) |
| Your car is damaged in a crash, whoever is at fault | Collision, after your deductible |
| You hit a deer, or damage from theft, hail, or a fallen tree | Comprehensive, after your deductible |
| The at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough | Uninsured / underinsured motorist |
| Medical costs for you and your passengers | Medical payments coverage, if carried |
| A rental car while yours is in the shop | Rental reimbursement, if carried |
The uninsured driver problem in Tennessee
Roughly one in five Tennessee drivers carries no insurance at all, one of the highest rates in the country. If one of them hits you and you do not carry uninsured motorist coverage, there is often no practical way to recover your damages. Tennessee does not require this coverage, and it typically adds only about 5 to 10 percent to a premium. It is the coverage I most often find missing on policies people bought online. Our guide to choosing the best car insurance in Farragut and Knoxville covers why in more detail.
The gap coverage problem
If your car is totaled and you owe more on the loan than the vehicle's actual cash value, you are responsible for the difference unless you carry gap coverage. On a newer financed vehicle, that difference can run into thousands of dollars. Worth confirming before you need it, not after.
Just had an accident? Call me directly.
I will open your claim, explain exactly what your policy covers, and stay with it until your vehicle is repaired. No phone tree, no starting over with a new person every call.
Call or Text (865) 288-3532Not an emergency? Run the free Coverage Gap Checkup to see whether you would be covered before something happens.
Tennessee Car Accident FAQ
Do I have to report a minor accident in Tennessee?
Almost certainly yes. Tennessee law requires drivers to notify law enforcement immediately for any accident involving injury, death, or more than $50 in property damage. That threshold is low enough that virtually every accident qualifies. Report it even if the other driver suggests handling it privately.
How long do I have to report a car accident in Tennessee?
Two separate obligations apply. Law enforcement must be notified immediately by the quickest means available. Separately, a written Owner/Driver Report must be filed with the Tennessee Department of Safety within 20 days when the crash involved injury, death, more than $1,500 in property damage, or more than $400 in damage to government property. Your insurance policy has its own notice requirement, so call your agent promptly as well.
What happens if I do not file the Tennessee accident report?
Failing to file the required Owner/Driver Report with the Department of Safety can result in suspension of your driver license and vehicle registration until you comply and pay any applicable fees. The requirement applies regardless of who was at fault.
What if the other driver has no insurance?
This is where uninsured motorist coverage matters. Roughly one in five Tennessee drivers is uninsured, among the highest rates nationally. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays your damages when the at-fault driver cannot. Tennessee does not require it, and it typically adds about 5 to 10 percent to a premium, which makes it one of the best values on a policy.
Will my rates go up if the accident was not my fault?
A not-at-fault claim generally has far less rate impact than an at-fault one, and some claim types such as comprehensive losses are usually not treated as at-fault at all. The specifics depend on your carrier, your claim history, and the circumstances. Ask your agent to walk through the likely impact before you decide how to proceed on a small claim.
Should I call my agent or the insurance company's claims line?
Either opens a claim, but calling your local agent means someone who already knows your policy, can tell you what is covered before you commit to anything, and can follow the claim through instead of handing you to whoever answers next. Call or text (865) 288-3532.
This article is general educational information about Tennessee reporting requirements and common auto coverages, current as of September 2026. It is not legal advice, and state law and procedures can change. Coverage, limits, and exclusions are governed by your actual policy documents. For legal questions about a specific accident, consult a licensed Tennessee attorney. Colin Karich is a licensed insurance agent in the State of Tennessee.