Read up on your legal duties as a Tennessee driver to ensure you know how to comply with the law if you’re ever involved in a car accident.
No one plans to get in a car crash. But did you know that after a collision occurs in Tennessee you have certain legal obligations?
In this article, we’ll dive into the details of Tennessee’s car accident laws and outline the steps you must take to avoid potential consequences. You can also check out Chapter 10 of the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Code to learn more.
1. Tennessee Driver Exchange of Information Law
After a car crash resulting in injury or death, Tennessee law requires you to exchange information with the other parties involved.
This means you must stop and remain at the scene until you have exchanged names, addresses and license numbers with the other people in the crash. You also need to show your driver’s license if they ask to see it.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or death shall immediately stop the vehicle and remain at the scene until the driver has fulfilled the requirements of § 55-10-103. The stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or death or damage to any vehicle shall give the driver’s name, address and the registration number of the vehicle the driver is driving, and shall, upon request and if available, exhibit that driver’s driver license, to the person struck or the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle collided with.
2. Tennessee Car Accident Injury Law: Duty to Render Aid
If you get into a car accident in Tennessee, the law requires you to provide “reasonable assistance” to anyone who is injured. This could include taking them to the hospital yourself, or making arrangements so they can get medical treatment if it is obvious that they need care or request transportation.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident shall render to any person injured reasonable assistance, including the carrying, or the making of arrangements for the carrying, of the person to a physician, surgeon or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is necessary or if carrying is requested by the injured person.
3. Tennessee Law on Reporting a Car Accident to Police
In Tennessee, you must immediately report car accidents involving injury, death, or at least $50 of property damage to the local police. Likewise, you must file a written report with the Tennessee Department of Safety for all crashes involving injury, death, damage to one person’s property that exceeds $1,500, or damage to government property that exceeds $400.
If the driver is physically incapacitated by an accident, an able passenger must immediately inform the police of the crash. Similarly, if a vehicle involved in an accident did not belong to the driver and the driver is incapacitated, the owner of the car must report the crash to the Department of Safety.
The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or property damage to an apparent extent of $50 or more shall immediately give notice of the accident to the local police department if the accident occurs within a municipality, otherwise to the office of the county sheriff or the nearest office of the state highway patrol.
The driver of a vehicle that is involved in an accident resulting in bodily injury or death to, or in which damage to the property of any 1 person in excess of $1,500 is sustained, shall within 20 days after the accident, forward a written report of the accident to the department of safety.
If an accident results in damage to state or local government property in excess of $400, then the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident shall file a written report.
An accident report is not required under this part from any person who is physically incapable of making a report during the period of the incapacity.
Whenever the driver of a vehicle is physically incapable of giving an immediate notice of an accident, and there was another occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident capable of doing so, the occupant shall make or cause to be given the notice not given by the driver.
Whenever the driver is physically incapable of making a written report of an accident, and the driver is not the owner of the vehicle, then the owner of the vehicle involved in the accident shall within 20 days after learning of the accident make the report not made by the driver.
What if I Fail to Report an Accident in Tennessee?
The failure to report an accident when legally obligated to do so is a Class C misdemeanor in Tennessee. The maximum punishment is 30 days in jail and a $50 fine.
Any person violating any of the provisions of chapters 8 and 9 of this title and parts 1-5 of this chapter where a penalty is not specifically prescribed commits a Class C misdemeanor.
4. Tennessee Car Accidents With No Injuries: Your Legal Duty
Tennessee law requires you to stop immediately if you are involved in any accident, even if no one is injured. If any property damage was caused, you must also exchange information with the other parties.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident shall immediately stop the vehicle. After all parties have determined and agreed that there is only damage to the vehicles and no suspected injury of any kind to drivers or passengers, all parties shall remain at the scene of the accident until the requirements of § 55-10-103 have been met.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or death or damage to any vehicle shall give the driver’s name, address and the registration number of the vehicle the driver is driving, and shall, upon request and if available, exhibit that driver’s driver license, to the person struck or the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle collided with.
5. What if I Hit a Parked Car in Tennessee?
When you hit a parked car in Tennessee, you must immediately stop and inform the owner of the vehicle of your name and address, as well as the name and address of the owner of the car you are driving. If you cannot find the owner, you can leave a note including this information and your insurance details.
The driver of any vehicle that collides with any unattended vehicle shall immediately stop and either locate and notify the owner of the name and address of the driver and owner of the vehicle, or shall leave a written notice. Written notices shall include information pertaining to the insurance policy, including the name of the insurer, of the driver and of the owner of the vehicle.
Before you hit the road in Tennessee, make sure you understand what you need to do in case of an accident. Whether you get into a minor fender-bender or a serious collision, knowledge is key when it comes to understanding your legal duties after a car crash.
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