What to Do If You’re in a Minor Car Accident With No Police Report in Tennessee

If you’re in a minor car accident with no police report in Tennessee, you can still file an injury claim for compensation. However, you need to have exhaustive evidence to make up for the lack of an official report. 

Without the right evidence, your claim has a high chance of failure. A car accident lawyer in Tennessee from Wettermark Keith can assess your claim and help you build a strong case. Call us today to schedule a free case consultation. 

Do I Need to Submit a Police Report After an Accident in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, you are required to contact law enforcement and submit a police report if a car accident involves injury, death, or more than $1,500 in property damage. If law enforcement sends an officer to the scene, they should fill out a police report and submit it to the relevant agency. 

If the accident isn’t serious and only involves property damage, the police might not send an officer to the scene. In this case, you must submit a personal accident report with the state Department of Safety. In most cases, you need to submit a crash report within 20 days of the accident. Failing to do this can result in license suspensions and other penalties. 

What Does a Police Report Contain?

Police reports contain basic information about the crash and reported injuries. This can include the following:

• Date and time of the crash
• Names and contact info of involved parties
• Make and model of vehicles involved
• Insurance policies of all drivers
• List of injuries reported at the scene
• Environmental conditions
• Narrative about the accident events
• Diagrams and drawings of the crash

You can request a police report from the agency that responded to the accident. A lawyer from Wettermark Keith can help you gather this and other important documents. 

Why Police Reports are Important for Car Accident Claims

Police reports can be a key piece of evidence in car accident claims. They prove that the accident happened and verify basic details about the crash events. Without a report, the other driver can say that the accident never happened, and the claim can turn into a he-said-she-said situation where it’s one driver’s word against the other. 

Police accident reports are not the only piece of evidence that determines fault and liability, but they are important supporting evidence. By providing an objective account of accident events, it’s much harder for insurance companies to dispute the veracity of your claim. With a police report, a lawyer from Wettermark Keith can build a strong claim resistant to disputes. 

Filing a Car Accident Claim Without a Police Report

Tennessee law doesn’t require you to submit a police report when making an injury claim. However, without a police report, you are lacking an important piece of evidence. You can still file a personal injury claim, but you’ll need to have very strong evidence to make up for the lack of a report. Below are some tips on filing a claim without a police report:

• Document the scene exhaustively. You’ll need to be your own evidence advocate. Take pictures of the accident scene, and get copies of any surveillance or dash cam footage. You should also make notes about environmental conditions that contributed to the crash. 
• Get eyewitness statements. If any were present, get contact info from eyewitnesses. You may need them to submit a statement when making an insurance claim. 
• Receive medical attention. It is imperative that you see a doctor as soon as possible. You need a paper trail detailing your diagnosis and injury treatment plan to claim your medical bills. 
• Report the crash to your insurance. You also need to report the crash to your insurance company, even if you’re not at fault. Most auto policies require drivers to report all crashes, and your coverage can be affected if you don’t. 
• Avoid talking about the accident. Don’t talk about the accident with others, and avoid making posts about your condition on social media. Innocuous statements and posts can be twisted into admissions of fault or evidence against the claimed severity of your injuries.  
• Talk to a lawyer. You should also talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer from Wettermark Keith can gather additional evidence and handle communications with insurance companies. 

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Tennessee From Wettermark Keith

Do you have more questions about what to do if you’re in a minor car accident with no police report in Tennessee? If so, the team at Wettermark Keith is here to talk. Our team has over 50 years of combined legal experience and has recovered over $1.5 billion for injury clients. We can help maximize your chances of recovery without a police report.