A Step-by-Step Plan for the First 10 Minutes After a Nashville Crash

The first few minutes after a crash can shape how smoothly everything goes afterward. Missing insurance information, no police report, or a car towed somewhere inconvenient are common problems that a little preparation can help prevent.

This checklist walks through that sequence step by step for drivers in Davidson County. Laws and police procedures can change, so verify current details with Metro Nashville Police (MNPD) or the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

If you also want to know who typically ends up paying for the tow afterward, our Tennessee accident tow bill guide walks through fault, insurance, and storage. For general background on higher-crash corridors in the city, see high-crash Nashville intersections.

The first few minutes at the scene

Step 1: Stop, Breathe, Check Yourself

Before you do anything else, pause and check your own body. Adrenaline can mask injuries. Move your neck slowly, wiggle your fingers and toes, look for visible injury. If anything feels wrong, stay in the vehicle and call 911 first.

If you're okay, check anyone else in the vehicle, especially kids — a car seat can hide an injury.

Step 2: Get Off the Travel Lane If You Safely Can

Staying in a live travel lane on an interstate or other high-speed road is risky because of the speed of following traffic.

On interstates and other divided, controlled-access highways, Tennessee law (T.C.A. 55-10-117) says that when a crash causes no apparent serious injury, drivers should move vehicles that can be driven normally and safely out of the travel lanes to a safe place such as the shoulder. On other roads, if the vehicle is drivable and blocking traffic, moving it to a safe nearby spot is generally wise; follow any instructions from police or the 911 dispatcher. If you can do it safely, take a quick photo of the vehicles' positions before moving.

If the car won't move, turn on your hazards and call 911. Whether to stay buckled in or get well away from traffic depends on the situation; follow the dispatcher's guidance.

Step 3: Call 911 (Even for Minor Crashes)

Depending on where the crash happens, MNPD or the Tennessee Highway Patrol may respond. Calling 911 gets your call to the right agency.

Call 911 if:

• Anyone is injured, even slightly
• The crash blocks any travel lane
• A vehicle is disabled and needs to be towed
• The other driver is uncooperative, impaired, or trying to leave

For minor crashes with no injuries, an officer may not always be sent; ask the dispatcher what applies to your situation. An official report is often useful once insurance gets involved.

Separately, Tennessee law (T.C.A. 55-10-107) requires drivers involved in a crash that causes injury or death, or more than $1,500 in property damage to any one person, to send a written report to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security within 20 days. This applies regardless of fault and in addition to any police report. Check the department's website for the current form.

Exchanging information and documenting the crash

Step 4: Exchange Information — All of It

While you wait, swap the following with every other driver involved:

• Full name and phone number
• Driver's license number and state
• Insurance company, policy number, and the phone number on the insurance card
• License plate and state
• Year, make, model, and color of each vehicle
• Photos of their insurance card and license

If someone refuses, don't argue — photograph their license plate and wait for an officer.

Step 5: Document the Scene

Take more photos than you think you need:

• Wide shots of both vehicles in position, from multiple angles
• Close-ups of visible damage on both vehicles
• The intersection or mile marker, road signs, traffic signals
• Skid marks, debris, or glass on the pavement
• Weather and lighting conditions
• Any visible injuries

If there are witnesses willing to give a name and number, get it before they leave.

Step 6: Talk to the Officer — Briefly and Factually

Give a short, factual account of what happened. Avoid guessing about speed or fault, since statements at the scene can become part of the record.

Ask for the report or incident number before the officer leaves. You'll likely need it for the report and your insurance claim.

Paperwork, the tow, and your insurance claim

Step 7: Get the Accident Report

Crash reports usually take some time to become available. Check MNPD's website for current request options, or the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security if the Highway Patrol handled the crash. Having the report number, date, and drivers' names ready makes the request easier.

Step 8: Decide About the Tow

If the car drives safely with no fluid leak, no airbag deployment, and the wheels tracking straight, it may be fine to drive to a repair shop. But when in doubt, don't risk it.

Consider towing instead of driving if:

• Any airbag deployed
• Fluid is leaking (coolant, oil, transmission, brake)
• A tire is flat, bent, or a wheel isn't tracking straight
• The hood won't latch closed
• Headlights or taillights are badly damaged and it's getting dark
• The frame looks bent
• You smell fuel
• The car pulls hard to one side at low speed

If you need flatbed pickup after an accident, that generally protects a damaged suspension better than a wheel-lift tow.

If police request the tow, they may call a company from their own list. You can ask the officer whether you're allowed to request a specific company.

Step 9: Notify Your Insurance Promptly

Contact your insurance company as soon as practical, even if you weren't at fault. Have ready:

• The incident number
• The other driver's information
• Photos of the scene and damage
• Date, time, and location
• Witness names and numbers
• The tow company's name and where the car was taken

Tennessee is an at-fault state, which generally means the at-fault driver's liability coverage is responsible for the other party's covered losses. How towing and storage are handled still depends on the policies involved, so notify your own insurer and follow their instructions.

Step 10: Track Where Your Car Went

If your car was towed by a police-directed wrecker, try to find out promptly:

• The name and address of the tow yard
• The yard's hours
• The release procedure and required ID
• The storage fee structure
• Whether an adjuster can inspect the car on-site

A Few Nashville-Specific Things to Remember

Interstate shoulders carry real risk. Some shoulders are narrow, and passing traffic is fast. Avoid standing between your car and traffic while you wait.

If the other driver leaves, note the plate if you can and report it to police right away.

Unsolicited tow trucks at crash scenes are worth being cautious about. If a truck shows up that wasn't called by you or by police, you're not obligated to let them hook your car — ask for identification and a written rate sheet first.

The Move Over Law applies to tow trucks too. Tennessee's Move Over Law (T.C.A. 55-8-132) covers stationary recovery vehicles using flashing lights. Move over a lane when it's safe, or slow down if you can't.

What to Carry So Step 1 Goes Faster

A small accident kit in the glovebox or console helps:

• A small flashlight with fresh batteries
• A pen and paper
• Your current insurance card
• A copy of your registration
• Reflective triangles or flares
• A laminated card with emergency contacts
• A spare phone charger cable

For the full breakdown, our roadside emergency kit checklist covers what to keep in the trunk year-round.

When to Call Us

If you've been in a crash and your car can't drive, call (615) 756-5330. We'll go over pricing before the tow is arranged. If you broke down on I-65 rather than crashed, our I-65 breakdown guide covers interstate safety steps. See every service at Hook Em' Up Towing.