Hit and Run Accident in Nashville: What to Do Next

Your first priority after a hit and run is safety. Move out of traffic if you can do so without worsening any injuries. Call 911 immediately. Tell the dispatcher that the other driver fled the scene. Give them whatever details you have — the direction the vehicle went, the make, model, color, and any part of the license plate number you remember. Even a partial plate can help Metro Nashville Police identify the vehicle.

Even if your injuries feel minor, request medical attention. Adrenaline masks pain. Injuries like whiplash, concussions, and internal bleeding may not produce symptoms for hours or days. The 911 call creates a timestamped official record that your accident happened and that you reported it immediately — this matters when you file your insurance claim.

If you are physically able, stay at the scene until police arrive. Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) will respond to hit and run calls involving injuries. For property-damage-only hit and runs where police may not respond to the scene, you can file a report by calling the non-emergency number at 615-862-8600 or by visiting your local MNPD precinct.

Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-10-101, any driver involved in an accident resulting in injury or death must immediately stop, provide their name, address, vehicle registration number, and insurance information, and render reasonable assistance to any injured person. Failing to stop after an accident causing injury is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and a $2,500 fine.

If the hit and run results in death or the driver knew or should have known death occurred, the charge escalates to a Class E felony under TCA 55-10-101(b), carrying 1-6 years in prison. A hit and run involving serious bodily injury is also a Class E felony. These criminal penalties apply to the fleeing driver regardless of who was at fault for the underlying accident — the crime is leaving the scene, not causing the crash.

If the fleeing driver is identified and criminally charged, the criminal case is separate from your civil injury claim. A criminal conviction strengthens your civil case through negligence per se — if the driver violated the law, negligence is established. But even without criminal charges, you can still pursue your civil claim through your own UM coverage.

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is your primary financial recovery tool in a hit and run. Tennessee law (TCA 56-7-1201) requires every auto insurance policy to include UM coverage at a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident unless the policyholder rejects it in writing. Most drivers carry UM coverage because the rejection must be explicit and signed.

UM coverage applies to hit and run accidents because the fleeing driver is treated as an uninsured motorist — if you cannot identify them, you cannot verify their insurance. Your UM coverage pays for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages up to your policy limits. It functions like the at-fault driver's liability insurance would, except you file the claim with your own insurer.

There is an important distinction: your UM claim is against your own insurance company, but you are not filing a first-party claim like collision coverage. You must prove that the hit and run driver was at fault and that your injuries and damages are real and causally connected to the crash. Your insurer may dispute the circumstances of the crash, the extent of your injuries, or the value of your claim. Treat the UM claim with the same seriousness as a claim against another driver's insurer — document everything thoroughly.

While UM coverage protects you if the driver is never found, identifying the fleeing driver opens additional recovery options — including their liability insurance and potential punitive damages for the reckless act of fleeing the scene. Nashville's extensive surveillance infrastructure gives victims better odds of identification than many cities.

TDOT SmartWay cameras cover Nashville's interstates and many major arterials. Nearby business security cameras — gas stations, convenience stores, banks, restaurants — often capture vehicles passing through intersections. Nashville's WeGo transit system has cameras on buses that may have recorded the crash. Doorbell cameras (Ring, Nest) in residential areas near the crash site are another source. Have your attorney or investigator canvass the area within 48 hours, before footage is overwritten.

Witness information is critical. Other drivers, pedestrians, and business employees may have seen the crash or the fleeing vehicle. The police report should include any witness contact information collected at the scene. Social media and local news coverage of the crash can also surface additional witnesses. If you remember any identifying details — partial plate number, vehicle color and type, bumper stickers, damage to the fleeing vehicle — share everything with police and your attorney.

See a doctor within 72 hours — ideally the same day as the crash. Even if you were evaluated at the scene by EMS and declined transport, get a full medical examination. Whiplash, concussions, and internal injuries are commonly delayed. Tell the doctor the mechanism of injury (hit and run, vehicle impact) and describe every symptom, no matter how minor. This medical record is the foundation of your injury claim.

Notify your auto insurance company about the hit and run as soon as possible. Provide the police report number and the basic facts of the crash. Do not give a recorded statement or sign any documents without understanding your rights. Your insurer is obligated to process your UM claim in good faith, but they also have a financial interest in minimizing the payout. Be factual and thorough, but do not speculate or downplay your injuries.

Keep a daily journal documenting your pain levels, medications, doctor visits, missed work, activities you cannot perform, and how the injuries affect your daily life. Save every receipt — medical bills, prescriptions, physical therapy, transportation to appointments, and vehicle repair or replacement costs. This paper trail converts your injuries into a quantifiable claim.

Tennessee's modified comparative fault system (TCA 29-11-103) reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault. If you are 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing. In hit and run cases, fault allocation is typically straightforward — the fleeing driver chose to leave the scene, which strongly implies consciousness of guilt and fault for the underlying crash.

Your insurer may try to argue that you share fault for the accident itself — for example, that you were in the wrong lane, failed to signal, or were speeding. The challenge is that without the other driver's testimony, the insurer may rely on the physical evidence and your own statements to construct a fault argument. This is why thorough evidence collection at the scene is critical — photographs, witness statements, and any camera footage establish what happened on your terms.

If the hit and run driver is later identified, you can pursue a direct claim against their liability insurance in addition to your UM claim. The act of fleeing the scene may support a punitive damages claim, as leaving an injured person without assistance demonstrates the kind of reckless or malicious conduct that Tennessee courts consider when awarding punitive damages.

Tennessee's statute of limitations for personal injury is 1 year from the date of injury (TCA 28-3-104). This is one of the shortest deadlines in the country. If the hit and run resulted in a death, the wrongful death statute of limitations is also 1 year from the date of the injury that caused death.

If criminal charges are later filed against the identified hit and run driver, the statute of limitations may extend to 2 years. But do not count on this extension — the driver may never be identified, and even if they are, criminal charges are not guaranteed. File your UM claim and begin building your case immediately.

Evidence in hit and run cases degrades faster than in regular crashes because you are starting with less information. Surveillance footage is overwritten within days. Witnesses forget details. Physical evidence on the roadway (debris, paint transfer marks) is cleaned up or washed away. The 1-year statutory deadline is the outer limit — the practical deadline for evidence preservation is measured in days and weeks, not months.

Were you the victim of a hit and run in Nashville? Get your free Injury Claim Check. You will answer a few questions about your accident and injuries, and we will provide a personalized report covering your potential claim — including how your UM coverage applies, what evidence to preserve, and whether connecting with a Nashville personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Someone hit you and drove away. That is not your fault, and you should not bear the financial burden of their cowardice. Tennessee law and your insurance policy provide real options for recovery. Start with the Injury Claim Check — it is free, confidential, and takes less time than waiting on hold with your insurance company.