Hit by a Car While Walking in Nashville? Here's What to Do Next.

Pedestrian accidents almost always cause serious injuries. Call 911 right away, even if you think you can walk. The force of even a low-speed vehicle impact on an unprotected human body can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal fractures, internal bleeding, shattered bones, and organ damage that may not produce immediate symptoms.

Do not refuse medical evaluation at the scene. The adrenaline surge after being struck can completely mask the severity of your injuries. Paramedics will assess you and transport you to the appropriate facility based on the severity of your condition.

Tennessee law requires all parties involved in an accident to stop, exchange information, and render aid (Tenn. Code § 55-10-101). If you're physically able, remain at the scene until police arrive. If the driver who hit you is present, get their name, phone number, driver's license number, insurance company and policy number, and license plate number.

If the driver fled, try to note every detail about the vehicle: make, model, color, license plate (even partial), and direction of travel. Tell the responding officers immediately so they can begin searching.

If your injuries allow it, use your phone to photograph and record the scene: the intersection or road where you were struck, any crosswalk markings (or lack thereof), traffic signals and signs, the vehicle that hit you, your injuries, your clothing and shoes, and the road and weather conditions.

Ask any witnesses for their names and phone numbers. Bystanders, other pedestrians, drivers stopped at the light, and workers at nearby businesses can all provide testimony that establishes what happened. In a disputed-fault pedestrian case, witness statements can be decisive.

Look for surveillance cameras on nearby buildings, traffic signal poles, parking lots, and residential doorbells. Note their locations and share this information with the police.

If MNPD officers respond to the scene, they'll generate a crash report through the TITAN system. If for any reason a report wasn't filed at the scene, contact the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department to file one as soon as possible.

For pedestrian accidents on state highways or interstates, the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) may handle the report. You can request crash reports through the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's BuyCrash system.

The police report documents the location, circumstances, parties involved, witness statements, and the officer's observations — all of which become critical evidence in your claim.

Even if you were evaluated by paramedics at the scene, follow up with a doctor within 24 to 48 hours for a comprehensive evaluation. Pedestrian accident injuries — especially concussions, traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and spinal cord injuries — often require imaging (CT scans, MRIs) that isn't available at the roadside.

Nashville has excellent trauma care. Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a Level I trauma center — the highest designation — and handles the most severe pedestrian injuries, including multi-system trauma. TriStar Skyline Medical Center is a Level II trauma center. For follow-up care, TriStar Centennial Medical Center, Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital, and Saint Thomas West Hospital are available throughout Davidson County. Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt handles pediatric emergencies.

Keep every medical record, bill, prescription, and therapy note. These form the backbone of your injury claim.

The driver's insurance company will contact you, often within days. They may seem sympathetic, but their goal is to minimize the payout. They will look for any statement they can use to argue you were partially at fault — that you weren't in a crosswalk, that you were distracted by your phone, or that you stepped into traffic.

Do not give a recorded statement. Say: "I'm not prepared to give a statement at this time" and refer them to your attorney. Do not accept any early settlement offer — it will almost certainly be far less than the full value of your claim.

You have just one year from the date of the pedestrian accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Tennessee (Tenn. Code § 28-3-104). This is one of the shortest statutes of limitations in the country. Tennessee courts enforce it strictly — filing even one day late means permanent dismissal.

Pedestrian accident cases often involve complex fact patterns, disputed fault, and extensive medical treatment. Starting the legal process early — within weeks, not months — gives your attorney time to investigate properly, preserve evidence, and build the strongest case.

Pedestrian accident cases in Nashville involve unique challenges: determining whether you had the right of way, establishing the driver's negligence, countering comparative fault arguments, and calculating damages for what are often catastrophic, life-changing injuries. An experienced attorney can handle all of this while you focus on recovery.

Most Nashville personal injury attorneys work on contingency — you pay nothing unless they win your case. The initial consultation is free.