How to get a police report after an accident in Nashville, TN
Not all motor vehicle accidents in Tennessee are serious crashes. Many collisions are simple “fender benders” that result in no injuries and only minor damage.
In such cases, one or more of the drivers involved may express a desire to not report the accident to authorities. The reasons for this might simply be a desire to avoid being stuck at a crash scene for an extended period of time, or a person might be fearful about the effects that even a minor accident could have on their automobile insurance rates.
In some cases, a driver is uncooperative and refuses to contact police because they do not have insurance, may not have a valid license, or have an active arrest warrant. If someone refuses to contact authorities after a crash, it is imperative that you insist on having the accident officially documented and reported.
No matter how civil another driver might seem after a crash, it is important to remember that the other driver could change their story. While a motorist may admit fault immediately after an accident and express willingness to personally take care of another driver for damage caused, the negligent motorist could very well change their mind, and it becomes more difficult to prove fault when no accident report is filed.
Even when an accident report is filed with a law enforcement agency in Tennessee, it can be complicated for a victim to obtain their crash report after the accident. The Law Offices of Luvell L. Glanton assist clients all over the greater Nashville area with various kinds of car crashes. Call (615) 244-4511 right now to schedule a free consultation.
Tennessee Car Accident Reporting Laws
Tennessee law requires that the operator of a motor vehicle involved in an accident in which any person is killed or injured, or in which property damage exceeding $400 is sustained, must report the matter in writing to the Commissioner of Safety and Homeland Security within 20 days of the accident. If the operator fails or is physically incapable of making the report, the vehicle owner must report the matter in writing to the commissioner upon learning of the accident.
Some people assume that their accidents are so minor that they do not have to file crash reports, but damage can exceed $400 rather easily. Additionally, there can be consequences to not reporting accidents in such cases.
If you do not report an accident to the commissioner of safety within 20 days, your license and vehicle registration may be suspended. The vehicle’s operator or owner are both entitled to administrative hearings held by the commissioner of safety, or the commissioner’s delegate. A person whose motor vehicle operating privileges have been suspended can restore their driving privileges by filing an accident report and paying a $25 restoration fee to the commissioner of safety.
Obtaining a Crash Report in Nashville, TN
The procedure for obtaining an accident report will depend on the law enforcement agency that the report was filed with.
If your crash report was filed with the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), a person must download and complete an Open Records Request Form and email the completed form to MNPD’s Public Records Requests. A report returned via email that does not take more than one hour to complete is free of charge, but fees for all other reports are charged per page based on the Mayor’s Executive Order Number 35.
For a full accident, minor accident, computer-aided dispatch (CAD) report, or incident report, Mayor’s Executive Order charges are as follows:
- All black and white copies are $0.15 per page
- All color copies are $0.50 per page
- Any request made in person, by mail, or email will have a labor fee charged after one hour is spent producing the requested material.
If a crash is investigated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), any driver, owner, passenger, or their agent or legal representative can purchase a copy of the crash report for a fee of $4. The reports are available approximately seven days after the date of the crash at the THP District Office and can be purchased through the mail, or by visiting the THP District Office in person.
After 30 days have passed from the date of the crash, a report can also be purchased from the Department of Safety for a fee of $4. All crashes investigated by the THP and local police and sheriff departments should be available online within seven days of the crash, and the cost of an online collision report is $10.
When a crash is investigated by any law enforcement agency other than the THP, the report can be purchased from the Department of Safety for a fee of $4 after 60 days have passed from the date of the crash. In order to purchase an accident report, a person will need to provide the following information:
- Date of crash
- County in which crash occurred
- Name(s) of driver(s) involved
- A cashier’s check, money order, or personal/business check in the amount of $4.
If a person is involved in a motor vehicle accident in Tennessee and does not immediately file a crash report, they should complete an owner/driver report form and submit it to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security within 20 days of the accident.
Contact a Nashville Car Accident Attorney Today
If you were involved in any kind of motor vehicle crash in Tennessee and need assistance filing or obtaining a crash report, it is in your best interest to retain legal counsel. Contact the Law Offices of Luvell L. Glanton as soon as possible.
Our firm can help you obtain the police report filed for your accident and make sure all the information contained therein is completely accurate. You can have our lawyer review your case and answer all of your legal questions when you call (615) 244-4511 or contact us online to receive a free consultation.