Leaving the scene of an accident where people are hurt is simply wrong. And in Tennessee, it is also illegal. Under Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-10-101, a driver involved in an accident where someone is injured or killed is required to give his or her name and address, and to show their driver’s license, if asked. Tennessee law also requires a driver involved in a crash to see that everyone who is hurt gets assistance, including making arrangements to get the injured to a doctor or hospital, if necessary. Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-10-103. Leaving the scene of a fatality without doing these things is a felony under Tennessee law.
Drivers leave the scene of an accident for a variety of reasons. Often, the driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Sometimes, the driver is operating a stolen vehicle or is wanted by law enforcement for some other crime. In addition, some drivers do not have insurance and they are afraid of being personally responsible for the accident. Whatever the reason, leaving the scene of an accident is a crime.
Victims of a hit-and-run accident often despair that no one can help them because they do not know who hit them since that person fled the scene. However, even if the police were unable to locate the fleeing driver, one of our award-winning lawyers may still be able to piece together the driver’s identity. 911 call recordings can be used to track down witnesses who saw the negligent driver, and the 911 recordings themselves might be helpful to at least prove who was at fault for the crash. Surveillance camera footage from nearby businesses or another driver's dash cam video might show the accident, or at least show the fleeing driver’s car.
Even if there is no way to identify the hit and run driver, victims still may be able to recover money to pay their medical bills, lost wages, and human losses. Most Tennessee auto insurance policies include uninsured motorist underinsured motorist coverage, often abbreviated as UM/UIM coverage. In fact, under Tennessee law, an auto insurance company is required to include UM/UIM coverage in every policy unless the policy owner specifically chooses to reject the coverage in writing. Tennessee Code Annotated section. 56-7-1201. This means that part of every car and truck owner’s insurance premium includes paying to protect from injuries and financial losses caused by hit and run drivers.
Determining who should be held accountable, and following the necessary procedure to do so, is critical for a Tennessee hit-and-run case. Your choice of lawyer is critical. After an accident, it is important to secure important evidence and before hiring a lawyer, you need to do your homework. We encourage you to read our FAQ pages:
How to Select an Injury Attorney
How to Prepare for a Meeting With an Injury Attorney
Deadlines for Filing an Injury Claim in Tennessee
Once you are ready, give us a call to see if we can help. Like most injury lawyers, we offer a free, no-obligation consultation and we handle all accident cases on a contingency basis. But unlike some injury lawyers, we advance all case expenses interest-free. Contact us online or call us at one of our offices below:
Nashville: 615-669-3993
Murfreesboro: 615-867-9900
Brentwood: 615-742-4880
Toll-Free: 866-812-8787