Getting into a car accident is already stressful. Then the insurance questions start piling up, and if you've never been through it before, it can feel like a lot to figure out all at once.
The truth is, the process isn't as complicated as it seems once you understand what to do in your specific situation. Because the steps really do depend on what happened. We're going to walk through four of the most common scenarios so you know exactly what to expect in each one.
Before we get into the individual scenarios, a few things apply in every accident regardless of fault.
Check yourself and anyone else in your vehicle for injuries first. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately. If the cars are drivable and it's safe, move them out of the flow of traffic. Call the police even if the accident seems minor. A police report is one of the most useful documents you can have when it's time to file a claim.
Once things are stable, exchange information with the other driver. You want their name, phone number, driver's license number, license plate, and insurance information. Take photos of both vehicles, the road conditions, and anything else relevant to the scene. The more documentation you have, the better.
One more thing: do not admit fault at the scene. Even a casual "I'm so sorry" can be used against you later. Let the insurance companies and the police report sort out who was responsible.
If you caused the accident, your liability coverage is what comes into play first. Tennessee requires all drivers to carry liability insurance for exactly this reason. It covers the other driver's medical bills, vehicle repairs, and related costs when you're the one responsible, up to your policy limits.
Your insurance company will open a claim and assign an adjuster to review everything. They'll go through the police report, talk to both drivers, and look at the photos and evidence before making a determination. Once liability is confirmed, the other driver's damages get paid out through your liability coverage.
As for your own vehicle, that's where your collision coverage matters. If you carry it, it handles your repairs after you pay your deductible. If you don't carry collision, you'd be paying for your own repairs out of pocket.
When it comes to reporting: do it quickly. Most carriers have 24-hour claims lines and mobile apps that make it easy. Be straightforward with your adjuster, give them the police report number and your photos, and let them do their job. Try to avoid having direct conversations with the other driver's attorney or insurer without guidance from your own company first.
As for your rates, yes, an at-fault accident will likely affect them. It typically stays on your record for three to five years and can bump your premium at renewal. The impact depends on your carrier, the severity of the accident, and your overall history.
When someone else caused the accident, their liability insurance is supposed to cover your damages. In practice, you have two ways to approach it.
You can file directly with the at-fault driver's insurance company, which is called a third-party claim. Or you can file through your own insurance and let your carrier go after theirs. Most people start with the other driver's insurer since it seems more straightforward, but there's something important to keep in mind: the adjuster assigned to your claim works for their insurance company, not for you. Their job is to settle the claim, and the first offer they make may not fully cover what you're owed.
Get a copy of the police report, which should document the other driver's fault. File the claim using the information you collected at the scene. Choose your own repair shop. You have that right, and you don't have to go where the other driver's insurer sends you. If you have medical bills or injuries, hold on to every record and don't rush to settle before you know the full extent of what you're dealing with. Injuries can take days to show up.
If the other driver's insurance is dragging their feet, disputes fault, or isn't offering a fair settlement, reach out to your own carrier. If you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage or collision coverage, your insurer can step in, pay your claim, and then pursue reimbursement from the at-fault driver's company on your behalf. That process is called subrogation.
On the rate question: a not-at-fault accident usually shouldn't increase your premium, but it's not guaranteed. Tennessee law doesn't prohibit insurers from factoring in not-at-fault claims, so it's worth a direct conversation with your agent about your specific carrier's approach.
Hit and runs are more common than most people think, and they're genuinely frustrating to deal with because the person responsible is gone and unidentifiable.
Without the other driver's information, you can't file against their insurance. You'll be working with your own policy, and this is where uninsured motorist coverage (UM) becomes critical. UM is specifically built for situations where the at-fault driver has no insurance or, in the case of a hit and run, can't be identified at all. Tennessee insurers are required to offer it, though drivers can decline it in writing.
At the scene, call the police right away and get a report filed. Write down or photograph everything you can about the other vehicle: make, model, color, any partial plate numbers, the direction they drove off, and the contact information of any witnesses. Then contact your insurance company and report it as a hit and run claim.
If you have UM coverage, it can cover your medical expenses and, depending on your specific policy, your vehicle damage. If you don't have UM, collision coverage (if you carry it) can cover your vehicle repairs after your deductible.
If you've never checked whether you have uninsured motorist coverage on your policy, it's worth finding out. Hit and runs account for roughly one in five accidents nationally. It's the kind of coverage most people don't think about until they're standing on the side of the road wishing they had it.
This one surprises a lot of people. Most drivers assume that if they didn't cause the accident, their own policy is completely unaffected. That's not always true.
Any time you file a claim through your own insurance, even a not-at-fault claim, it creates a record with your insurer. Some carriers factor that into your renewal premium, particularly if there have been multiple claims in a short period regardless of who was at fault. It's not something that happens with every carrier, but it does happen with some.
There's also the deductible to think about. If you file a collision claim to get your vehicle repaired quickly rather than waiting on the other driver's insurer to pay out, you'll owe your deductible upfront. Even if your insurance company eventually recovers that money through subrogation, it can take time.
Before you file, it's worth considering the repair cost versus your deductible. If the damage is relatively minor and close to your deductible amount, paying out of pocket might make more sense than putting a claim on your record. Your claims history also matters. If you've already filed one or more claims recently, adding another could move you into a higher risk tier at renewal. And some carriers have accident forgiveness programs that protect you from rate increases on a first claim, not-at-fault or otherwise.
None of this is meant to talk you out of filing when you need to. That's exactly what insurance is for. But understanding the full picture helps you make a smarter decision for your situation.
Car accidents are one of those situations where the right move really does depend on the details. Your coverage, your history, your carrier's policies, and the specifics of the accident all factor in. A five-minute call to your agent before you file can save you from making a decision you'd regret.
No one expects to get into a car accident, and no one expects to have all the insurance answers on the spot when one happens. That's what we're here for. Whether you're trying to understand your current coverage, figure out next steps after an accident, or just want to make sure you're in a good spot before something happens, our team is always a phone call away.
We've helped clients across Tennessee work through situations like every one of these scenarios. The questions you have are ones we've heard before, and we're happy to walk through them with you without any pressure or confusing insurance speak.