In the moments after a car accident, your focus is usually on making sure everyone is okay, seeking medical attention and getting your vehicle to a garage for repairs. However, you also have to deal with law enforcement and your insurance company. This means ensuring that you get an accident report. Your insurance will need the report to process your claim.
The Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security explains there are a few different ways that you can get your accident report. You can always send a request by mail to the department’s Financial Responsibility Division. You will need to include a check or money order to pay the small fee and your address or the address to which you want the report sent.
Another quicker option is to go online. It does have a slightly higher fee for this service and you will need to pay with a credit card. The system will not accept prepaid cards or debit cards without a Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover logo. You will need to know specific information to get the report. This includes your driver’s license number, date of the accident, the reporting agency and either the license plate number, case or tracking number or your vehicle’s VIN.
The last option for securing an accident report is to request one in person at a Tennessee Highway Patrol office or the office of the investigating agency. Again, you will pay a small fee for processing, and you will have to provide information about yourself and the accident. Each agency may have different operating hours during which you can get a report, so it is best to call ahead.