Hit and Run in Nashville? You’re Probably Still Covered

Almost 30% of all reported crashes in Nashville last year were hit and runs.

That’s not a typo. The Metro Nashville Police Department took more than 26,000 crash reports in 2024. Of those, nearly 7,700 were hit and runs — roughly 150 every single week, according to the Nashville Banner. And MNPD has just two full-time investigators assigned to non-fatal hit and runs.

So if someone hits you and takes off, what are your options? More than you probably think.

Get Evidence Immediately

The single most important thing you can do after a hit and run is grab your phone.

Call 911 first. Then start taking pictures — your car, the damage, the road, anything around you. Write down everything you can remember while it’s fresh. What color was the car? What make and model? Did you catch any part of the tag number? Which direction did they go?

Independent witnesses are critical. That means people outside your vehicle who saw what happened. Another driver. Someone standing on the sidewalk. A worker at a nearby business. Their statements carry serious weight — especially if the other driver is never found.

Why? Because if no one ever identifies the driver who hit you, your case depends on proving you were actually struck by another vehicle. Independent witnesses help you do that.

You’re Probably Still Covered — Even If They Never Catch the Driver

This is the part most people don’t know.

If the other driver disappears and is never identified, you likely still have a path to compensation through your own uninsured motorist coverage. Tennessee requires every auto insurance policy to include UM coverage unless you specifically rejected it in writing (T.C.A. § 56-7-1201).

Your uninsured motorist coverage steps in when the person who hit you either has no insurance or can’t be found. It can cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering — the same types of damages you’d pursue against the other driver’s insurance if they’d stuck around.

But there’s a catch. For hit and run claims involving an unknown driver, Tennessee law requires one of two things: either actual physical contact between the other vehicle and you or your property, or clear and convincing evidence from an independent witness (not someone in your car) that the other vehicle existed and caused the crash.

That’s why getting witness information at the scene matters so much. Without it, proving the hit and run happened can get complicated fast.

Your Insurance Rates Cannot Go Up

People hesitate to file uninsured motorist claims because they’re afraid their premiums will increase. That fear is understandable — but in Tennessee, it’s unfounded.

There is a specific law on the books that addresses this directly. T.C.A. § 56-7-1201(f) says it plainly: no insurer shall increase your rate or premium — or cancel your coverage — solely because you made an uninsured motorist claim.

The accident wasn’t your fault. That’s the whole point of having the coverage. You paid for it, and Tennessee law says you shouldn’t be penalized for using it.

Your Car Insurance Follows You — Even Outside Your Car

Here’s another thing that surprises people: your auto insurance doesn’t just cover you while you’re driving.

If you’re riding a bike and a car hits you — your uninsured motorist coverage can apply. If you’re walking down the street and a car strikes you — same thing. Your car insurance follows you, not just your vehicle.

That’s a big deal in a city where pedestrian accidents are a growing problem. If a driver hits you while you’re on foot and takes off, your own auto policy may be your best path to compensation — even though you weren’t anywhere near your car.

Insurance Companies Make This Harder Than It Should Be

Filing an uninsured motorist claim sounds straightforward. It’s not.

Remember: when you file a UM claim, you’re making a claim against your own insurance company. And your insurance company’s goal is the same as any other insurer — pay as little as possible. They may dispute whether the hit and run actually happened. They may question the severity of your injuries. They may drag their feet on the investigation hoping you’ll accept a lowball offer or give up.

That’s why having a car accident lawyer involved early makes a difference. An attorney who handles hit and run cases knows how to document the claim properly, push back against delays, and hold your insurer to the coverage you’re owed.

Call The Higgins Firm

If you’ve been the victim of a hit and run in Nashville, call 615-353-0930 immediately.

It doesn’t cost anything to call. It doesn’t cost anything to hire us. The sooner we get involved, the better — because evidence from hit and run crashes disappears fast, and the window to build a strong uninsured motorist claim gets smaller every day.

You can also visit thehigginsfirm.com to learn more.