Local details last verified November 8, 2026. General information, not legal advice or medical advice.
At the scene
- Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt, unresponsive, or you are unsure. Do not move someone with a possible neck or back injury unless there is immediate danger.
- Get to safety. If vehicles can move and it is safe, pull out of traffic and turn on hazard lights. Stay until police say you may leave.
- Make sure a report is made. In Memphis, emergency is 911 and the non-emergency number is 901-545-2677 (901-545-COPS) [1].
- Write down who responded. Note the officer's name, badge number and agency (Memphis Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol or another agency), and ask for the report or tracking number and how to get a copy.
- Collect information with your phone: the other driver's name, phone, address, license and plate; insurance company and policy number (photograph the card); make, model and color of each vehicle; passengers and witnesses.
- Take photos: all vehicles from several angles, damage, plates, the whole scene, signals and signs, skid marks, debris, weather and lighting.
- If your vehicle is towed, ask the officer which company is taking it and where, and write it down.
Medical care in Memphis
Get checked by a medical professional even if you feel okay; some injuries show up hours or days later. If someone is seriously hurt, emergency crews decide where to take them. For reference, Regional One Health's Elvis Presley Trauma Center describes itself as "the only designated Level 1 Trauma Center in a 150-mile radius" of Memphis [4]. The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission lists Regional One Health in Memphis as a Level I trauma designation (December 2025 agenda) [5] [6]. It is at 877 Jefferson Avenue.
The first 72 hours
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Same day | See a medical professional. Tell your own insurer about the crash as your policy requires. Write down what happened while it is fresh. Start one folder for every bill, receipt and record. |
| Day 1 | Find the report number. Ask the agency how and when you can get the report. Photograph visible injuries and keep photographing them over the next days. |
| Days 2 to 3 | Follow medical advice and keep appointments. Start a simple symptom and pain journal. Note missed work and extra costs (rides, prescriptions, repairs). Save the claim number and each adjuster's name and the date of each call. Be careful what you post about the crash online. |
| Within 20 days | Tennessee may require a personal accident report to the Department of Safety if the crash involved injury, death or damage over $1,500 (Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-107) [7] [7] [8]. See crash reports. |
Free printable: After-a-crash first-hour checklist, crash journal and medical bills organizer and talking to the insurer card.
Get your Memphis crash report
Request it from the agency that investigated. MPD Central Records is at 170 North Main Street, 7th Floor, Suite 7-11, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 901-636-3650, or online [2]. THP district office for Memphis (District 4): (901) 543-6256 [3]. Full steps, fees and the state portal are on How to get a Memphis police crash report.
Know the Tennessee rules that affect timing
- Deadline: Tennessee injury claims generally have a one-year filing period, much shorter than in many states. See Tennessee deadlines.
- Fault: Tennessee uses modified comparative fault. See Tennessee fault rules.
- Insurance: minimum limits are $25,000, $50,000 and $25,000, and uninsured motorist coverage must be offered. See Tennessee minimum car insurance.
Where crashes happen in Memphis
Most fatal crashes in Shelby County are on city arterial streets, and 44% of those with a known time happened between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. (NHTSA FARS, 2015 to 2024). See the corridor data.
Sources
- Memphis Police Dept.: home (checked November 8, 2026)“non-emergency: 901-545-2677 (cops)”
- Memphis Police Dept.: central-records (checked November 8, 2026)“170 North Main St. 7th Floor, Suite 7-11 Memphis, TN 38103 Phone: 901-636-3650 Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday (except holidays) 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.”
- State of Tennessee: crashreport.html (checked November 8, 2026)“District 4 - Memphis Memphis Highway Patrol Office 6348 Summer Ave. Memphis, TN 38134 (901) 543-6256”
- Regional One Health: elvis-presley-trauma-center (checked November 8, 2026)“Only Level-1 trauma center in a 150-mile radius of Memphis”
- State of Tennessee: Agenda-December2025.pdf (checked November 8, 2026)“Regional One Health, Memphis, TN – Level I trauma designation”
- State of Tennessee: Trauma_Minutes-November2025.pdf (checked November 8, 2026)“Recognition of Regional One Medical Center for passing their American College of Surgeons, Level I Trauma verification”
- Tennessee Code (FindLaw): tn-code-sect-55-10-107.html (checked November 8, 2026)“in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500)”“within twenty (20) days after the accident”
- Knoxville Police Dept.: what-to-do-if-youre-involved-in-a-crash (checked November 8, 2026)“within twenty (20) days from the crash”
- Memphis Police Dept.: uniform-patrol (checked November 8, 2026)“non-emergency: 901-545-2677 (cops)”
Page last updated November 9, 2026. Attorney review pending. General information, not legal advice. Fees, hours and rules change; confirm on the official page. How we source.
Questions
What number do I call after a minor crash in Memphis?
911 for any injury or danger; MPD's non-emergency number is 901-545-2677 [9].
Do I have to call the police?
Tennessee law has reporting rules (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-10-106 and 55-10-107); the responding officer can explain how they apply to your crash.
Where do I get my Memphis accident report?
MPD Central Records, 170 North Main Street, or online; or the Tennessee Highway Patrol if THP responded.
Should I see a doctor if I feel fine?
Medical professionals recommend being checked, since some injuries appear later.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Generally one year for injuries in Tennessee. See the deadline guide; an attorney can confirm your date.
The state rules
Deadlines, fault and reports for all of Tennessee are in the Tennessee reference.
Keep reading
- City guide
How to get a Memphis police crash report
Who wrote your Memphis crash report, how to request it online or in person, what it costs and how long it takes. Official links, checked Nov 2026.
Open - City guide
Most dangerous roads in Memphis: where fatal crashes happen
Which Memphis roads had the most fatal crashes 2015-2024: I-240, I-40, Shelby Dr and more. Times, pedestrians, charts and a free CSV from NHTSA and TITAN data.
Open - State reference
How long do you have to file after a car accident in Tennessee?
Tennessee gives one year for most injury claims after a crash. See each deadline, the statute text, exceptions and a Memphis court ruling. Checked Nov 2026.
Open - Free download
Your first-hour checklist, ready to print.
A one-page printable first-hour checklist for after a crash: safety, police, photos, doctor, insurer. Free PDF, no sign-up.
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