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After a crash, you may worry about more than vehicle repairs and medical bills. You may also wonder, “How long does a car accident stay on your record in Tennessee?” The answer depends on which record you mean. At Ponce Law, our car accident attorneys can help you understand how the collision may affect your insurance history and your right to seek compensation.
There is no single Tennessee rule requiring every insurer to consider a crash for the same number of years. Insurance companies use their own underwriting guidelines when setting coverage. Many focus most heavily on recent accidents, but the effect depends on fault and claim severity, along with your prior history and the insurer’s practices.
Insurers may also review a Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (C.L.U.E.) report. The LexisNexis C.L.U.E. Auto database can contain up to seven years of personal automobile claims information. This does not mean your premium will remain higher for seven years. It means the claim may remain available for an insurer to review during that period.
Tennessee law requires the Department of Safety and Homeland Security to record all reportable motor vehicle accidents, even when a driver was not at fault. Generally, the department cannot remove a crash simply because another driver caused it. However, it can correct the record when the investigating law enforcement agency submits a revised report.
An accident and a traffic conviction are not the same thing. A crash may affect your insurance rates while a conviction may affect your license status, so the two records serve different purposes. An accident does not automatically mean you were at fault for the wreck.
An insurance rate increase is not the only financial concern after a serious wreck. You may have treatment costs and missed income, along with lasting pain. Tennessee Code Annotated § 28-3-104 generally gives auto accident victims one year to file a personal injury lawsuit, so waiting for an insurance dispute to resolve can put your legal rights at risk.
If you are still wondering how long car accidents stay on your record after a Tennessee collision, Ponce Law can review what happened and explain your legal options. Whether it’s your insurance history, your driving record, or both, knowing how a crash may follow you can help you make informed decisions about your claim. Our local team has served the community for decades and has earned recognition in The Tennessean’s Best of Music City Awards. Contact us today for a free case review.
