Detailed answer: who has the report, what you can get, and how Tennessee law affects access

After a motor-vehicle collision in Tennessee, one or more law enforcement agencies usually create a crash report. The investigating agency may be a city police department, a county sheriff’s office, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, or another authority. In most cases you may obtain a copy of the basic crash report for use in insurance claims and civil cases. More detailed materials — officer notes, investigative supplements, photographs, video, or information protected by privacy or ongoing-investigation rules — may have limited public access.

Which laws apply

• Tennessee’s motor vehicle statutes and traffic laws govern duties after a crash and create the basis for police reports (see Tennessee Code, Title 55, Motor and Other Vehicles). For the Tennessee Code, search Title 55 at the Tennessee General Assembly website: https://www.capitol.tn.gov/.
• Public access to records in Tennessee generally follows the Tennessee Public Records/Open Records framework. To find and review statutes and any exceptions, use the Tennessee Code at https://www.capitol.tn.gov/ and search Title 10 (government records and meetings).
• The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and local law enforcement agencies control how crash reports are issued and may provide online or in-person request instructions. See the Department’s driver/record information at https://www.tn.gov/safety/.

What “a copy of the crash report” usually includes

A standard crash report usually contains: date, time, and location of the crash; names of drivers and involved parties; vehicle descriptions and registration; driver license information; diagrams of the scene; the officer’s narrative and probable contributing factors; citations issued; and basic witness and injury information. Many agencies use a uniform crash-report form that provides this summary-level information.

What “more detailed accident report” can mean

“More detailed” can refer to:

• Supplemental police reports and officer notes
• Photographs, body-camera or dash-camera video, and forensic diagrams
• Dispatch (CAD) logs and 911 call recordings
• Private-investigator or insurance-inspector reports
• Medical or privileged records (often redacted or withheld)

Which items are usually public and which may be withheld

Many basic crash reports are public records you can obtain by request. However, agencies sometimes redact or withhold parts of a file under statutory exceptions (for example, ongoing investigations, personal identifiers like Social Security numbers, or medical information). Video or audio recordings may be released but can be withheld if they are part of an active criminal investigation. The exact scope depends on the agency that created the record and the applicable public-records exceptions in Tennessee law.

Step-by-step: how to get the crash report and any additional records

1. Identify the investigating agency. If the crash occurred on an interstate or state highway, the Tennessee Highway Patrol often investigated. If it occurred inside city limits, call that city’s police department. If in an unincorporated area, contact the county sheriff.
2. Collect basic information you will need. Provide the crash date, approximate time, location (intersection or mile marker), names of drivers involved, and if available the crash report number or citation number. If you were injured and involved, bring your photo ID and relation to the case (driver, passenger, owner, or attorney representing a party).
3. Use the agency’s preferred request method. Many agencies accept online requests, in-person requests at a records office, mail requests, or requests through the Tennessee Department of Safety for statewide records. Check the local agency’s website or the Tennessee Department of Safety at https://www.tn.gov/safety/ for instructions and fees.
4. Pay any applicable fees. Agencies commonly charge copying or processing fees (small per-page fees or an online search fee). Fee rules vary by agency.
5. Ask for specific additional items. If you want photographs, dash-cam or body-cam video, supplemental reports, 911/dispatch logs, or CAD records, request those items explicitly. Expect separate review or redaction decisions on each type.
6. If the agency refuses or redacts items, ask for a written explanation. Tennessee law permits certain exceptions. A written denial or redaction notice should cite the legal basis for withholding.
7. If you need fuller materials for a claim or lawsuit, involve your insurer or attorney. Insurance companies commonly have direct lines to request crash reports and may obtain additional investigative material. If you file suit, you can obtain otherwise withheld material through discovery or by subpoena if a court orders disclosure.

How long does it take?

Processing time varies. Many agencies can provide a basic crash report within days to weeks. If the agency must review recordings or decide whether material is exempt, the process can take longer.

If you were not at fault and need evidence for a claim

Request the crash report promptly. Preserve additional evidence (photos you took, witness names and contact info). If you cannot obtain specific items, tell your insurer or attorney. Litigation tools (discovery and subpoenas) can compel production of many records that an agency initially withheld.

Helpful hints

• Start with the investigating agency’s records division. They usually know exactly what records exist and how to request them.
• Save the crash report number and any citation number you receive at the scene — they speed up requests.
• If an officer told you the crash was investigated by Tennessee Highway Patrol, request the report from THP (a statewide agency) via https://www.tn.gov/safety/.
• Ask specifically for photographs, dash-cam/body-cam footage, and CAD/911 recordings if you want them. Agency staff may need to route these requests through a review process.
• Expect agencies to redact sensitive personal data (Social Security numbers, medical information). If redaction seems excessive, ask for a written legal basis for each redaction.
• Your insurance company can often request and obtain copies directly and may have access to insurer-created investigative reports that you cannot get immediately on your own.
• If you need records for a court case, a lawyer can request documents by formal discovery or subpoena. Some records withheld administratively become available in litigation with a court order.
• Keep a record of your requests (date, person you spoke with, and any confirmation numbers). That helps if you need to escalate or file a public-records appeal.