Modern-day transportation is a beautiful thing, something we often take for granted. But the truth about driving an automobile is this: Every time you climb behind the wheel, there are risks involved.
Life is precious, and that is why safe driving should be taken seriously. Two of the most important things you can do when you drive include wearing your seat belt and paying attention to the road, other drivers, and pedestrians.
To prove these simple steps can make a difference, buckle up for these shocking facts and statistics of automobile and truck accidents in Tennessee.
Bart Durham Injury Law represents people who were harmed or lost loved ones in car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, DUI accidents, pedestrian accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, and more. Contact our car accident attorneys today about your case.
General Tennessee Car Accident Stats
- Last year, a car crash occurred every 23 minutes and 43 seconds involving a distracted Tennessee driver. [Source]
- In 2020, Tennessee was listed among the top 10 states in the nation with the most fatal car accidents. [Source]
- In 2019, Tennessee was found to be the top state in the nation for distracted driving, with 7.2 fatalities for every 10 billion vehicle miles. [Source]
Tennessee Passenger Vehicle Serious Injuries & Fatalities Stats
- From 2020 to to date, fatalities among senior adult drivers (age 65+) have outnumbered those of teen drivers (ages 13-19). [Source]
- More fatal and serious crashes occurred on the weekends (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) rather than on weekday commutes; the largest number of fatal or serious crashes occurred on Saturdays. [Source]
- A total of 257 individuals were fatally injured in a passenger vehicle crash (2021-2022) as a result of not using a safety restraint/seat belt. [Source]
Tennessee No Seat Belt Injury & Fatality Stats
- From May 2021 to May 2022, an improperly or unrestrained Tennessee driver was injured or killed in a crash every 3 hours. [Source]
- An improperly or unrestrained driver was 55x more likely to die in a crash than a properly restrained driver. [Source]
- An improperly or unrestrained driver was 3x more likely to be injured in a crash than a properly restrained driver. [Source]
Tennessee DUI Crash Stats
- 1 in 3 fatal Tennessee car crashes and 1 in 7 serious injury crashes involved a DUI (July 2021-July 2022). [Source]
- 1 in 2 DUI crashes resulted in injury or death. [Source]
- The total estimated costs of DUI crashes in Tennessee last year exceeded $816 million. [Source]
Need help with your case? Contact an experienced Nashville car accident attorney like Bart Durham Injury Law.
Tennessee Distracted Driver Crash Stats*
- 1 in 15 drivers involved in a crash was distracted (between June 2021 and June 2022). [Source]
- Drivers ages 20 to 34 were 3x as likely to be distracted as drivers ages 15 to 19. [Source]
- In Tennessee, men are 3x times more likely than women to be involved in a deadly, distracted driving accident. [Source]
- In the 10 years from 2008 to 2018, the yearly number of distracted driving crashes more than doubled – from 10,820 to 24,689 crashes. [Source]
*Distracted driving is defined as more than talking or texting on a smartphone. Distracted driving can also include eating, applying cosmetics, using a GPS, tending to a child or pet, and arguing with a passenger.
Tennessee Pedestrian Accident & Fatality Stats
- In 2021, there were 1,512 pedestrian-involved crashes in Tennessee. [Source]
- Pedestrian fatalities are on the rise in Tennessee and have been increasing at a shocking rate every year since 2012. The death count in 2012 was 67; in 2020, the death count totaled 172. [Source]
- From 2020 to date, more than 32% of all pedestrian-involved crashes have resulted in fatality. [Source]
Tennessee Large Truck & Semi Crash Stats
- Crashes involving large trucks accounted for 1,943 injuries and 191 fatalities in Tennessee (2021). [Source]
- The primary causes of crashes involving a large truck or semi from May 2021 to May 2022 were due to a lane departure (9.25%) or following the truck improperly (7.56%). [Source]
- While 3,423 crashes involving large trucks occurred along urban interstates, nearly 2,900 crashes occurred at urban intersections, specifically. [Source]
Tennessee Motorcycle Crash Stats
- More than 82% of Tennessee motorcycle crashes between 2020 and 2022 resulted in serious injury. [Source]
- In the 15-year period from 2005 to 2020, more than 2,210 Tennessee motorcyclists died from fatal injuries. The most fatal year was 2018, with 168 deaths. [Source]
- Of motorcycle crashes that resulted in fatality from 2011 to 2021, 85-90% of motorcyclists were, in fact, wearing a helmet. [Source]
An accident, serious injury, or fatality can happen at any moment, unfortunately. Bart Durham Injury Lawyers have been fighting for our clients’ rights and best interests since 1975. Contact us about your car accident or personal injury case today.