Car Accident Statistics
Davidson County
Davidson County is one of the most populous counties in Tennessee and has one of the highest rates of traffic accidents and car accident fatalities. Defensive driving and an understanding of who is most likely to be involved in a fatal car crash can help avoid accidents.
Davidson County, which contains much of the Nashville metropolitan area, including the city center, is one of the most populous counties in Tennessee with 704,000 residents.
With a mean travel time of 25 minutes for workers aged 16 and older, plus high numbers of tourists visiting the state capitol and famous country music attractions, Nashville’s roads are busy.
Dickerson Pike, running through the center of town, is one of the main thoroughfares and also one of the deadliest for car accidents. Interstate 40 runs through Nashville and has several highway spurs in and around the city.
Additionally, the construction that seems to be never-ending, detours, slow traffic and ever-changing lane closures can make navigating through Music City a nightmare for many drivers.
Using caution and driving defensively is essential for everyone’s safety, as is paying attention to the hundreds of commercial semi-trucks that go through town each day and visitors who may be focused more on their GPS than the road.
Learning more about accident statistics in Davidson County, including areas that are more dangerous for drivers, can also help keep you safe. However, if you’ve been injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, turn to the experienced Nashville car accident attorneys at NST Law to pursue your claim.
Fatal Motor Vehicle Wrecks in Davidson County, Tennessee
From 2020 to 2021, traffic fatalities in Davidson County increased by more than 25 percent, from 63 to 79. In Tennessee, traffic fatalities are at a five-year high from 2017 to 2021, increasing yearly from 1,024 to 1,327.
Unfortunately, distracted driving and driving under the influence contribute to the majority of traffic accidents in Davidson County and the state as a whole, which means that many of these deadly accidents were avoidable.
Fatal accidents involving teens aged 13 to 19 also showed a steady increase during the same five-year time period, from 86 in 2017 to 147 in 2021. Davidson County’s elderly population saw a similar increase in fatal traffic accident involvement, from 245 to 265 over five years, although fatal accidents were fewer in the intervening years.
Nashville and Davidson County drivers should take special precautions when passing or sharing the road with commercial trucks and semi-trailers, as the number of deadly collisions involving these vehicles increased by nearly 65 percent, from 114 in 2017 to 187 in 2021.
Davidson County Drivers
As of 2021, Davidson County has the second-highest number of licensed drivers in Tennessee, second only to Shelby County, which contains much of the greater Memphis metro area. It also ranked second in the state for the number of vehicle collisions in the same time period, again coming in second only to Shelby County.
Car accidents in Davidson County had the highest rate of injuries in the state, which may indicate that if you are in an accident in the greater Nashville area, your chances of sustaining an injury are statistically higher than anywhere else.
Davidson County drivers, including those in Forest Hills, Bellevue, Nashville, Antioch, Oak Hill, Old Hickory, Hermitage, Belle Meade and Berry Hill, had the second-highest number of miles per driver (for a metro area with a population over one million) in 2020.
The average annual miles per driver was 14,745, and 90.2 percent of workers commuted by car to work. With so many drivers on the road, it’s no wonder that Music City is home to so many car accidents.
According to Davidson County car accident statistics, the busiest and most dangerous intersections in the city include:
- Broadway Street and West End Avenue
- Dominican Drive at Rosa L. Parks Boulevard
- Hickory Hollow Parkway and Mountain View Road
- Eighth Avenue South at Lafayette Street
- South Fifth Street at Shelby Avenue
- Bell Road and Murfreesboro Pike
- Harding Place and Nolensville Pike
While these are statistically the areas with higher rates of vehicle collisions and injuries, the truth is that accidents can happen anywhere, anytime. For example, when college students leave school in early May and return for classes in August, the roads near Vanderbilt and other universities may be more congested with families and younger drivers.
As the home of the Grand Ole Opry and the birthplace of country music, Nashville is also a popular tourist destination. The area around Broadway and The District is full of drivers, both private vehicles and rideshare drivers like Uber and Lyft, during peak tourist season.
Davidson County Car Accidents Involving Death or Serious Injury Are On The Rise
When you look at the numbers of Davidson County car collisions from 2017 to 2021, the increase in both injuries and fatalities is quite tragic.
Out of 33,684 crashes in 2017, there were 74 fatalities and 9,268 injuries. In 2018, there were 79 fatalities and 9,145 injuries, and 2019 had a big jump in both fatalities (106) and injuries (9,695).
Vehicle accident deaths increased further in 2020 (114), as did car accident injuries (7,388), while 2021 saw higher numbers still, with 131 fatalities and 8,734 injuries from motor vehicle accidents.
Dealing with the aftermath of a serious car accident can be extremely difficult. The lawyers at NST Law are prepared to help you along the way, including analyzing your case in relation to Tennessee’s wrongful death laws, if applicable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Davidson County Motor Vehicle Accidents
When you book your initial consultation with a car accident lawyer from NST Law, you probably have many questions about the lawsuit process, what your claim is worth and whether you’ll have to testify in court.
Our legal team is answering some of the most common questions that victims have about car accidents in Davidson County and their legal options afterward.
Yes, it’s always wise to have a medical evaluation after a vehicle collision. In the moments following, your body releases a lot of adrenaline, which can mask feelings of pain. High adrenaline levels make you not “feel hurt” even if you’re injured.
Furthermore, many soft tissue injuries such as sprains and strains as well as neck, back and spine injuries may not present symptoms immediately. Having a medical professional evaluate you is essential in catching and treating these early enough to ensure you recover fully.
Finally, your car accident lawyer will use the reports from the emergency medical team and any subsequent hospital visits to prove that your injuries did arise from the accident.
Each case is different, and the amount of your settlement depends on the extent of your injuries, the actual damages and how much your injuries impacted your life.
Your claim will include the total amount of your medical bills, property damages (such as repairing or replacing your car after the collision) and compensation for lost wages if you missed work due to your injuries.
If you suffered partial or permanent disability, scarring or disfigurement, or other catastrophic, life-changing injuries, the value of your case could be much more. We will address your specifics during your consultation, tallying up what we can reasonably expect to get from a settlement on your behalf.
The question isn’t whether you need a lawyer. It’s more about whether you should get a lawyer, and the answer is yes. Your car accident attorney is your legal advocate and represents your interests, not that of the other driver or their insurance company.
The other driver’s insurance company will likely try to settle as fast as possible for as little as possible. If you need ongoing medical treatment like physical therapy, rehabilitation or surgery, settling quickly may mean you won’t get compensation for those expenses.
Instead, hire an experienced car accident lawyer who understands how to negotiate firmly with insurance companies and has the legal experience to seek a fair settlement that covers all of your damages and expenses.
Sometimes, the cause of a vehicle collision is very straightforward. For instance, a drunk driver who runs a red light and hits another driver is clearly in the wrong. However, other times, fault in a car accident can be a little murkier, and both drivers involved may share the blame.
Tennessee law allows you to collect damages after an accident if the courts determine that you shouldered 49 percent or less of the blame for the accident. The state’s comparative fault laws reduce the amount of your settlement depending on how much you contributed to the accident.
Each state has a deadline for filing a personal injury claim, which includes car accidents. You have just one year to file your personal injury lawsuit in Tennessee, so it’s important to speak to an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as you’re able to after the wreck.
However, if the state of Tennessee files criminal charges against the at-fault driver (such as a DUI), you have up to two years to file a claim.
Yes. Instead of filing a personal injury claim, your car accident attorney will file a wrongful death claim on your behalf. Wrongful death damages include compensation for any medical bills for your loved one before they passed and property damage and missed wages that would be included in a personal injury claim.
Wrongful death suits also include the funeral and burial expenses for your loved one and compensation for the loss of consortium and companionship you’re suffering. Additionally, if your loved one contributed to the household through work or duties, such as childcare, you may also receive compensation for the loss of that support.
These are just some of the most common questions our clients ask us. You probably have specific questions about your own Davidson County motor vehicle accident and your case, which we will discuss privately with you during your initial consultation.
To schedule this, contact our firm today. Remember that you have only one year from the accident date to file a suit!
Injured in a Car Accident? We Can Help!
If you or a loved one suffered an injury after a car accident in Davidson County, the Nashville car accident attorneys at NST Law are here to help. Our skilled Nashville legal team has extensive experience with car accident injuries, including brain trauma, neck injuries, hip fractures, and back injuries.
If you’ve been injured in Tennessee, you deserve experienced legal representation. We’ll fight for your rights. Give us a call or contact us online today to learn more about how we can help or to schedule a free consultation.
Contact us for a free consultation now so that we can review your case and decide how we can best help you.