It is a sobering fact that hundreds of people in Tennessee are killed in motor vehicle collisions every year. Sadly, many fatal accidents are preventable, meaning a large number of people are killed in the state when they could have otherwise gone on to lead full and productive lives.
Fatality statistics
In 2014, the last year for which full data is available, 963 people were killed in Tennessee auto accidents, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. The fatality rate for that year was 1.63 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled during the year. The number of fatalities and the rate were better than those for 2013. In 2013, 995 people lost their lives in accidents in the state for a rate of 1.40 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
The year-to-date fatalities for 2016 through May 20 show an increase in the number of fatalities during the same time period in 2015. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security reports that 354 people died between Jan. 1 and May 20 of 2016. In 2015 during the same period of time, 324 people were killed. This means that 30 additional deaths occurred over the first five months of last year.
Fatal accident causes
Many different types of negligent driving behaviors result in fatal accidents in Tennessee. The leading causes include driving under the influence of alcohol and failing to maintain lanes. Fueled in large part by cell phone use while driving, distracted driving is quickly gaining ground to become of the leading causes of fatal traffic accidents in the state as well. Other causes include drowsy driving, driving too fast for conditions, aggressive driving and reckless driving, among others. All of these are examples of negligent driving behaviors. If people were to drive cautiously and keep their attention on the road at all times, far fewer fatal accidents would happen in the state each year.
Fatal accidents and wrongful death lawsuits
When a person is killed in an automobile accident in Tennessee, his or her loss is often unexpected. In addition to grief and pain, a loved one’s death can leave his or her family with substantial unexpected expenses, income losses and other economic and noneconomic losses. Because the state recognizes that a family should be compensated for the losses they suffer when their loved one is killed in an accident caused by the negligent driving of another driver, families are able to file wrongful death civil lawsuits against the driver. If the driver is working for his or her employer at the time he or she causes the fatal wreck, plaintiff families may also name the employers as defendants to the lawsuits in addition to the negligent drivers. This can provide additional means of recovery for the losses that were suffered.
Wrongful death lawsuits may be filed even if a criminal case is also pending against the negligent driver. As civil suits, wrongful death matters proceed under the civil law rather than under the criminal law. This means that both criminal and civil matters may proceed simultaneously. The state allows this because it recognizes the need for compensation when a family has lost their loved one and has incurred losses due to the actions of a negligent driver in Tennessee. The fatality rates demonstrate that significant work needs to be done to reduce the number of people who are killed each year and to encourage safe driving behavior for everyone.
Sources:
https://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/safety/attachments/dailyfatality.pdf
https://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/safety/attachments/FatalityRate1950-2014.pdf
