Nashville recorded 409 serious injury and 98 fatal crashes in 2025. Between 2024 and 2025, the city averaged 66 vehicle collisions daily. Common causes included 1,415 distracted driving incidents and 69 speeding related serious crashes. Tennessee follows fault based rules where negligent drivers are liable for damages like medical bills and financial losses.
There are many causes of vehicle accidents in Tennessee and in Nashville every day. Knowing Nashville car accident statistics can help you drive more defensively and may keep you safer on the road. Unfortunately, accidents can occur that are outside of your control, so it’s also important to know what to do after an accident and when it may be necessary to speak with a Nashville car accident lawyer.
Vehicle Collisions in Nashville
There were 1,078 serious injury and fatal crashes in Nashville from 2024 to 2025, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DOS). 197 of these crashes were fatal. Just in 2025, there were 409 serious injury crashes and 98 fatal crashes.
Of the serious injury and fatal accidents that happened in Nashville in 2025, the DOS reported that 226 occurred on a state road, and 92 of them occurred on an interstate, such as I-24 or I-40.
If you were in an accident, the first thing you need to do is make sure you and others are safe and then call to report the accident. This not only helps protect yourself and others who may be injured, but also ensures there is a record of the crash for your insurance claim.
Common Causes of Vehicle Accidents in Nashville
Vehicle accidents are caused by many things, from driver negligence to dangerous road conditions. Uncovering the cause of the crash is an important part of determining the driver or other party who can be held liable. Some common reasons for accidents in Nashville included:
- Distracted driving. While the DOS did not report any serious or fatal crashes in Nashville due to distracted driving, there were 1,415 crashes in the city in 2025 that involved a distracted driver. Distracted driving can happen when a driver takes their eyes or attention off the road for any reason, from talking to passengers to sightseeing.
- Speeding. The DOS reported that 69 of the serious and fatal crashes in Nashville involved speeding in 2025, and 21 of these accidents were fatal. Speeding can make accidents more likely, as drivers have less time to react, and it may also increase the damage of a crash.When there are unsafe conditions on the road, drivers should reduce their speed appropriately for the hazard. Failing to go at safe speeds during low-visibility conditions or when there is debris in the road can also cause an accident.
- Fatigued driving. Driving while tired can lower your reaction speeds and make it harder to make reasoned choices, similar to driving impaired. Additionally, if a driver falls asleep at the wheel, this increases the risk of a head-on collision. Twelve serious injury and fatal accidents in the city involved a drowsy driver, and one was fatal.
- Impaired driving. It is illegal for drivers to operate under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and it puts everyone on the road in danger. Seventy serious injury and fatal accidents involved a drunk driver, and 35 involved a driver who had used controlled substances.
Other Parties Involved in Vehicle Accidents
Vehicle collisions can involve many different parties on and near the road. Some of the most common include:
- Commercial trucks. Large trucks were involved in 29 vehicle collisions, and 12 of them were fatal. When semi-trucks and delivery vehicles are involved in accidents, it can make them much more serious. Claims can also be more complicated because commercial insurers are involved.
- Motorcyclists. There were 93 vehicle collisions in Nashville that involved a motorcyclist. When motorcycles and other vehicles are in a collision, motorcyclists often face serious injuries, while those in vehicles see only minor property damage.
- Pedestrians. Pedestrians are some of the most vulnerable in vehicle collisions, and these accidents can often be catastrophic or fatal. According to the DOS, 93 serious injury and fatal vehicle collisions in Nashville in 2025 involved a pedestrian, and 24 of those were accidents with a fatality.
- Bicyclists. Those riding bicycles are also very vulnerable in a crash. Fourteen collisions involved a pedal cyclist. Drivers often fail to take appropriate care on the road near bicyclists.
FAQs About Nashville Car Accident Statistics
What County in Tennessee Has the Worst Car Accident Rate?
Shelby County has the worst overall car accident rate in Tennessee based on data from 2020 to 2024, while Haywood County has the highest fatal accident rate, and Davidson County has the highest injury accident rate. Davidson County is ranked number two for the worst overall accident rate and number four for the highest fatal accident rate. If you are involved in an accident in these counties, it is crucial that you get treatment from emergency responders.
Who Determines Fault in a Car Accident in Tennessee?
After a car accident in Tennessee, the initial assessment of fault will be made by the responding law enforcement officers. However, the insurance companies of the drivers in the accident will also be investigating the accident to determine fault. Depending on the insurance company’s interests, they may be trying to uphold the initial assessment or discount it. When you are in an accident, you need an attorney to look out for your interests during fault assessment.
How Many Car Accidents Happen Per Day in Nashville?
There was an average of 1.48 fatal or serious injury crashes in Nashville per day, based on the 1,078 fatal and serious injury crashes in the city from 2024 to 2025. This does not include collisions without injury. In the same time period, there were over 47,900 vehicle collisions in Nashville, or nearly 66 vehicle collisions per day. When you are driving, it is always important to drive defensively and diligently.
Is Tennessee a No-Fault State?
No, Tennessee is not a no-fault state. If you are in an accident in Nashville, Tennessee, it will follow fault-based rules, meaning the driver who is to blame for the crash is liable for the damages that others in the accident suffered. A driver may have been distracted, impaired, or engaging in other actions of negligence or misconduct. Insurance claims are filed with the at-fault driver’s insurance to recover financial losses like medical bills.
Hire a Car Accident Lawyer at the Law Offices of Daniel L. Clayton in Nashville
When you hire a car accident lawyer, you need someone who is committed to you. The Law Offices of Daniel L. Clayton have more than 35 years of experience navigating personal injury claims, and we fight for the ideal outcome to your case. Reach out to our firm today.
