Nashville Car Accident Law
Metropolitan growth has plenty of benefits. More options for food and entertainment. Access to more comprehensive health care and better schools. Nashville has these things in spades, which is probably why more than 100 people per day move into the city; however, more growth also means more motorists, more traffic, and a higher chance of finding yourself the victim in a car accident. Between 2013 and 2017, Davidson County had the highest Crash Rate ranking in the state.
The Good News
Thankfully, responsible motorists are not completely defenseless against the most common causes of car accidents; everyone has seen aggressive, distracted, or drunk drivers. The best way to avoid contact with them is to practice defensive driving, which means adopting behaviors like:
- Being aware of your surroundings at all times
- Practicing safety first – always wearing a seatbelt, always following posted speeds limits
- Cutting out distractions for yourself
- Following all signs on the road
This isn’t foolproof, and accidents can still happen. As more people fall victim to the common causes of accidents, the law is adapting to deter people from bad driving habits and penalize those who fail to drive responsibly.
To date, 15 states have passed specific laws defining aggressive driving and expanding its penalties. 47 states prohibit distracted driving in part or in full through laws pertaining to texting and hand-held device usage. All 50 states have harsh penalties for motorists who choose to drive under the influence. Tennessee has comprehensive laws regarding drunk driving, and is moving towards more expansive laws on distracted and aggressive driving to help prevent accidents.
New Laws and Next Steps
In 2018, two new distracted driving laws went into effect; just last week, a new bill banning talking on hand-held devices for all drivers was put before state legislature. Last year, bill SB2635/HB2501 was proposed in an attempt to define aggressive driving and expand its penalties. Although the bill failed, many of the behaviors on the list of proposed aggressive actions are already illegal – including speeding, reckless driving, and tailgating, three frequent causes of car accidents.
The Tennessee DHS puts the number of traffic fatalities from 2017-2018 in Davidson County at 66, and the number of traffic-related injuries at 7,102. Whatever the cause of your accident, if you or a loved one are a victim, the law is on your side and Nashville car accident lawyer George R. Fusner, Jr. is too. We know that accidents cost more than just money, they cost time and energy as well. With years of experience assisting victims and their loved ones, we can help you get the medical, financial, and legal help you need so that you can have peace of mind after your accident.
Call us at 615-251-0005 or chat with one of our staff online to set up an initial consultation.
