Tennessee Injury Law Center
Last year, 40,200 people lost their lives in car accidents. Think about that. 40,200 lives cut short. 40,200 funerals. 40,200 families mourning the loss of a loved one. For more perspective on that, the Chicago White Sox stadium holds 40,615 people, so we lost almost a stadium full of people to car accidents last year. The death toll represents a 6% increase over 2015 and a 14% increase over 2014. Experts attribute the rise in deaths to a number of factors and, of course, have offered suggestions to protect yourself.
Gas prices have been cheaper and the economy has been stronger so more people are driving. But it is just not more people on the road. The real problem is the behavior of those folks on the road as evidenced by the fact that there was a 3% rise in vehicles travel miles yet the death toll increased 6%.
Despite greater public awareness of the risks associated with speeding, texting while driving, drunk driving, etc, here are some statistics from the National Safety Council that will likely shock you:
- 10% of drivers admit to driving drunk and 43% have been involved in a crash while under the influence;
- 47% of drivers text and drive and feel comfortable doing so;
- 16% of drivers do not wear their seatbelt;
- 25% are comfortable speeding on residential streets.
Obviously, you should not speed, text and drive or drive while impaired, and seatbelt use is critical to reducing injuries in the event of a crash. But of course even if you are doing all the right things, how do you protect yourself from those drivers out there who feel comfortable texting and driving or other risky behavior? The answer is uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance coverage.
While uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can’t prevent an accident, it can mean the difference in whether you will be compensated for your losses after an accident. 20% of the drivers in the State of Tennessee are uninsured. Our State has one of the highest percentages of uninsured drivers in the country. Even more are driving around with the bare minimum of insurance coverage. By having uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, you can recoup your lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, etc. from your own insurance carrier in the event you are injured by someone out without car insurance or without enough insurance to fully compensate you. For more information on uninsured/underinsured motorist, read these additional posts:
What Is Uninsured Motorist Insurance Coverage?
Why Do I Need Uninsured Motorist Insurance Coverage?
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Cost in Tennessee?
What Does It Mean When You Have Uninsured Motorist Insurance Policy Limits of $50,000/$100,000?
Our award-winning lawyers provide a free, confidential case evaluation. If we think we can help you and you decide to hire us, we handle all accident cases on a contingency basis, which means we only get paid if we recover money for you and your family. To get started, just give us a call at 615-742-4880 (Nashville) or 615-867-9900 (Murfreesboro) or 866-812-8787 (toll-free from anywhere). Or, if you prefer, we will contact you if you simply fill out our contact form.