10 Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Tennessee
Quick answer: The most common causes of car accidents in Tennessee are tied to human error — including tailgating, failure to yield, distracted driving, speeding, and running red lights. Each year, Tennessee sees roughly 4,500 serious or fatal crashes, and risky driving behaviors play a role in nearly all of them.
In 2025, Tennessee roads saw around 450 fatal car crashes, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security. The causes range widely, but one factor shows up again and again: human error.
At Bill Easterly & Associates, we’ve seen firsthand how a single careless moment can change lives. The good news? Understanding the most common causes of car accidents can help you stay alert and avoid dangerous situations on the road.
Below, we break down ten driving behaviors that lead to crashes across the state — and what you can do if one of them affects you.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Tennessee?
1. Tailgating: Failing to Maintain a Safe Following Distance
Following too closely is a leading cause of rear-end accidents, many of which turn fatal at high speeds. If another driver was tailgating you, photos of the accident scene can help prove they were too close to stop in time.
2. Failure to Yield: Confusion Over Right of Way
Misunderstanding the right of way can lead to collisions with pedestrians in crosswalks, roundabout injuries, and crashes into oncoming traffic. Witness statements often play a key role in proving the other driver ignored the rules of the road.
3. Failure to Stay in Lane: Impaired or Fatigued Driving
Tired drivers — and those under the influence of alcohol or drugs — are far more likely to drift between lanes or run off the road. If the driver who hit you struggled to stay straight, police at the scene may have gathered evidence of impaired driving.
4. Distracted Driving: Driver Inattention and Cell Phone Use
In Tennessee, a distracted driver causes a car accident, on average, every forty-three and a half minutes. Cell phone use is the most common form of distraction, so it’s worth investigating whether the other driver was calling, texting, or browsing online just before the crash.
5. Reckless Driving: Aggressive and Hasty Driving
A driver who is angry or in a rush may weave in and out of lanes, raising the risk of a sideswipe collision. Careful documentation of both vehicles — along with the at-fault driver’s previous driving record — can strengthen your claim.
6. Speeding: Traveling Too Fast for Conditions
Driving too fast for road conditions can cause everything from fender benders to devastating head-on collisions. Beyond witness accounts, the force of the impact can reveal important details about how fast the driver was going.
7. Improper Lane Changes: Failure to Signal
Something as simple as forgetting to use a turn signal can prove fatal for drivers in an adjacent lane. In these cases, the testimony of witnesses at the scene can be invaluable.
8. Swerving: Maneuvers to Avoid Accidents
Sometimes, an attempt to avoid one accident causes another. Drivers who swerve to dodge a pothole, bicyclist, or obstruction may roll their vehicle or strike a stationary object instead.
9. Running a Red Light: Failure to Stop at Traffic Signals
Failing to stop at a traffic signal is a common cause of T-bone accidents — and it’s against the law. Speed cameras or security footage may capture the at-fault driver trying to “beat” the light.
10. Improper Turns: Failed Turning Maneuvers
Failed turning maneuvers, especially left turns, can be deadly for pedestrians and drivers alike. Many intersections have security cameras, and this footage can clearly show an act of negligence.
How to Protect Yourself After a Car Accident
Human error sits behind most car accidents in Tennessee. While you can’t control the driving behaviors of others, you can stay alert, document everything, and know your rights if the worst happens.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence, you don’t have to navigate the aftermath alone. Contact Bill Easterly & Associates today for help pursuing the compensation you deserve.
