What To Do Following An Auto Accident Near Nashville

Driving to and from Nashville, Tennessee, can be a lovely and scenic trip, but there are risks everywhere. Between construction zones that cause dramatic slowdowns to distracted and reckless driving, the reality on Tennessee’s interstates is that one careless moment by another driver can change your life.

Motor vehicle wreck risks are a hazard on Nashville-area corridors. Let’s discuss the high-traffic roadways to know and offer practical safety tips. We will also provide and a high-level overview on how a Tennessee auto accident lawyer can secure justice and compensation for you if injured near Nashville.

Most Dangerous Roads Near Nashville

Public crash data and safety analyses show that several Nashville-area roads and interstates carry a high risk of serious or fatal crashes. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DOS ) reported 255 traffic fatalities in or near Nashville in 2025. If you add Chattanooga’s 128 traffic fatalities in 2025, it tallies more than one per day, highlighting the need for continued focus and targeted enforcement in Southeast Tennessee.

Key danger zones near Nashville include:

I‑24 through Nashville: A 10‑mile stretch from near the Spring Street interchange toward the Mill Creek Greenway Trail recorded 35 fatal crashes between 2019 and 2023, making it the deadliest road segment in Tennessee.
I‑65 through downtown: A roughly 10‑mile segment from Tristar Skyline Medical Center to Vanderbilt University recorded 16 deadly crashes and is one of the most hazardous interstates in the region.
Murfreesboro Pike and Nolensville Pike, which are heavily traveled corridors that have been the site of multiple fatal crashes and are consistently listed among Nashville’s most dangerous roads.

A Tennessee plaintiffs’ lawyer familiar with these Nashville roadways understands how roadway design, traffic volume, and historical crash patterns can all factor into proving liability and maximizing compensation after an auto wreck.

Why the Chattanooga-Nashville Corridor Is So Risky

The Chattanooga-Nashville route places drivers on some of Tennessee’s busiest freight and commuter corridors. Three major interstates–I‑24, I‑75, and I‑59–converge in Chattanooga, creating heavy truck traffic and complicated merges that increase crash risk as you head toward Nashville. A 10‑mile stretch of I‑24 near Nashville International Airport has been identified as the deadliest in Tennessee, with dozens of crashes reported in recent years, underscoring how dangerous this corridor can be for everyday drivers.

Multiple segments of I‑24 and I‑65 approaching Nashville rank among the most dangerous in the state, with consistently high crash and fatality numbers tied to congestion, speeding, and aggressive driving. For families, commuters, and visitors, that means even a short drive to or from Music City demands heightened vigilance and a clear plan for what to do if the worst happens.

What To Do If Injured In An Auto Collision In Nashville

If you are involved and injured in an auto collision in Nashville, you must take quick action to protect yourself later. As recently noted, Tennessee has a one-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Furthermore, § 55-10-106 addresses the immediate notice of an accident.

While the law does not explicitly state a hard deadline like “within 24 hours,” the urgency is stressed by phrases such as, “by the quickest means of communication.” Quick steps for what to do following an accident include:

Once you have assessed the injuries you and your passengers have sustained, move to a safe place off the road once it is safe to do so. If moving your vehicle isn’t a safe option, turn on your hazard lights and wait for help.
Demonstrate prompt action by calling, emailing or texting authorities to ensure you have followed the law. Failing to do so may hamper your claim later and could put you in further legal jeopardy.
Exchange contact information like name(s), addresses, phone numbers, insurance information, and vehicle registration details with the other driver.
Use any smart device to take photos of any vehicle damage, license plates, traffic signs, and relevant street marks or debris. As previously discussed, this documentation can be vital for insurance claims and potential legal proceedings. It's also helpful to take note of the accident location, time, and weather conditions.
Even if you feel fine immediately after the accident in Nashville, some injuries like a whiplash injury, the most common physical damage in rear-end collisions, might not show up immediately. A medical professional can identify injuries and recommend treatment before your condition worsens.

Protect Yourself From Other Drivers

You can follow every rule and still be at the mercy of distracted, impaired, or aggressive drivers. Because Tennessee’s interstates carry heavy freight and commuter traffic, defensive driving is essential from the Chattanooga I‑24/I‑75 split all the way into downtown Nashville.

Distracted and Aggressive Drivers in Nashville

To reduce your risk when others are not paying attention or driving aggressively:

Maintain a generous following distance. Leave at least three seconds on clear roads and more in heavy traffic, rain, or construction zones along I‑24 and I‑75.
Avoid lingering in blind spots. Big rigs and large SUVs have substantial blind zones; move through them promptly rather than pacing alongside.
Watch for “tell-tale” behaviors. Lane drifting, inconsistent speeds, long delays at green lights, or frequent lane changes can all indicate distraction or road rage–give these drivers space.
Refuse to engage. If someone tailgates or cuts you off near Nashville’s busy interchanges, resist braking suddenly or gesturing; instead, practice defensive driving by change lanes safely and let them pass.
Plan your timing. When possible, avoid peak congestion times on known hot spots like the I‑24/I‑65 and I‑24/I‑40 junctions, where heavy volumes increase rear-end and multi-vehicle collisions.

If another driver’s negligence causes a crash, a plaintiffs’ lawyer can hold them–along with their insurer and any other responsible parties–accountable for your medical bills, lost income, and long-term harms.

Tips to Avoid Pedestrian-Related Crashes

Whether you are behind the wheel or on foot, a few habits can drastically reduce the risk of a pedestrian accident:

As a driver:
- Slow down in mixed-use areas, near bus stops, schools, bar districts, and highway ramps–especially at night.
- Expect pedestrians where visibility is poor, such as near curves, on poorly lit stretches, or around parked cars and driveways.
- Remember to yield. Understand the situations where you must yield the right-of-way, such as when approaching a yield sign, at a T-intersection, when making a left turn, or when entering a roadway from a driveway or side street.
- Double-check before turning right on red or turning left across oncoming traffic, since pedestrians may be in the crosswalk or just outside it.
As a pedestrian:
- Use crosswalks and signals whenever possible; the majority of deaths occur outside crosswalks.
- Wear bright or reflective clothing and carry a light if walking near I‑24 frontage roads, busy pikes, or rural shoulders after dark.
- Try to walk in groups to increase visibility and decrease the chance of misjudging traffic gaps.

Even when pedestrians make mistakes, drivers, property owners, and governmental entities may share responsibility for failing to design or maintain safe crossings. A seasoned plaintiffs’ lawyer can investigate all potential causes–driver behavior, lighting, signage, speed limits, crosswalk placement–to identify every liable party.

Trucking Dangers on Tennessee Interstates

Heavy commercial traffic is part of daily life near Nashville, but it also raises the stakes when something goes wrong. Chattanooga sits at the crossroads of I‑24, I‑75, and I‑59, and the volume of freight moving through this network contributes to elevated crash numbers at locations like the I‑24/I‑75 split, which once bore the moniker of “worst intersection in Tennessee.”

On I‑24 into Nashville, multiple segments with high fatality counts involve or are influenced by heavy truck traffic, high speeds, and complicated merges. When a fully loaded tractor-trailer collides with a passenger vehicle, the injuries are often severe or catastrophic.

How to Reduce Truck-Related Risks in Nashville

To protect yourself near big rigs on I‑24, I‑75, and I‑65:

Give trucks extra space. They need significantly longer distances to stop; cutting in front and braking suddenly is especially dangerous on downhill grades and in congestion.
Stay visible. If you cannot see a truck’s mirrors, the driver likely cannot see you; avoid lingering directly beside or close behind them.
Anticipate wide turns and lane drifts. Trucks turning at interchanges or navigating curves may swing wide or cross lane lines; back off until they are fully through the maneuver.
Be cautious in work zones: Lane shifts, narrowed shoulders, and frequent slowdowns on corridors like the I‑24 smart corridor make sudden stops and rear-end crashes more likely.

Trucking cases require fast, thorough investigations to preserve logbooks, black-box data, maintenance records, and dashcam footage–evidence that can disappear quickly without a Tennessee trucking accident lawyer pressing for it.

Why You Need a Plaintiffs’ Injury Lawyer After a Crash

Victims often underestimate the true costs of their injuries, from future medical care and lost earning capacity to chronic pain and emotional trauma.

A dedicated plaintiffs’ personal injury lawyer steps in to level the playing field by:

Investigating the crash thoroughly. Gathering police reports, scene photos, witness statements, cell phone records, and, in trucking cases, critical electronic data and maintenance history.
Identifying every at-fault party. Negligent drivers, trucking companies, contractors, and in some cases, entities responsible for roadway design or maintenance.
Calculating full damages. Documenting not just immediate medical expenses, but long-term treatment needs, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and non-economic harms like pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Above all, a Tennessee injury lawyer will advise you on the best strategy for your claim – whether to proceed, settle with the insurance company, or go to trial.

Your Nashville Car Wreck Lawyer

Contact a lawyer if you or your loved one was injured, or died, from an injury caused by the actions of another driver. Pritchard Injury Firm’s fatal accident lawyers can evaluate the claim and take steps to build and strengthen your case. Contact Pritchard Injury Firm for a free consultation.