Truck accident statistics for Rutherford County, Tennessee (2020-2024)

Truck accident deaths in Rutherford County by year

Annual truck accident deaths fell from 7 in 2020 to 3 in 2021 and 2 in 2022. The count then rose to 9 in 2023 before falling to 5 in 2024. The highest count was 9 in 2023, and the lowest was 2 in 2022. The 2024 count was 2 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Truck accident deaths accounted for 15.2% of all traffic deaths in 2020, 10.0% in 2021, 5.1% in 2022, 24.3% in 2023 and 11.4% in 2024. The corresponding all-traffic death counts were 46, 30, 39, 37 and 44. Both the truck accident death count and its share of traffic deaths were highest in 2023.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Deaths within 30 days in crashes on public roads. 2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised.

Who died in Rutherford County truck accidents

People in the large truck accounted for 2 deaths, or 7.7%. People in other vehicles accounted for 22 deaths, or 84.6%, the majority of truck accident deaths. The row labeled "Pedestrians, bicyclists and other people outside vehicles" recorded 2 deaths, or 7.7%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

That quoted label represents the FARS nonoccupant grouping, including pedestrians, pedalcyclists and other or unknown nonoccupants. The other category can include occupants of parked motor vehicles not in transport, so the label is not a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The trucks involved

The fatal truck accident records identify 28 large trucks during 2020 through 2024. Truck-tractors, described in the table as semi or tractor-trailer units, accounted for 18 trucks and 64.3% of the large trucks. Single-unit and other large trucks accounted for 10 trucks. The count of large trucks recorded as jackknifed was 0.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][7]}

These are vehicle counts, distinct from the 25 fatal crashes and 26 deaths. A crash can involve multiple large trucks. The truck-tractor share describes the trucks involved, rather than a share of crashes or deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][7]}

Counts are trucks, not crashes. One crash can involve more than one large truck.

How the fatal truck crashes happened

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. Angle (side impact) recorded 9 deaths, or 34.6%; head-on, 5 and 19.2%; rear-end, 6 and 23.1%; and sideswipe, 1 and 3.8%. "Not a collision with another moving vehicle" recorded 5 deaths, or 19.2%. This means no collision with a motor vehicle in transport, such as a pedestrian, cyclist, parked-vehicle or fixed-object impact, or a rollover. A vehicle stopped in traffic can be in transport.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Separately, truck accident deaths by crash configuration were single-vehicle, 3 and 11.5%; two-vehicle, 19 and 73.1%; and three or more vehicles, 4 and 15.4%. These shares classify deaths by the number of vehicles involved, distinct from manner of collision.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Interstates, time of day and setting

Interstate-coded truck accident deaths numbered 13, or 50.0%. The listed route-coded counts were 11 deaths on I-24 and 2 on I-840. These figures require an interstate route classification and a readable interstate route number; the listed routes are a coded subset, not a full road network.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 17 deaths, or 65.4%. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 9 deaths, or 34.6%. Urban locations recorded 23 deaths, or 88.5%, and rural locations recorded 3, or 11.5%. Work-zone records counted 2 deaths, a measure of people killed rather than trucks or crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Truck accident death rate compared with Tennessee and the United States

Rutherford County's truck accident death rate was 1.4 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Tennessee's rate was 2.4, and the national rate was 1.6. The county rate was lower than both. Among the listed neighboring counties, Davidson County had a rate of 1.8 and Wilson County had a rate of 2.5. Rutherford County's rate was lower than each listed neighbor's rate.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates and do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. For readers using the phrase "truck accident lawyer," the counts remain grouped by crash location, while these rates express deaths relative to population.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates, so they show deaths per 100,000 residents per year. They do not adjust for miles driven or for visitors.

About these figures

FARS is NHTSA's census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Inclusion requires a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and an occupant or nonoccupant dying within 30 days. County counts follow crash location, not the deceased person's home. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded.^[9][6][7][8]

The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files; 2024 uses the Annual Report File and may change when replaced by the Final File. Rates divide 2020 through 2024 truck accident deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the rate denominator.^[9][6][7][8]

See also

• Truck accident statistics for Davidson County, Tennessee (2020-2024)
• Truck accident statistics for Wilson County, Tennessee (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Car accident statistics for Rutherford County, Tennessee (2020-2024) (caraccidentlawyers.wiki)