Though vehicle ownership exceeds gun ownership, guns are causing more deaths than motor vehicle accidents

In 21 states, including Tennessee, more people were killed by guns than by car accidents in 2014 and many predict the troubling trend will continue into 2016.

Over the last ten years, deaths involving guns, such as suicides, accidental shootings, and homicides, have crept up in Tennessee. In contrast, vehicle-related deaths, such as motor vehicle accidents and pedestrian deaths, have dropped. In the U.S., more than 90 percent of households own a car, by contrast, only 32 percent own a gun.

In 2004, there were 865 gun-related deaths reported in Tennessee. By 2014, that number increased to 1,020, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During the same time, deaths involving vehicles declined from 1,191 to 906, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security reported. Vehicular deaths are accidents, but, often, gun-related deaths are motivated by other factors. Therefore, imposing safety regulations on weapons used in crimes may not curb the death rate as well as they have for the car industry.

In Chattanooga, 35 individuals died vehicle-related deaths in 2015. Of the city's 30 homicide victims, 23 were killed by gunshots. Throughout Tennessee, the rate of gun-related and vehicle-related deaths has flip-flopped over the past few years. However, though vehicle-related deaths declined sharply between 2004 and 2008, gun-related deaths, overall, have increased, with only sporadic year-over-year decreases. In 2014, the Violence Policy Center conducted a study comparing motor vehicle versus gun deaths in all 50 states. According to the study, 21 states had more gun-related deaths than vehicle-related deaths.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident that caused injury, you may be entitled to compensation. The Murfreesboro personal injury attorneys at Dotson & Taylor, Attorneys at Law possess advanced experience in handling such claims. They can be contacted at their Murfreesboro office for a free initial consultation at 615-890-1982 or online.