Transcript for Husband Sues Hospital, Saying It Worked His Wife to Death

Now, to a lawsuit by an ohio man, who says his wife's work as a hospital nurse led to the fatal car accident that killed her. She fell asleep at the wheel after a long shift at the hospital. He claims understaffing was to blame. Alex perez has his story. Reporter: This morning, jim jasper is adamant that the hospital where his wife, beth, worked as a nurse, worked her to death, literally. Now, he's suing this hospital. They cannot expect the nurses to work under these conditions. Reporter: Driving home after a 12-hour overnight shift, at jewish hospital in cincinnati, beth was killed when she crashed into a tree. I lost my best friend of 21 years. My wife of 14. Reporter: Jim believes his wife was so tired, she fell asleep at the year. The lawsuit alleges that during beth jasper's final shift at the hospital, she complained to others that she was really stressed and hadn't eaten. Also, as a result of understaffing, nurses at jewish were often required or asked to work through breaks. Extra shifts and stay late. According to the lawsuit, jasper's supervisor alerted her superiors that she was being worked to death. She had just told the upper management, the hospital staff, these are unsafe conditions. For the patients. For the nurses. Reporter: In a statement, the hospital would only say. Our hearts go out to the family. We do not comment on pending litigation. A nationwide shortage of nurses has created a dangerous situation. According to the ana, one in ten nurses say they were involved in an exhaustion-related car accident. They're going to have to show that it would be reasonably foreseeable that the actions of the employer, would lead to the death of the employee. That's going to be very tough to prove. Reporter: But jim, who is now raising their two children alone, says he's ready for his day in court. For "good morning america," alex perez, abc news, chicago.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.