Tennessee Personal Injury Guide — Claims & Deadlines
Negligence, fault rules, damages, and the deadline to file — what makes Tennessee injury claims different.
A personal injury claim starts the moment you are hurt and follows a path shaped by your state's fault rules, filing deadlines, and the insurance involved. The outcome depends on three things: whether someone else was at fault, whether you act within the legal deadline, and how well the harm is documented. Below is the general sequence — from the injury itself through resolution — with the key decision points that determine what a claim is worth and whether it survives.
Tennessee's fault rule: Modified comparative fault (50% bar)
Tennessee follows modified comparative fault — damages are reduced by the injured person's percentage of fault, but if the injured person is 50% or more at fault, they recover nothing.
The deadline to file §28-3-104
Tennessee has one of the shortest statutes of limitations in the country — just 1 year from the date of injury §28-3-104.
One year. Among the shortest in the nation. Two years if criminal charges filed for same incident.
Tennessee recognizes a discovery rule — meaning the clock may start when the injury is discovered (or should have been discovered) rather than when it occurred §29-26-116.
Tennessee personal injury at a glance
| Rule in Tennessee | |
|---|---|
| Statute of limitations (PI) | 1 year §28-3-104 |
| Statute of limitations (wrongful death) | 1 year §28-3-104(a)(1) |
| Fault rule | Modified comparative fault (50% bar) §29-11-103 |
| Damage caps | $750,000 per plaintiff ($1,000,000 for catastrophic injuries) (noneconomic) §29-39-102; 2x compensatory or $500,000 (whichever greater) (punitive) §29-39-104 |
| Auto insurance minimums | 25/50/25 §55-12-102 |
What you can recover
- Medical expenses — past and future treatment, rehabilitation, prescription costs
- Lost income — wages lost during recovery and reduced future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering — physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage — repair or replacement of damaged property
Tennessee imposes caps on certain types of damages, which affect the potential value of a claim §29-39-102 §29-39-104.
Common types of personal injury cases
What to do after an injury
- Get medical treatment immediately and follow through — gaps in treatment undermine claims
- Preserve evidence: photos, incident reports, witness names, and contact information
- Do not give recorded statements to insurance companies before understanding your rights
- Document everything: expenses, missed work, how the injury affects daily life
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Frequently Asked Questions
General answers to common questions. Specific outcomes depend on your facts and timing.
If you have a deadline, court notice, or upcoming hearing, mention it when requesting assistance so timing can be evaluated promptly.
- 1-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims
- Wrongful death: 1 years from date of death