Personal injury law in Tennessee
How long you have to file, how shared fault is treated, whether Tennessee is a no-fault auto state, and what damages caps can limit a jury award. Every figure sourced.
Key rules at a glance
| Statute of limitations | 1 year One of the shortest in the U.S. |
|---|---|
| Negligence rule | Modified comparative — 50% bar Recovery barred at 50% or more fault under McIntyre v. Balentine (1992). |
| Auto no-fault | No |
| Damages caps | Non-economic damages capped at $750,000 (or $1M catastrophic) under T. Non-economic damages capped at $750,000 (or $1M catastrophic) under T.C.A. § 29-39-102. |
What the filing deadline means in Tennessee
Personal injury claims in Tennessee must generally be filed within 1 year of the date of injury. One of the shortest in the U.S. If you miss the statute, the claim is time-barred regardless of how strong it is. Discovery rules can shift the start date for latent injuries, and government claims often carry much shorter notice deadlines (sometimes 60 to 180 days).
How shared fault works under modified comparative — 50% bar
You can recover only if you are less than 50% at fault. At 50% or more, recovery is barred. Recovery barred at 50% or more fault under McIntyre v. Balentine (1992).
Practical effect: if a jury values your case at $200,000 and assigns you 30% of the fault, you recover $140,000 — but if your fault crosses the bar, you recover $0.
Damages caps in Tennessee
Non-economic damages capped at $750,000 (or $1M catastrophic) under T.C.A. § 29-39-102.
A cap does not change the value of your injuries; it changes what a jury is allowed to award. Caps most often apply to non-economic damages (pain and suffering) and to medical malpractice cases. Economic damages, like medical bills and lost wages, are generally not capped.
Case types in Tennessee
These case-type hubs explain how settlement value is built and how each type interacts with Tennessee's rules above.
Related reads
How Tennessee's modified comparative — 50% bar rule shapes auto settlement value.
Multi-party liability, FMCSA regulations, and the 30-day evidence window.
Helmet laws, anti-rider bias, and how comparative fault hits riders.
Premises liability and the negligence elements you must prove.
Standard of care, statute of repose, and Tennessee's med-mal caps.
Workers' comp vs third-party liability claims.
Strict liability vs one-bite rule by state.
Who can file and what damages are recoverable.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
Want a different state? See all 50 state hubs.