Car Accident Claims in Tennessee

A driver in a crash causing injury or death, or apparent property damage of $50 or more, must immediately, by the quickest means available, notify the local police department (inside a city) or otherwise the county sheriff or the nearest Tennessee Highway Patrol office. This applies on highways and on premises generally open to the public, such as shopping centers, trailer parks and apartment complexes.

If you were the driver or owner in a crash that caused death or injury, more than $1,500 in property damage, or more than $400 in damage to state or local government property, you must file (or have someone file for you) an Owner Operator Report with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security within 20 days of the crash. It is required regardless of fault and in addition to any police report. Not filing may lead to suspension of your driver license and registrations (or nonresident driving privileges). It can be filed online through the department's e-Services.

A driver in a crash must stop at or as close to the scene as possible. If anyone is injured or killed, or an attended vehicle is damaged, the driver must give their name, address and vehicle registration number, show their license if asked, and give reasonable help to anyone injured (including arranging transport for treatment). Leaving an injury or death crash is a Class A misdemeanor, and a Class E felony if the driver knew or should have known someone died; the license is revoked on conviction. In a property-damage-only crash, after everyone agrees there is no injury, all parties must stay until information is exchanged. Failing to do so is a Class B misdemeanor if the damage to others' property appears to be $1,500 or less, or a Class A misdemeanor if more, and an uninsured driver also faces at least a one-year license suspension.

Proof of financial responsibility (for proof required after December 31, 2022) means a split-limit policy of at least $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $50,000 for two or more people in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage, or a $65,000 single-limit policy, cash deposit or bond.

Modified comparative fault (50% bar). The damages statute provides that recovery of any damages is barred if the plaintiff's comparative fault (or in a wrongful death case, the fault of the person who died) is equal to or greater than 50%. Noneconomic damages are apportioned among multiple defendants by their percentage of fault.

One year after the cause of action accrues for injuries to the person. The deadline is two years if criminal charges are brought against the person who caused the injury (or the conduct is the subject of a criminal prosecution started within one year), and the injured person sues the person prosecuted.

Three years for injuries to personal or real property and for detention or conversion of personal property.