Tennessee · checked October 25, 2026
Tennessee personal injury statute of limitations
In Tennessee, you generally have 1 year from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Check your exact deadline below.
How long do I have to file an injury claim?
General information, not legal advice. Deadlines depend on the facts, and the last day can move if it falls on a weekend or court holiday. Don’t wait for the last day: talk to a licensed attorney in your state.
Tennessee filing deadline examples
How the general rule works for injuries on different dates.
| Injury date | Usual last day to file | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| June 1, 2024 | June 1, 2025 | 1 year |
| March 15, 2025 | March 15, 2026 | 1 year |
| January 10, 2026 | January 10, 2027 | 1 year |
If the last day falls on a weekend or court holiday, the deadline may move to the next business day. Don’t plan to file on the last day.
When the Tennessee deadline can be shorter or longer
- Claims against a government: injuries involving a Tennessee city, county or state agency usually need a written notice of claim within months. Federal claims must be presented to the agency within 2 years (28 U.S.C. § 2401(b)).
- Children: in most states the clock pauses until an injured child turns 18, with limits that vary.
- Injuries found later: some claims start when the injury was, or should have been, discovered.
- Other claim types: medical malpractice, wrongful death, product liability and property damage have their own deadlines.
- The defendant left the state: some states pause the clock while the defendant is absent.
- Insurance notice: your policy may require notice of an accident within days, separate from the lawsuit deadline.
How Tennessee compares
Tennessee’s general deadline of 1 year is among the shortest in the country. 0 states have a shorter deadline, 1 has the same and 49 have a longer one (counting DC).
If the injury happened in another state, that state’s deadline usually applies. See every state.
| Nearby state | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 2 years |
| Arkansas | 3 years |
| Georgia | 2 years |
| Kentucky | 1 year |
| Mississippi | 3 years |
| Missouri | 5 years |
| North Carolina | 3 years |
| Virginia | 2 years |
Questions
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Tennessee?
Generally 1 year from the date of the injury, under Tenn. Code § 28-3-104. Shorter deadlines can apply to claims against government bodies, and different rules apply to medical malpractice, wrongful death and some other claims.
What is the statute of limitations for a car accident in Tennessee?
The general 1 year deadline usually applies to injury claims from car accidents in Tennessee. Property damage claims can have a different deadline.
What happens if I miss the deadline in Tennessee?
The court will usually dismiss the case if the other side raises the deadline, however strong the claim is. Exceptions exist, for example for minors or injuries discovered later, so speak to a licensed attorney straight away.
Does talking to the insurance company stop the clock?
No. Negotiating with an insurer does not pause the lawsuit deadline. If the claim is not settled in time, a lawsuit must still be filed before the deadline passes.
Is Tennessee’s deadline longer or shorter than other states?
Tennessee’s 1 year is among the shortest: 0 states have a shorter general deadline and 49 have a longer one (counting DC).
For Tennessee injury law firms
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Sources
- Vaquill: statute of limitations by state, 2026 survey
- CaseFleet: statute of limitations lookup by state, 2026
Statute: Tenn. Code § 28-3-104. General information, not legal advice. Checked October 25, 2026.