Do I need a lawyer after a car accident in Tennessee?
Every rule below is quoted from Tennessee law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
The short answer
We can't tell you whether you need a lawyer. We can show you the Tennessee rules that usually decide it: how fault is split, how long you have, and how injury lawyers are allowed to charge. Many people with only car damage settle directly with the insurer. People with injuries, disputed fault or a claim near a deadline often talk to a lawyer first.
How fault changes your claim
If you were partly at fault
Tennessee uses modified comparative fault with a 50 percent bar. You can recover money as long as your share of fault is less than the other driver's. If your fault is 50 percent or more, you recover nothing.
“We therefore hold that so long as a plaintiff's negligence remains less than the defendant's negligence the plaintiff may recover; in such a case, plaintiff's damages are to be reduced in proportion to the percentage of the total negligence attributable to the plaintiff.”
How long you have
- 1 year
- to sue for injuriesTenn. Code 28-3-104(a)(1)
- 3 years
- to sue for car or property damageTenn. Code 28-3-105
- 1 year
- for a family to sue after a deathTenn. Code 20-5-106, applying the 1 year period in 28-3-104(a)(1)
- 12 months
- to notify the government if a public vehicle or road was involvedTenn. Code 29-20-305
Deadline to sue for injuries
You have 1 year from the crash to sue over your injuries. This is shorter than most states.
“Actions for libel, injuries to the person, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, or breach of marriage promise”
If a government vehicle or road was involved
If a government vehicle or a government road caused the crash, you must sue within 12 months. Tennessee's tort claims law does not require you to send a written notice before suing.
“The action must be commenced within twelve (12) months after the cause of action arises.”
How injury lawyers charge in Tennessee
Contingency fee rules
Tennessee has no dollar or percentage cap on personal injury contingency fees. The fee has to be reasonable, and the contingent fee agreement must be in writing and signed by the client.
“A contingent fee agreement shall be in a writing signed by the client and shall state the method by which the fee is to be determined, including the percentage or percentages that shall accrue to the lawyer in the event of settlement, trial, or appeal”
Questions to ask any lawyer before you sign
- What percentage do you charge, and does it change if the case goes to trial?
- Who pays case costs like records and expert fees if we lose?
- Will you handle my case yourself, or pass it to someone else?
- How long do cases like mine usually take here?
- What is the deadline for my claim, and when will you file?
If the insurer is the problem
File a complaint with the state
You can file a complaint against an insurance company with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance online, or by printing a form and mailing or faxing it in. The policy must have been written in Tennessee.
“Consumers who believe they have been wrongfully denied a claim by their insurance company or have another issue with their insurance agent or company can file a complaint by completing the online complaint form”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.