Negligence in Tennessee
Last checked Aug 15, 2026 · LawyerUnc editorial. Educational only, not legal advice.
Elements
1
Duty
The defendant owed the plaintiff a legal duty of reasonable care in the circumstances.
2
Breach
The defendant failed to meet that standard, they did something a reasonably careful person would not, or failed to do something they would.
3
Causation
The breach was a factual and legal (proximate) cause of the harm. Foreseeability matters.
4
Damages
The plaintiff suffered actual harm, medical bills, lost wages, pain, property loss.
Burden of proof
Preponderance of the evidence, more likely than not.
A Tennessee fact pattern
Negligence in tennessee.
Statute of limitations
1 years
Tenn. Code § 28-3-104
One year from the injury. That is the shortest ordinary injury clock in this table.
- A governmental entity under the GTLA generally needs written notice within twelve months (§ 29-20-305). That notice is not extra time on the one-year lawsuit.