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★ Tennessee · back & spine

Back & spine settlements
in Tennessee.

By 6 min read

Tennessee applies modified-50 comparative fault since McIntyre v. Balentine (1992) abolished pure contributory negligence, with one of the shortest US PI limitation windows (one year) and a $750,000 general non-economic cap. For back & spine claims specifically, the band is built from the state-by-state tort law · jury verdict reporters · statutory caps framework and then adjusted for Tennessee's modified comparative — 50% bar and any applicable statutory cap.

Tennessee applies modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar. For back & spine claims, this means a claimant who is 49% at fault recovers 51% of the award, but a claimant assigned 50% or more recovers nothing. The bright-line rule materially affects back & spine settlement negotiations: insurers routinely argue claimant conduct toward the 50% threshold, and the perceived risk of stepping over the line drives many claimants to settle below the band.

Tennessee's caps (non-economic damages cap (general)) apply to the non-economic component of back & spine damages and can compress upper-tier verdicts. The exact application depends on the cause of action and the head of damage; the caps section on this page sets out each ceiling and the conditions under which it bites.

★ band · US federal frame
$80,000 – $400,000+
Back injury (severe, surgery)
Reported decisions; statutory cap states constrain the upper end

The US band is the starting point. Tennessee's fault rule and any applicable cap then adjust the figure.

united states · sister site
Your back & spine claim in Tennessee. See the number for your own case.

The range above is a starting point. FairSettlement gives you a free estimate for your own back & spine case in about two minutes, no cost and no obligation.

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★ TN · statute of limitations
1 year from date of injury — among the shortest in the US

Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104

★ TN · fault rule
Modified comparative — 50% bar

Modified comparative — recovery barred at 50% claimant fault under McIntyre v. Balentine (1992).

★ TN · caps

What caps recovery.

Statutory caps that may bear on a back & spine settlement in Tennessee.

★ back & spine severity tiers · US frame

How the band stratifies.

The state-by-state tort law · jury verdict reporters · statutory caps stratifies back & spine into the tiers below. Tennessee courts apply the same tier structure, adjusted for state-specific factors.

Severity tierBandBasis
Back injury (moderate, no surgery)$30,000 – $100,000Reported decisions plus settlement aggregates
Back injury (severe, surgery)$80,000 – $400,000+Reported decisions; statutory cap states constrain the upper end
★ back & spine · same region & fault regime

Compare to like jurisdictions.

How Tennessee's fault rule and limitation period compare to jurisdictions in the same US region and to those running the same fault rule for back & spine claims.

JurisdictionFault ruleLimitationBack & spine page
Tennessee · you are hereModified comparative — 50% bar1 year from date of injury — among the shortest in the US—
TexasModified comparative — 51% bar2 years from date of injuryTX · back & spine →
VirginiaPure contributory negligence2 years from date of injuryVA · back & spine →
West VirginiaModified comparative — 51% bar2 years from date of injuryWV · back & spine →
AlabamaPure contributory negligence2 years from date of injuryAL · back & spine →
ArkansasModified comparative — 50% bar3 years for personal injury; 2 years for medical malpracticeAR · back & spine →
FloridaModified comparative — 51% bar2 years from date of injury (was 4; reduced by HB 837)FL · back & spine →
UtahModified comparative — 50% bar4 years for personal injury; 2 years for medical malpracticeUT · back & spine
ColoradoModified comparative — 50% bar2 years for personal injury; 3 years for motor vehicleCO · back & spine →
GeorgiaModified comparative — 50% bar2 years from date of injuryGA · back & spine →
IdahoModified comparative — 50% bar2 years from date of injuryID · back & spine
VermontModified comparative — 51% bar3 years from date of injuryVT · back & spine
WashingtonPure comparative negligence3 years from date of injuryWA · back & spine →
★ TN · back & spine · frequently asked

Common questions.

Each answer is independently coherent and references the relevant statute or authority document.

★ all of TN
Tennessee overview

Fault rule, statute, caps, and key facts for Tennessee as a whole.

★ federal frame
Back & spine in United States

Back & spine band structure and severity tiers at the US level.

★ all 15 countries
Back & spine · everywhere

Cross-jurisdiction comparison of back & spine bands.

★ editorial note

Figures on this page are starting points: the US band adjusted for Tennessee's statutory framework. They are not quotes for any specific case. For representation, consult an attorney admitted in Tennessee. See /methodology, /sources, and /disclaimer.