If you’ve been injured in a car crash in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, understanding how fault is determined under state law is essential to protecting your rights. At Labrum Law Firm, we help clients navigate the fault‑assignment process and fight to maximize the compensation they deserve. Below our Murfreesboro car accident lawyer will explain how Tennessee’s system works—and how it affects your case.
Tennessee’s At‑Fault System & Liability Insurance
Tennessee is an at‑fault car accident state. That means the driver deemed responsible for causing the crash is financially liable for resulting damages, including medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The state requires drivers to carry at least:
- $25,000 per person for bodily injury
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injury total
- $25,000 for property
It often complicates recovery efforts if you lack coverage or the at-fault driver’s policy is insufficient.
Fault under Tennessee’s Modified Comparative Fault Rule
Tennessee follows a modified comparative negligence system—also known as the “49 percent rule.” You can recover compensation if you are less than 50 percent at fault for the accident. But if your share of fault equals or exceeds 50 percent, you cannot recover anything.
If your fault is under 50%, your compensation is reduced in proportion to your percentage of blame. For example, if you are awarded $100,000 but found 20% at fault, you receive $80,000
How Fault Is Actually Determined
Gathering Evidence
Fault determinations rely on a wide variety of evidence:
- Police reports prepared at the scene, documenting observations and statements
- Photographs and video (dashcam, surveillance, smartphone) of vehicle positions, damage, road conditions, and traffic signals
- Eyewitness testimony from drivers, passengers, or bystanders
- Traffic laws and regulations—e.g., right of way, stop signs, light signals, speed limits—to see if any rules were violated
Expert Analysis
In more complex crashes—such as multi-vehicle pileups, highway collisions, or disputed right-of-way cases—accident reconstruction experts may model speeds, angles, and points of impact to assign fault percentages.
Insurance and Legal Evaluation
Insurance adjusters first review the evidence to assign fault. If negotiations fail or parties cannot agree, fault percentages may ultimately be decided in court by a jury or judge, who allocates responsibility across all parties involved.
Shared Fault / Multiple Parties
Tennessee law allows fault to be shared across multiple parties—including other drivers, motorists, pedestrians, or even third parties like vehicle owners. In some cases (e.g., negligent entrustment) liability extends beyond the driver themselves.
In most cases, each defendant is liable only up to their own percentage of fault. But Tennessee law also provides limited circumstances where joint and several liability applies—for example, in negligent entrustment claims—allowing the injured party to collect full damages from one liable party even if others share some blame.
The Impact of Fault Assignment on Your Compensation
If You Are Less Than 50 % at Fault
You may recover compensation, reduced by your assigned share. For example:
- 20 % fault: recover 80 % of your total damages
- 35 % fault: recover 65 % of total
If You Are 50 % or More at Fault
You are barred from recovery entirely, even if the other party was also negligent.
Statute of Limitations: Don’t Miss the Deadline
Under Tennessee Code § 28‑3‑104, you generally have just one year from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit—including car accident claims—even if you share some fault. That deadline is strictly enforced: missing it can prevent any legal recovery.
Why Legal Representation Matters
At Labrum Law Firm, we know how insurance companies frequently attempt to shift blame onto victims—even when they’re not at fault. We fight to:
- Gather and preserve evidence: crash photos, dispatch logs, medical records, expert testimony
- Challenge inflated fault: we push back when you are unfairly assigned too large a percentage of blame
- Handle tricky scenarios: such as multi‑vehicle collisions or third‑party liability cases
- Negotiate aggressively: with insurers to seek maximum compensation
- Litigate if necessary: taking your case to court when needed to protect your rights
Typical Scenarios in Murfreesboro Accidents
Rear‑End Collisions
Often clear-cut: the following driver is usually found at fault unless the lead driver braked unexpectedly with no warning or cut in front abruptly.
Intersection Crashes
If one driver runs a red light or stop sign, fault is typically theirs—unless ambiguous signals rely on careful eyewitness or video evidence to assign percentages.
Merging or Lane‑Change Collisions
Fault turns on who had the right-of-way and whether signals were used. Again, percentages may be shared, depending on contributing faults.
Multi‑Vehicle Pile‑Ups
These cases often involve complex shared liability and reconstruction analysis. Fault may be apportioned among multiple drivers or parties.
Negligent Entrustment / Third‑Party Liability
If, for example, a vehicle owner knowingly lends a car to someone with a poor driving history (e.g., prior DUI convictions), they may be held liable under Tennessee’s negligent entrustment rule, which can lead to joint and several liability.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fault in Murfreesboro Car Accidents
Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Yes. Under Tennessee’s modified comparative fault rule, you can recover compensation as long as you were less than 50% at fault. Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
How do investigators determine who is at fault in a car accident?
Fault is determined using evidence such as police reports, traffic laws, photos or videos from the scene, eyewitness accounts, and expert analysis when necessary.
Can more than one person be held responsible for the same accident?
Yes. Tennessee allows for shared fault, meaning multiple parties can each be assigned a percentage of responsibility. In some cases, one party may still be required to pay the full amount if joint and several liability applies.
How is the final compensation amount calculated if I share some blame?
Your total compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. For example, if you’re awarded $100,000 but found 25% at fault, you would receive $75,000.
What is the deadline for filing a car accident lawsuit in Tennessee?
You have one year from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline may bar you from recovering any compensation.
Why should I hire a car accident attorney?
An experienced attorney can help gather and preserve critical evidence, challenge unfair fault percentages, handle negotiations with insurance companies, and take your case to court if needed. Having a lawyer increases your chances of receiving full and fair compensation.
Contact Labrum Law Firm Today for Premier Car Accident Representation
Accidents in Murfreesboro come with challenges: shared fault, short deadlines, and insurance companies eager to minimize payouts. Fault assignment can be technical and contentious—and getting it wrong can significantly reduce—or entirely eliminate—your compensation.
Labrum Law Firm stands ready to advocate for you. We’ll carefully analyze your accident, preserve critical evidence, work with experts, and push back against attempts to unfairly blame you. Whether through negotiation or trial, we fight to protect your rights under Tennessee law.
If you’ve been in a crash in Murfreesboro, don’t delay. You may still have time to pursue a claim—but the clock is already ticking. Contact Labrum Law Firm today for a free consultation about how fault is assigned in your case—and what you can do now.
