Tennessee law
Premises Liability Laws in Tennessee.
Tennessee premises liability applies a unified duty of reasonable care to invitees and licensees (Hudson v. Gaitan, 675 S.W.2d 699 (Tenn. 1984)). Trespassers are owed only a duty to avoid willful or wanton conduct. Tennessee's modified comparative fault (50% bar) applies. Tennessee has a Recreational Use Immunity statute. Tennessee dog-bite liability is generally governed by common-law "one-bite" rule with narrow statutory exceptions for dogs in a public place or running at large.
Last verified: 2026-04-17
State law
Statute of Limitations
1-year general personal injury statute applies — among the shortest in the U.S.
State law
Fault & Liability Rules
Plaintiff's fault reduces recovery proportionally. Plaintiff at 50% or more fault recovers nothing.
State law
Key Tennessee Statutes
Tennessee Supreme Court unified the duty toward invitees and licensees. Landowners owe a duty of reasonable care to both invitees and licensees — considering risk, foreseeability, and other factors.
Trespassers are owed only a duty to avoid willful or wanton injury. Attractive-nuisance doctrine applies to trespassing children.
Landowners who permit free recreational use owe no duty of care absent willful or malicious conduct.
Tennessee's Dianna Acklen Act (§ 44-8-413) imposes limited strict liability when the dog is running at large and the victim is not on the owner's property. Otherwise, common-law one-bite rule applies.
State law
Official Sources
Not Legal Advice
This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in Tennessee.
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