Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations in Tennessee

Medical malpractice lawsuits arise when a health professional performs a medical service which falls beneath industry standards and causes injury to a patient. In Tennessee, lawsuits can be filed against negligent medical professionals seeking compensation for damages and injuries, but only for a limited period of time. This time period is known as the statute of limitations.

In Tennessee, medical malpractice claims must be filed within one year of when the malpractice was discovered, but only up to three years after the incident occurred. An exception to this rule is for claims involving the insertion of foreign objects or for fraud or concealment. In such cases, actions must still be brought within one year of when the malpractice is, or should have been, discovered, but there is no time restraint for when the malpractice took place.

Children or mentally handicapped people who are injured by a negligent doctor are protected by special rules. The parents or guardians are allowed up to one year after the incident occurred to file a claim on their child’s behalf. Additionally, the one-year statute of limitations only begins to run on a minor’s eighteenth birthday.

If you were injured by a doctor's negligence, don’t let time expire on your medical malpractice claim. You could be eligible for financial compensation that could help pay for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact one of our trusted Memphis medical malpractice lawyers today by filling out our free case evaluation form.