Free Tennessee workers comp settlement calculator for 2026. Tennessee created a specialized Court of Workers Compensation Claims in 2014. Estimate TTD and PPD with impairment-rating caps.
This site is operated by Mustafa Bilgic, an individual based in Adiyaman, Turkiye. The operator is NOT a licensed attorney, NOT a law firm, and does NOT provide legal advice. This page is informational research compiled from public statutes, agency guidance, and legal-education sources. Verify current law with the official state publisher and consult a licensed attorney in Tennessee.
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No fake verdicts, invented averages, or testimonials. Dollar examples are hypothetical only. Verify rates with Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation.
Tennessee fundamentally restructured its workers' compensation system with the 2013 Workers' Compensation Reform Act, effective for injuries on or after July 1, 2014. The reform replaced circuit court jurisdiction with a specialized Court of Workers' Compensation Claims, created a mandatory Benefit Review Conference (BRC) mediation process, and changed PPD calculation to an impairment-rating-based formula. Tennessee's maximum weekly TTD rate is 110 percent of the state average weekly wage, the highest cap formula among these ten states.
| Rule | Tennessee (TN) |
|---|---|
| TTD rate | 66 2/3% of AWW |
| Max weekly formula | 110% of SAWW (highest formula in this group) |
| Waiting period | 7 days |
| Retroactive threshold | 14 days (if disability exceeds 14 days, first 7 days also compensated) |
| Statute of limitations | 1 year from injury or last voluntary payment (shortest in this group) |
| Notice | 30 days written notice to employer |
| System | Administrative court (Court of Workers' Compensation Claims, created 2014) |
| Settlement approval | BRC mediation before formal hearing; court approval required for all settlements |
| Doctor choice | Employer provides panel of 3+ physicians; employee chooses from panel |
| Coverage threshold | 5+ employees |
| Governing law | Tenn. Code Ann. section 50-6-101 et seq. |
| Notable rule | 2013 Reform Act created a dedicated Court of Workers' Compensation Claims and mandatory Benefit Review Conference (BRC) mediation. PPD tied to AMA Guides impairment rating with return-to-work multipliers. |
Under section 50-6-207, TTD pays 66 2/3 percent of the average weekly wage, capped at 110 percent of SAWW. This makes Tennessee's maximum the highest in this group, sometimes hundreds of dollars above Mississippi or Arkansas. The 7-day waiting period and 14-day retroactive threshold are standard.
Tennessee requires the employer to report the injury within 1 day and the insurer to begin payments or deny the claim within 14 days (FindLaw confirmed). This is one of the fastest response timelines nationally. Burial costs are capped at $7,500 (FindLaw confirmed).
Scheduled weeks for permanent partial disability. Verify with Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation.
| Body part | Weeks |
|---|---|
| Thumb | 60 |
| Index finger | 35 |
| Middle finger | 30 |
| Ring finger | 25 |
| Little finger | 20 |
| Hand | 150 |
| Arm | 200 |
| Great toe | 30 |
| Foot | 125 |
| Leg | 175 |
| Eye | 100 |
| Hearing (one ear) | 50 |
| Hearing (both) | 150 |
Educational estimate only. Verify rates with Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation.
Before 2014, Tennessee disputes were handled by circuit court judges who also heard divorces, contracts, and personal injury cases. The Reform Act created a dedicated Court of Workers' Compensation Claims with judges handling only workers' comp. This produced faster resolution, more consistent rulings, and emphasis on resolving disputes through the BRC process before formal hearings.
The BRC is a mandatory mediation session. If parties cannot resolve at BRC, the case moves to formal hearing. Appeals go to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (three-judge panel), then the Tennessee Supreme Court on questions of law.
For injuries on or after July 1, 2014, PPD is based on the impairment rating assigned under the AMA Guides (6th Edition). The impairment rating is multiplied by statutory caps that vary based on whether the worker returns to employment. If the employer offers work within restrictions and the worker returns, the PPD multiplier is lower. If the worker does not return, the multiplier is higher. This incentive structure is a deliberate reform policy choice.
Five or more employees (including all construction employers) triggers mandatory coverage (FindLaw confirmed).
Settlements must be approved by the Court of Workers' Compensation Claims. Sequence: injury, treatment, MMI, impairment rating, BRC mediation, settlement agreement or hearing, court approval. The 1-year statute of limitations (FindLaw confirmed) is the shortest in this group and a frequent source of claim denials.
The 1-year deadline catches many Tennessee workers off guard. Unlike the 2-year standard used by most states in this group, Tennessee's compressed timeline means that a worker who delays filing while recovering from a serious injury can lose all benefits. Workers should file promptly even if medical treatment is ongoing and the full extent of the injury is not yet known. Filing early preserves rights; it does not prevent future medical evidence from being considered in the settlement valuation.
The employer provides a panel of at least 3 physicians and the employee selects one. The panel physician's opinion on MMI and impairment rating is presumed correct unless rebutted by clear and convincing evidence. Workers should research panel physicians before selecting because the impairment rating carries strong legal weight.
If the employer fails to provide a compliant panel, the employee may choose any physician at the employer's expense (FindLaw: employer "may restrict employee's choice of physician" via authorized provider lists). The panel requirement is strictly enforced: a panel that contains fewer than 3 physicians, or that does not include the required specialties, may be deemed non-compliant. Workers who receive a non-compliant panel should document the deficiency promptly, as this can open the door to unrestricted physician choice at the employer's expense.
The Reform Act replaced circuit courts with a dedicated Court of Workers' Compensation Claims, created mandatory BRC mediation, and tied PPD to impairment ratings with return-to-work multipliers.
Tennessee sets its cap at 110 percent of SAWW, the highest formula in this group. Mississippi uses 66 2/3 percent, producing a much lower dollar cap.
A mandatory mediation session before formal hearing. Most disputes are resolved at BRC, reducing litigation costs and delays.
One year from injury or last voluntary payment. Shortest in this group.
Employer provides a panel of 3+ physicians. Employee chooses one. The chosen doctor's opinion is presumed correct unless rebutted by clear and convincing evidence.
Yes. Under the 2013 reform, the multiplier is lower if the employer offers employment within restrictions and the worker returns. Otherwise the multiplier is higher.
No. SettlementCalculator.xyz is operated by Mustafa Bilgic, a non-attorney individual operator. Consult a licensed Tennessee attorney.
Visit the Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation at tn.gov/workforce/injuries-at-work.html. Rates are published annually.