Filing a Workers' Comp Claim in Tennessee

This is general information, not legal advice. A Tennessee workers’ compensation attorney can help with your specific situation.

Getting a workers’ compensation claim right in Tennessee requires hitting specific deadlines and following a prescribed administrative process. Miss the early notice requirement and your claim can be denied outright. Here is how the process works, step by step.

Step 1: Notify your employer within 15 days

Under T.C.A. § 50-6-201, you must notify your employer of a work injury as soon as reasonably practicable — and no later than 15 days after the injury occurs. The notice must be in writing and must state your name, address, and the time, place, nature, and cause of the accident. Verbal notice alone is risky; put it in writing and keep a copy.

If you miss the 15-day window, your employer can raise late notice as a defense. Courts may excuse a late notice if the employer had actual knowledge of the injury and was not prejudiced by the delay, but counting on that is a gamble.

Step 2: Your employer notifies their insurer

Once notified, your employer is required to report the injury to their workers’ compensation insurance carrier. The insurer then determines whether to accept or dispute the claim.

Step 3: Employer provides a medical panel within 3 business days

After your injury is reported, your employer or their insurer must provide a panel of at least three independent physicians within three business days. You select your Authorized Treating Physician (ATP) from that panel using Form C-42. The ATP you choose will manage your medical care and, ultimately, assign any permanent impairment rating. See the guide on choosing your ATP for more detail.

Step 4: File a Petition for Benefit Determination if a dispute arises

If the insurer denies your claim, disputes the extent of your injury, or fails to provide benefits, you can file a Petition for Benefit Determination (PBD) with the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. This is the official start of the dispute resolution process. You can file online through the Bureau’s portal or contact the Bureau help line at (800) 332-2667 for assistance.

Step 5: Bureau mediation

After a PBD is filed, the Bureau assigns a mediator who schedules a mediation conference — typically within 30 days. The mediator is neutral and cannot force a settlement, but many disputes resolve here without a formal hearing. Mediation is free and does not require an attorney, though having one is often advisable.

Step 6: Dispute Certification Notice if mediation fails

If mediation does not resolve the dispute, the Bureau mediator issues a Dispute Certification Notice (DCN). The DCN formally certifies what issues remain in dispute and allows either party to request a hearing before the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims (CWCC).

Step 7: Hearing before the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims

The CWCC is an administrative court staffed by specialized judges. Hearings can be expedited (for urgent benefit disputes) or on the merits (for final resolution). The court can award benefits, deny claims, and approve settlements. Decisions can be appealed to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board and then to the Tennessee Court of Appeals.

The statute of limitations

The deadline to file a Petition for Benefit Determination is 1 year — but measured from the latest of: (1) the date of the injury, (2) the last date temporary disability benefits were paid, or (3) the last date authorized medical treatment was provided (T.C.A. § 50-6-203). This tolling rule gives injured workers more time when treatment or benefits were ongoing, but do not rely on it without confirming your specific deadline with an attorney.

For more on what benefits are available once your claim is accepted, see Workers’ Comp Benefits in Tennessee. To speak with a Tennessee workers’ comp attorney, get help now.