Tennessee Dog Bite Laws: Owner Liability and Deadlines

Tennessee has a dog bite statute, but it only covers certain situations; other cases follow traditional common-law rules.

Tennessee dog bite law at a glance

Question	Answer
Type of rule	Strict liability off the owner's residence; one-bite rule at home
Main statute	Tenn. Code 44-8-413
Defenses	Provocation, trespass on nonresidential property, dog securely confined, protecting owner, police/military dogs
Filing deadline	1 year (44-8-413(d); 28-3-104)

What Tennessee law says

44-8-413(a)(2) imposes liability for bites in public places or lawfully occupied private property.
On the owner's residential, farm or noncommercial property, the claimant must prove knowledge of dangerous propensities (44-8-413(c)).
The statute of limitations is the personal injury period in 28-3-104.

Strict liability vs. the one-bite rule

The statute imposes liability only in the situations it lists. Outside those situations, injured people rely on the common law: showing the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous (the "one-bite" rule) or that the owner was negligent.

Dangerous dog rules in Tennessee

A dog running at large that causes bodily injury makes the owner guilty of a Class B or A misdemeanor; serious bodily injury is a Class E felony and death a Class D felony (44-8-408(g)).
Penalties are higher when the owner knew the dog was dangerous after a prior serious bite (44-8-408(h), (i)).
A court may order a dog destroyed after it causes death or serious bodily injury (44-17-120).

Deadline to file a claim

Justia's 50-state survey lists 1 year as the general personal injury deadline (statute of limitations) in Tennessee. The clock usually starts on the day of the bite. Different deadlines can apply to claims against a government agency or on behalf of a child, so confirm the deadline for your situation with a licensed attorney.

What to do after a dog bite

Get medical care, even for a small puncture; bites can become infected.
Get the owner's name, contact details and the dog's rabies vaccination status.
Report the bite to local animal control or the health department; many places require it so the dog can be observed for rabies.
Photograph the injuries and the location, and write down witness names.
Keep medical bills and records of missed work, and talk to an attorney before signing anything from an insurer.

If you own a dog that has bitten someone, follow any confinement order from animal control, keep the dog's rabies vaccination current, and consider working with a trainer or behaviorist. Leash rules are covered in Tennessee leash laws.

Sources

This page summarizes state statutes for general information and is not legal advice. Laws change and cities and counties often add their own rules; check the current statute and your local ordinance, or ask a licensed attorney about your situation.

Tennessee Dog Bite Laws