Memphis Courthouse Guide for Personal Injury Claims

Personal injury lawsuits in Memphis are filed in Shelby County, which is part of Tennessee's 30th Judicial District. Tennessee venue rules generally require you to file in the county where the accident happened or where the defendant resides. If your accident occurred anywhere in Memphis, Germantown, Bartlett, Collierville, or unincorporated Shelby County, you file in Shelby County.

Shelby County Courthouse — 140 Adams Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103. The Circuit Court Clerk's office handles civil filings. Phone: (901) 222-3800. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is where you file circuit court lawsuits for claims exceeding $25,000.

Shelby County General Sessions Court — 140 Adams Avenue, Room 106, Memphis, TN 38103 (same building). General Sessions handles civil cases up to $25,000, including personal injury claims within that range. The General Sessions Civil Division can be reached at (901) 222-3400.

If your accident happened in a different county — for example, on I-40 heading toward Jackson or on I-55 heading toward Mississippi — you may need to file in that county's court. If the accident occurred in Mississippi (DeSoto County or elsewhere), Mississippi law applies with different deadlines, fault rules, and filing requirements.

In Tennessee, a personal injury lawsuit begins by filing a Complaint with the Circuit Court Clerk. Your complaint must state the facts of the accident, identify each defendant, set out the legal basis for liability under Tennessee law, and specify the damages you seek. Tennessee follows notice pleading — your complaint must give the defendant fair notice of the claims and the grounds upon which they rest.

Tennessee requires pre-suit notice for medical malpractice claims (T.C.A. § 29-26-121) — you must give 60 days' written notice before filing. Standard personal injury claims (car accidents, slip and falls, premises liability) do not have a pre-suit notice requirement, but you must file within the 1-year statute of limitations.

After filing, you must serve each defendant with the complaint and summons. In Shelby County, service options include the Shelby County Sheriff's office ($52 per defendant), a private process server, or certified mail. The defendant has 30 days after service to file a responsive pleading. For questions about filing procedures, contact the Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk at (901) 222-3800.

Filing fees in Shelby County are set by Tennessee statute and the Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk. For a Category 1 tort case — which includes personal injury lawsuits — the filing fee is $341.50. Service of process through the Shelby County Sheriff costs $52 per defendant, bringing the total for a one-defendant personal injury case to $393.50. Certified copies cost $5 each, and regular copies are $0.50 per page.

General Sessions Court filing fees are lower for civil cases up to $25,000. General Sessions is faster and less expensive than circuit court. Fee amounts are current as of January 2026 — check the Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk's fee schedule at shelbycountytn.gov for the most current amounts.

If you cannot afford the filing fee, Tennessee provides a process for filing as an indigent party (in forma pauperis). File a Uniform Civil Affidavit of Indigency with the court. If granted, filing fees and certain court costs are waived. Most personal injury attorneys in Memphis work on contingency — they advance filing fees and costs and recover them from your settlement or verdict.

Tennessee's General Sessions Court serves as both the small claims court and the lower-level civil court. In Shelby County, General Sessions handles civil disputes up to $25,000. This is significantly higher than many states' small claims limits. If your personal injury damages total $25,000 or less, General Sessions is faster, less formal, and less expensive than circuit court.

General Sessions hearings are typically scheduled within 30 to 90 days. The process is streamlined — no jury trials, relaxed evidence rules, and shorter proceedings. Either party can appeal a General Sessions judgment to circuit court for a trial de novo (a completely new trial) within 10 days of the judgment.

If your damages exceed $25,000 — which is common for serious car accident injuries, especially when you add medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering — you must file in circuit court. Circuit court cases take longer (often 12 to 24 months to reach trial) but offer jury trials and no cap on recoverable damages. Most personal injury cases involving surgery, extended treatment, or permanent injury will exceed $25,000 and belong in circuit court.

Shelby County offers online case lookup through CourtConnect on the Shelby County website at shelbycountytn.gov/2463/Case-Search. You can search circuit and chancery court cases by party name, case number, or filing date. The system shows docket entries, hearing dates, parties, and case status.

For General Sessions Court cases, use the General Sessions case inquiry system at shelbygeneralsessions.com. The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts also provides statewide court information at tncourts.gov.

If you cannot find your case online, contact the Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk at (901) 222-3800 or visit the courthouse in person during business hours. Bring your case number if you have it, or the names of the parties and approximate filing date.

Tennessee's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is 1 year from the date of injury (T.C.A. § 28-3-104). This is one of the shortest deadlines in the country — most states give 2 to 3 years, and some give up to 6 years. In Tennessee, missing the 1-year deadline permanently bars your claim. The court will dismiss your case, and no exception applies for not knowing the law or not realizing you had a claim.

Limited exceptions exist. The discovery rule may extend the deadline in cases where the injury was not immediately apparent — for example, some medical malpractice or toxic exposure cases. For minors, the statute of limitations is tolled (paused) until the child turns 18, at which point they have 1 year to file (T.C.A. § 28-1-106). If the defendant leaves Tennessee after the accident, the time they are absent may not count toward the 1-year deadline.

For wrongful death, the deadline is also 1 year from the date of death (T.C.A. § 28-3-104). For property damage, the deadline is 3 years (T.C.A. § 28-3-105). If your accident was recent, do not wait. Consult an attorney immediately — the 1-year clock is ticking from the date of your accident, and building a strong case takes time.

Tennessee uses a modified comparative fault rule (T.C.A. § 29-11-103). Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If a jury finds you 20% at fault and your damages are $100,000, you recover $80,000. The critical threshold is 50% — if you are found 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing.

Insurance companies routinely argue shared fault to reduce payouts. Common arguments in Memphis car accident cases include: you were speeding, you were distracted, you failed to wear a seatbelt, you ran a yellow light, or you failed to take evasive action. Tennessee's seatbelt law (T.C.A. § 55-9-603) does not allow failure to wear a seatbelt to be used as evidence of comparative fault in most cases — but other contributing factors can reduce your recovery.

The best protection against comparative fault arguments is thorough documentation. A police report with a clear fault determination, photographs of the scene, witness statements, and dashcam footage all make it harder for the defense to shift blame. If you were not at fault, the evidence should show it clearly.

If your injury was caused by the State of Tennessee or a state employee, the Tennessee Claims Commission has exclusive jurisdiction (T.C.A. § 9-8-307). You cannot file in circuit court. Claims against the state must be filed with the Claims Commission within 1 year of the injury.

For claims against the City of Memphis, Shelby County, or other local government entities, Tennessee's Governmental Tort Liability Act (T.C.A. § 29-20-101 et seq.) applies. Government entities are immune from suit except for specific categories, including injuries caused by negligent operation of motor vehicles, dangerous conditions on government property, and defective plans or designs. You must file a written notice of claim with the government entity before filing a lawsuit.

Damages against government entities in Tennessee are capped at $300,000 per person and $700,000 per occurrence under T.C.A. § 29-20-403. These caps apply regardless of the severity of the injury. Government tort claims have strict procedural requirements — consult an attorney immediately if a government entity may be responsible.

If you were injured in Memphis and you are considering filing a lawsuit, get your free Injury Claim Check. You will answer a few quick questions about your accident and injuries, and we will give you a personalized report that includes Tennessee's filing deadline for your specific claim, whether your case would likely land in General Sessions or circuit court, and whether connecting with a personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Tennessee's 1-year statute of limitations is unforgiving. Every day that passes is a day closer to losing your right to file. Our Injury Claim Check is free, confidential, and gives you the information you need to make an informed decision about what comes next.