Medical Malpractice Payouts in Tennessee
In Tennessee, the typical payment was $87,500, based on 5,658 payments from the National Practitioner Data Bank. That is 10% less than the national figure of $97,500, the 34th highest of 51 states.
- $87,500typical (median)
- $232Kaverage
- 5,658payments
- 34thof 51 states
What the Records Show for Tennessee
Each public source on its own, with the typical amount, the middle half of all payments and the trend by year.
National Practitioner Data Bank · 1990–2025
$87,500typical payment (median). Half of all payments were between $27,500 and $275,000.
- Payments
- 5,658
- Total paid
- $1.3 billion
- Top 10% above
- $595,000
- All states
- $97,500
Typical amount by year 2025: $245,000 typical, 53 payments
$100K$200K$300KTap or drag across the chart to read a year. Years with at least 5 payments.
Malpractice payments made for doctors and other licensed practitioners, reported to the federal data bank.
The National Practitioner Data Bank records payments made for individual doctors and other licensed practitioners, in the state where they worked. Payments a hospital makes on its own behalf, and claims that ended without a payment, are not in it.
In total, $1.3 billion was recorded across 5,658 payments. One in ten was $595,000 or more.
Payouts in Tennessee by Injury
How badly the patient was hurt, as the data bank records it for payments since 2004.
| Injury | Typical in Tennessee | All states |
|---|---|---|
| Death870 payments | $195,000 | $225,000 |
| Brain damage, paralysis or lifelong care161 payments | $575,000 | $565,000 |
| Major permanent injury212 payments | $330,000 | $395,000 |
| Significant permanent injury298 payments | $235,000 | $245,000 |
| Minor permanent injury305 payments | $72,500 | $97,500 |
| Major temporary injury358 payments | $95,000 | $115,000 |
| Minor temporary injury406 payments | $27,500 | $32,500 |
| Emotional or insignificant injury150 payments | $20,000 | $22,500 |
Payouts in Tennessee by What Went Wrong
The data bank's allegation group. It is not the doctor's specialty: a surgery claim can involve a doctor who is not a surgeon.
| What went wrong | Typical in Tennessee | All states |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis1,291 payments | $145,000 | $175,000 |
| Surgery1,489 payments | $82,500 | $105,000 |
| Treatment1,441 payments | $47,500 | $52,500 |
| Childbirth and pregnancy (obstetrics)389 payments | $295,000 | $245,000 |
| Medication476 payments | $62,500 | $77,500 |
| Anesthesia205 payments | $185,000 | $145,000 |
| Monitoring132 payments | $97,500 | $135,000 |
| IV and blood products28 payments | $245,000 | $87,500 |
| Equipment or product46 payments | $25,000 | $27,500 |
| Behavioral health41 payments | $47,500 | $72,500 |
| Other120 payments | $37,500 | $42,500 |
Settled or Decided in Court in Tennessee
A court judgment is a payment after a trial or court decision. Everything else was settled.
| How it ended | Typical in Tennessee | All states |
|---|---|---|
| Settled5,523 payments | $87,500 | $97,500 |
| Court judgment135 payments | $205,000 | $205,000 |
How Tennessee Compares With Other States
Typical amount in every state from the same source. Across all states: $97,500.
- under $78K
- $78K–$98K
- $98K–$140K
- $140K and up
- 1Illinois$195,000
- 2Pennsylvania$195,000
- 3Massachusetts$185,000
- 4Connecticut$155,000
- 5Delaware$145,000
- 34Louisiana$87,500
- 35Montana$87,500
- 36Tennessee$87,500
- 37Kentucky$82,500
- 38Wyoming$82,500
- 47Washington$67,500
- 48Wisconsin$67,500
- 49Vermont$62,500
- 50Utah$47,500
- 51California$27,500
All 51 states, ranked
- 1Illinois$195,000
- 2Pennsylvania$195,000
- 3Massachusetts$185,000
- 4Connecticut$155,000
- 5Delaware$145,000
- 6District of Columbia$145,000
- 7Florida$145,000
- 8Georgia$145,000
- 9New Jersey$145,000
- 10New York$145,000
- 11Rhode Island$140,000
- 12New Hampshire$135,000
- 13Alabama$125,000
- 14Arizona$125,000
- 15Maine$125,000
- 16Maryland$125,000
- 17Virginia$125,000
- 18Missouri$115,000
- 19Arkansas$110,000
- 20North Carolina$105,000
- 21Alaska$97,500
- 22Hawaii$97,500
- 23Kansas$97,500
- 24Mississippi$97,500
- 25Nebraska$97,500
- 26Nevada$97,500
- 27New Mexico$97,500
- 28Ohio$97,500
- 29Oklahoma$97,500
- 30South Carolina$97,500
- 31Texas$97,500
- 32West Virginia$97,500
- 33Oregon$92,500
- 34Louisiana$87,500
- 35Montana$87,500
- 36Tennessee$87,500
- 37Kentucky$82,500
- 38Wyoming$82,500
- 39Idaho$77,500
- 40Indiana$77,500
- 41Iowa$77,500
- 42North Dakota$77,500
- 43South Dakota$77,500
- 44Colorado$72,500
- 45Michigan$72,500
- 46Minnesota$72,500
- 47Washington$67,500
- 48Wisconsin$67,500
- 49Vermont$62,500
- 50Utah$47,500
- 51California$27,500
About These Numbers
Where the figures come from, how we counted, and how to use them.
- National Practitioner Data Bank: Malpractice payments made for doctors and other licensed practitioners, reported to the federal data bank.
- Typical is the median: half of the records are below it, half above. The average is the total divided by the number of records; a few very large amounts pull it up.
- Not adjusted for inflation. Each amount is counted in the year the source gives for it.
How the explorer counts, source by source
Download the full data set (CSV)
Public records as of October 15, 2026. You can use these figures; please link to this page. $88K is rounded on the map; the tables show exact amounts.
Questions About Medical Malpractice Payouts in Tennessee
Answers from the same records.
What is the average medical malpractice payout in Tennessee?
The typical payment, the median, was $87,500 across 5,658 payments reported for practitioners in Tennessee from 1990 to 2025. The average, $232,049, is higher than the typical amount because a few very large payments pull it up. Half of all payments were between $27,500 and $275,000.
How much do malpractice cases involving a death pay in Tennessee?
In 870 payments where the patient died, the typical payment was $195,000, against $225,000 across all states. The data bank records injury severity for payments since 2004.
How does Tennessee compare with other states?
Tennessee ranks 34th highest of 51 states for the typical amount. Across all states it was $97,500, so Tennessee is 10% lower.
Have amounts in Tennessee changed over time?
In 2025, the typical amount was $245,000 (53 payments), compared with $97,500 in 2015. Amounts are not adjusted for inflation.
What is not included in these numbers?
The National Practitioner Data Bank records payments made for individual doctors and other licensed practitioners, in the state where they worked. Payments a hospital makes on its own behalf, and claims that ended without a payment, are not in it.
More Records for Tennessee
Other kinds of cases in this state, a calculator for your own case, and the studies behind the numbers.
Other records for Tennessee
Calculators and studies
- Medical malpractice calculator for this stateEstimate a case of your own from the same kind of records
- Malpractice payments in all 50 statesA deeper study built on the same public records
- Why a death settles for less than a severe injuryA deeper study built on the same public records
- Settlement Data ExplorerEvery kind of case, state and source side by side