How Traffic Citations Affect Your Personal Injury Case in Tennessee

Receiving a traffic ticket after a car accident can significantly impact the outcome of the case. In Tennessee, a ticket does not automatically mean someone is at fault. However, it can still influence who is responsible and how insurance companies handle the claim, something many people don’t realize until they see firsthand the traffic ticket impact on a personal injury case.

If you suffered an injury and either you or the other driver received a citation, it is worth understanding how that ticket could shape your case.

Driver Responsibility in Tennessee Car Accidents

After a car accident in Tennessee, drivers must stop and share their information. If someone drives away without doing this, they may receive additional tickets or even face criminal charges. According to Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-10-102, drivers have to give their name, address, vehicle registration, and help anyone who’s hurt. Breaking this law can result in criminal charges and complications in any related lawsuit, which is why it’s essential to understand how traffic violations impact personal injury claims and the outcome of your case.

Does a Traffic Ticket Prove Fault in Tennessee?

Not exactly. Receiving a ticket after a crash does not automatically mean you are at fault. Likewise, if the other driver got a ticket, that does not guarantee the court will find them fully responsible.

Tennessee uses a modified comparative fault system. This means the court divides fault between the drivers involved, based on the extent to which each person’s actions contributed to the crash. If your share of the fault is 50 percent or more, you will not be able to recover any financial losses. But if the court finds you 49 percent or less at fault, you can still recover a reduced portion.

So, where does the ticket come in? A traffic citation, as evidence, may support a claim of negligence. This is especially true if it shows that a driver violated a traffic law, such as running a red light or failing to yield at an intersection. However, courts consider the entire picture. Traffic tickets are just one piece of evidence among others, including:

• The police report
• Eyewitness statements
• Surveillance or dashcam footage
• Vehicle damage analysis
• Cell phone records
• Expert testimony from crash reconstructionists

Tickets may guide the investigation, but they do not settle fault on their own.

How Traffic Tickets Can Impact Your Injury Claim

There are several ways a traffic ticket could play a role in your case:

• Legal Presumptions Through Negligence Per Se – If a driver breaks a safety law, such as speeding, texting while driving, or running a stop sign, the court may automatically see them as responsible for the accident. This is called negligence per se. In these cases, you don’t have to prove they were being careless. You must demonstrate that they broke the law and that it caused your injury. A ticket for failure to yield, for example, can be strong evidence that the driver didn’t follow Tennessee traffic laws.
• Insurance Liability and Negotiation Power – Insurance companies closely monitor traffic citations because they can determine who was at fault in an accident. If you received the ticket, the insurer might argue you were to blame, which could reduce or even block your compensation if the court finds you at least 50 percent at fault. But if the other driver received a citation, it could strengthen your case and push their insurer toward a settlement. Still, adjusters are focused on minimizing payouts, so a citation alone is not always enough. Having a personal injury attorney helps ensure your side is fully represented.
• Courtroom Strategy and Burden of Proof – In a personal injury case, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant was negligent. A traffic ticket can be helpful if it is directly related to the crash, such as making an illegal left turn. Unrelated citations, such as an expired registration, do not matter. Courts require context, so additional evidence is usually necessary.

Together, these factors show that while a traffic citation can strengthen your case, it is only one piece of a much larger legal puzzle – one that is best handled with experienced legal support.

When a Traffic Citation Might Not Affect Your Case

A ticket may not help your personal injury case if it’s unrelated to the crash. Here are some situations where that could happen:

• The Citation Was Unrelated to the Crash – Not all citations indicate who caused the crash – a driver might be ticketed for something not directly related to causing the collision, such as an expired registration or missing proof of insurance if the citation does not tie directly to the behavior that caused the accident. It likely will not help or hurt your personal injury claim.
• The Citation Was Later Dismissed – If a traffic ticket is dismissed in court, it loses much of its value as evidence, possibly signaling that it was issued in error or lacked sufficient support. Defense attorneys may use the dismissal to question the citation’s relevance or credibility. In some cases, it may be excluded from the civil case entirely under court rules on admissibility.
• Conflicting Evidence Exists – A ticket may not be significant if other evidence suggests a different conclusion. For example, if one driver receives a ticket for not yielding, but a video shows the other driver ran a red light, the court may prefer the video evidence over the ticket.

That is why a thorough investigation and effective legal representation are crucial. You want every relevant fact uncovered, not just what is written on a piece of paper.

Protecting Your Rights After a Traffic-Related Crash

Do not let a traffic ticket – yours or the other driver’s – decide the outcome of your personal injury case. While citations can support your claim, they do not guarantee success. At the same time, getting a ticket doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC can help. Our team of experienced car accident attorneys in Memphis knows how to challenge assumptions, uncover key evidence, and refocus the case on what truly caused the crash. With decades of success in Memphis and the Mid-South, they are ready to help you and fight for you.

Call (901) 526-2126 for a free case review and get clear, personalized guidance. Send us a message to get started. Your recovery begins with understanding your rights and taking prompt action.