Key Takeaways
- The driver who makes an illegal U-turn is usually the one at fault for the crash.
- Tennessee bans U-turns on curves or hills where other drivers cannot see the car within 500 feet.
- Seeing a doctor right away links the injuries to the crash and protects the injury claim.
- Injured drivers can still recover money if their share of the blame stays under 50%.
- Most injured drivers in Tennessee generally have one year from the crash to file a claim.
An illegal U-turn can change an ordinary drive through Nashville into a serious crash in a matter of seconds. When that happens, Tennessee law looks first at the driver who made the turn. At The Williams Firm, our Nashville car accident lawyers help injured drivers across Middle Tennessee prove who caused the crash and protect their claims from the start.
An illegal U-turn crash in Tennessee happens when a driver turns around where the law does not allow it, such as on a curve, near the top of a hill, or at an intersection with a no-U-turn sign, and hits another vehicle. In most cases, the driver who made that turn is at fault. Injured victims generally have one year to file a personal injury claim, a deadline set by Tennessee Code Annotated § 28-3-104.
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What Makes a U-Turn Illegal in Tennessee?
A U-turn becomes illegal in Tennessee when other drivers cannot see it coming, or when a sign says not to do it. That covers turning around on a curve, near the top of a hill, or anywhere a no-U-turn sign is posted. Picture a driver on Gallatin Pike or Nolensville Pike who misses a turn and swings around without a clear view of oncoming traffic. That is exactly the kind of move the law targets.
Tennessee’s turning statute, T.C.A. § 55-8-141, sets the visibility line at 500 feet, about the length of one and a half football fields, and treats a violation as a Class C misdemeanor. Posted signs carry equal weight, since T.C.A. § 55-8-109 requires drivers to obey official road signs and signals. Breaking either rule gives an injured driver strong proof of fault.
Who Is at Fault When an Illegal U-Turn Causes a Crash?
Tennessee puts the burden on the driver making the turn, which typically makes that driver the one responsible. Section 55-8-142 of the Tennessee Code allows a turn only when it can be made safely, with a signal if other cars could be affected. In plain terms, the driver turning around has to wait for a clear road.
Insurance companies still push back, often claiming the other driver was speeding or distracted. Our attorneys answer with proof such as:
- Vehicle Damage: Impact points that show who crossed into whose path.
- Witness Accounts: What nearby drivers and pedestrians saw.
- Camera Footage: Video from traffic cameras, businesses, or dashcams.
- Airbag and Phone Data: The airbag records the exact moment of impact, and phone records can show whether the other driver was texting at that second.
Common Injuries in Illegal U-Turn Accidents
Because a U-turn cuts straight across oncoming traffic, many of these crashes become side impacts, also called T-bone collisions. The side of a car offers far less protection than the front, which means serious injuries can happen even at lower speeds. Common injuries include:
- Head Injuries: Concussions and brain injuries from hitting a window or door frame.
- Neck and Back Injuries: Whiplash, herniated discs, and spinal damage.
- Broken Bones: Broken ribs, arms, hips, and pelvises.
- Internal Injuries: Damage to organs that may not cause symptoms right away.
The risk is real. Early data from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security shows the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Nashville district recorded 255 traffic deaths in 2025, even as deaths dropped statewide.
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Steps to Take After an Illegal U-Turn Accident in Nashville
The days after an illegal U-turn crash can shape the entire claim. Our attorneys give every client the same checklist:
- See a Doctor Right Away: Adrenaline can hide pain for hours, and an early exam protects both health and the claim.
- Call the Police: The officer’s report creates an official record of the crash.
- Take Photos: Capture the cars, the road, and any no-U-turn sign, curve, or hill nearby.
- Get Witness Contact Information: A name and phone number can settle a later argument over what happened.
- Stay Off Social Media: Insurance companies look for posts they can use to question the injuries.
- Keep Insurance Calls Short: Share only the basic facts until speaking with an attorney.
One mistake shows up again and again: waiting to see whether the pain goes away. When the first doctor visit comes two weeks later, insurers call it a “gap in treatment” and argue that something else caused the injury. The police report does not have the last word, either. Tennessee courts generally keep it out of evidence at trial.
How Tennessee’s Comparative Fault Law Affects Your Claim
Even with a clear illegal turn, the insurer may try to pin part of the crash on the injured driver. Tennessee answers that argument with modified comparative fault, a rule the Tennessee Supreme Court set in McIntyre v. Balentine in 1992. Blame gets split into percentages, and an injured person can still collect compensation as long as their share stays under 50%.
Consider a simple hypothetical. If a jury values a driver’s losses at $100,000 and finds that the driver 20% at fault for going slightly over the limit, the recovery drops to $80,000. At 50% or more, recovery is barred entirely. Every case turns on its own facts, so these figures only show how the math works.
Those percentages matter. That is why our Nashville car accident lawyers push back early whenever an insurer tries to shift blame onto a client, using proof gathered in the first few weeks after the crash.
Contact a Nashville Car Accident Lawyer
An illegal U-turn is someone else’s mistake, and the bills should not land on the person who was hit. The Williams Firm will review the crash, handle the insurance companies, and pursue the compensation you deserve. Call (615) 256-8880 today for a free consultation, because Tennessee’s filing deadline leaves little time to wait.
When an accident or loss turns your life upside down, you need more than a lawyer—you need a relentless advocate who knows Tennessee and fights for you like family. Jonathan Williams, a born-and-raised Nashvillian, is the owner and managing partner of The Williams Firm. He brings more than 18 years of tenacious litigation experience as a Nashville personal injury lawyer to secure justice and maximum compensation for his clients. Jonathan lives in West Nashville with his wife, Megan, and their young son, Carter. They are anxiously expecting the birth of their daughter inJonathan Williams
