Tennessee Code Title 50. Employer and Employee § 50-6-406

(a) Every employer, or the employer's insurance carrier unless the employer is self-insured, subject to this chapter, shall file evidence of its compliance with § 50-6-405 with the bureau of workers' compensation on a form prescribed by the administrator, within thirty (30) days after procurement or renewal of suitable workers' compensation insurance or qualification as a self-insurer.

(b) If an employer fails to comply with § 50-6-405, then during the continuance of the failure, the employer shall be liable to an injured employee either for compensation as provided in this chapter to be recovered in an action brought in a court of competent jurisdiction for that purpose, or for damages to be recovered as if this chapter had not been enacted, as the employee may elect; and in the case suit for damages is brought instead of a suit to recover compensation under this chapter, the employer, when sued, shall not be allowed to set up as a defense to the action that the employee was negligent, or that the injury was caused by negligence of a fellow servant or fellow employee, or that the employee had assumed the risk of the injury.

(c) Claim of compensation made under this chapter shall be deemed a waiver of the right to sue for damages, and the institution and prosecution to final judgment of a suit for damages shall be deemed a waiver of a right to claim compensation under this chapter.