Minnesota Personal Injury Laws, Deadlines and Local Guides

Personal injury claims in Minnesota

This is the Minnesota hub of the Ask Legal Matters injury law guides. It summarizes the rules that apply to every injury claim in the state and links to local guides for 290 Minnesota communities, each with pages on car, truck, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents, slip and fall injuries, workplace injuries and workers' compensation, medical malpractice and wrongful death.

Minnesota gives injured people six years to file most personal injury lawsuits (Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1(5)) and a different deadline for medical malpractice (four years (Minn. Stat. § 541.076)). The state follows modified comparative negligence (51% bar): you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault. Minnesota is a no-fault auto insurance state, so PIP benefits pay first after a crash. Injury cases are tried in the District Court of the county where the accident happened, and work injuries must be reported to your employer within 14 days, in writing, unless your employer already knows (Minn. Stat. § 176.141).

Minnesota injury law at a glance

Personal injury deadline: six years from the injury (Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1(5))
Medical malpractice deadline: four years (discovery-rule exceptions)
Fault rule: modified comparative negligence (51% bar)
Auto insurance: No-fault (PIP pays first)
Minimum auto liability: 30/60/10
Trial court: County District Court
Workers' compensation: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
Workers' comp claim deadline: About three years

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Minnesota injury guides by county

Every Minnesota county has its own page covering the county court, the state rules and every community in the county, large or small.

Largest communities in Minnesota

More Minnesota city guides: Mankato, MN, Winona, MN.

Minnesota cities with the most fatal crashes, 2019-2023

These Minnesota communities recorded the most fatal crashes coded to them in NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System from 2019 through 2023. Each community page breaks down its own numbers by year, time of day and road.

Minnesota claims by injury type

Read the statute of limitations overview for every state for a side-by-side comparison of filing deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Minnesota?

Generally six years from the date of injury (Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1(5)). Medical malpractice claims generally must be filed within four years, and claims against government entities require a notice of claim much sooner.

What happens if I was partly at fault in Minnesota?

Minnesota applies modified comparative negligence (51% bar): you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault.

Is Minnesota a no-fault state?

Yes. Your own PIP coverage pays first after a car accident, and lawsuits against the at-fault driver are limited to serious injuries.

Where are injury lawsuits filed in Minnesota?

In the District Court of the county where the accident happened or where the defendant resides. Claims against out-of-state companies may be removed to federal court.

How do I find a personal injury lawyer near me in Minnesota?

Choose your county or community below for local information, or click the free claim review button; your request may be shared with independent attorneys and legal services partners who handle inquiries in Minnesota.

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Ready to share what happened in Minnesota?

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Ask Legal Matters is a lead-generation service, not a law firm. Submitting a request does not hire an attorney. Review the contact consent and privacy policy on the form before submitting.