What’s the Statute of Limitations for a Lawsuit in Minnesota?

Find out how long you have to file a Minnesota lawsuit for a car accident, dog bite, medical malpractice, product liability, and other personal injuries.

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Statutes of limitations govern the time limit in which a lawsuit must be started. These limits vary by the type of claim. The right to sue and recover damages ends when the statute of limitations expires. Below is a summary of Minnesota’s statutes of limitations regarding common personal injury and wrongful death claims.

 

Case:              Wrongful Death

Time Limit:  Three (3) Years from the date of the death

Authority:    Minn. Stat. § 573.02, Subd. 1

 

Case:              Car Accidents

Time Limit:  Six (6) Years from the date of the injury

Authority:    Minn. Stat. § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)

 

Case:              Semi-Truck, Commercial Vehicle, or Bus Accidents

Time Limit:  Six (6) Years from the date of the injury

Authority:    Minn. Stat. § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)

 

Case:              Bicycle Accidents

Time Limit:  Six (6) Years from the date of the injury

Authority:    Minn. Stat. § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)

 

Case:              Pedestrian Accidents

Time Limit:  Six (6) Years from the date of the injury

Authority:    Minn. Stat. § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)

 

Case:              Motorcycle Accidents

Time Limit:  Six (6) Years from the date of the injury

Authority:    Minn. Stat. § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)

 

Case:              Product Liability

Time Limit:  Four (4) Years from the date of the injury for an action based on strict liability

Authority:    Minn. Stat. § 541.05, Subd. 2

 

Case:              Dog Bites/Dog Attacks

Time Limit:  Six (6) years from the date of the injury

Authority: Minn. Stat. § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)

 

Case:              Boating, Jet Ski, or Watercraft Accidents

Time Limit:  Six (6) years from the date of the injury

Authority:    Minn. Stat. § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)

 

Case:              Slip, Trip, Fall Accidents (Premises Injuries)

Time Limit:              Two (2) years from discovery of injury caused by defective design or construction or no more than 10 years after substantial completion of project;

Six (6) years from injury due to negligent maintenance, operation, or inspection of property

Authority:                Minn. Stat. § 541.051, Subd. 1(c)

Minn. Stat. § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)

 

Case:              Dram Shop/Liquor Liability

Time Limit:              Notice requirement of 240 days after attorney-client relationship begins.

Authority:                Minn. Stat. § 340A.802, Subd. 2

 

Case:              Medical Malpractice – Injury

Time Limit:  Four (4) years from the date the “cause of action accrued.”

Authority:    Minn. Stat. § 541.076

 

Case:              Medical Malpractice – Death

Time Limit:              Three years from the date of death, but not more than four years from the date the cause of action started.

Authority:                Minn. Stat. § 541.076, Minn. Stat. § 573.02

 

Case:              Minors – Special Statute of Limitations

Time Limit:              One year after reaching the “age of majority” of 18 (with the exception in medical negligence cases, which are four-years plus seven-year tolling provision).

Authority:                Minn. Stat. § 541.15(a)(1)

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