Minnesota injury rights, deadlines, and help

If you were hurt in Minnesota, the first question is usually: how long do I have to act? This page gives you Minnesota's main injury deadlines, what to do right now, and where free help is.

We are the injured person's advocate. Our help is always free to you.

The deadline box: Minnesota's key time limits

Personal injury lawsuit: 2 years. Under Minn. Stat. § 541.07(1), any tort resulting in personal injury must be sued on within 2 years. This is the statute of limitations (the legal deadline to file a lawsuit), and it is shorter than many people assume, because property-damage claims get 6 years. (Source)
Work injury, report to your employer: 14 days for full protection. Under Minn. Stat. § 176.141, notice within 14 days keeps full benefits. Notice within 30 days still works unless the employer proves prejudice. From 30 to 180 days, you need a recognized excuse. After 180 days, the claim is barred unless you were incapacitated. (Source)
Work injury, file the claim: 3 years. Under Minn. Stat. § 176.151, a workers compensation claim (the state system that pays for work injuries) must be filed within 3 years after the employer's written injury report to the state, and never more than 6 years from the accident. (Source)
Injury involving the government: 180 days. Notice to the Attorney General for state claims (Minn. Stat. § 3.736, subd. 5) or to the governing body for city and county claims (Minn. Stat. § 466.05) is due within 180 days of when you discover the loss. Wrongful death: 1 year. (Source, source)

Two warnings. First, the 2-year injury clock is the trap. Neighboring states and even other Minnesota claims run longer, so people wait, and waiting kills cases here. Second, medical claims can have different, often shorter deadlines. Do not assume the 2-year rule covers a hospital or doctor case.

What to do first

Get medical care now. Your health comes first, and the records also document your injury.
If it happened at work, give your employer written notice today. Fourteen days protects you fully, but same-day notice protects you best. Keep a copy.
Write down what happened while it is fresh: date, time, place, people, and conditions.
Take photos of the scene, your injuries, and anything involved (a vehicle, an icy walkway, a machine).
Get names and contact information for witnesses.
Do not sign anything from an insurance company before you understand your full costs.
Note who owns the place where you were hurt. If the state, a city, or a county is involved, the 180-day clock is already running.

Common situations in Minnesota

Hurt at work. Minnesota's tiered notice system rewards speed. Every day you wait moves you down a tier, from automatic protection toward a complete bar at 180 days. Report in writing the same day, even if the injury seems minor. Injuries that "seem fine" can get worse, and an early written record settles later arguments about when and how it happened.

Hurt on the road. Minnesota uses modified comparative negligence (a rule that reduces or blocks recovery based on your share of fault). Under Minn. Stat. § 604.01, you can recover as long as your fault is not greater than the other side's, with your payment reduced by your share. (Source) Because your fault percentage is worth real money, gather evidence early: photos, witnesses, and the crash report.

Hurt on someone's property. Falls, dog bites, and unsafe conditions follow the same 2-year lawsuit clock. Minnesota's dog statute is one of the broadest in the country. Under Minn. Stat. § 347.22, an owner or keeper is liable for the full damages when a dog attacks or injures a person who is acting peaceably and is lawfully present. It covers injuries beyond bites, and you do not have to prove the dog was known to be dangerous. (Source) If a public sidewalk or building is involved, remember the 180-day notice.

A true story: the lawyer who said "no case"

In 1971, John Togstad suffered a devastating injury while being treated in a Minnesota hospital, leaving him paralyzed and unable to speak. About 14 months later his wife Joan met with a lawyer. He listened for less than an hour, did no research, requested no medical records, and said he did not think they had a case. He never mentioned that a filing deadline was running. Trusting him, the family waited a full year before asking another lawyer. By then the deadline had passed, and a claim that experts later called a winner was gone forever. The family spent years suing the lawyer instead, and in 1980 the Minnesota Supreme Court upheld a large verdict against him. (Source: Togstad v. Vesely, Otto, Miller & Keefe, Minn. 1980)

The lesson is not that the Togstads did something wrong. They asked for help and trusted the answer. The system is unforgiving about time, which is why a second opinion, quickly, can save a case. The deadline keeps running while you wait.

What we can help with

We are on your side, and our help is free to injured people. We can help you:

Understand which Minnesota deadlines apply to your situation
Put your work-injury notice in writing correctly, today
Organize your records, photos, and timeline
Find the right next step: medical care, therapy, state benefits, or a licensed attorney when your case needs one
Prepare questions to ask before you hire any lawyer, and help you get a fast second opinion if one turns you down

We do not give legal advice, and we never take money from injured people. We explain your rights in plain language and connect you with licensed help when you need it.

Tell us what happened

If you or someone you love was hurt in Minnesota, you do not have to sort this out alone. Tell us what happened. It is free, private, and there is no pressure.

Sources

Last reviewed: 2026-08-16

This is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines can change or vary with the facts. A licensed attorney can confirm the rule for your situation.