Every state has its own time limits, called statutes of limitations, and even within a state the period of time within which you must file a lawsuit varies according to the type of claim. Knowing which statute of limitation applies under state and federal law is critical, since if a lawsuit is not brought within the time limit that applies to the case, the right to sue and recover damages is forever lost.
Below you'll find Minnesota's statutes of limitations for many common types of lawsuits.
Practice Area: Automobile/Motor Vehicle Accidents
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: These actions must be brought within Six years of the date of the injury
Practice Area: Aviation Accident-Plane Crash
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six Years
Practice Area: Bicycle Accident
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years
Practice Area: Boats, Personal Watercraft & Jet Skis Accidents
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years
Practice Area: Burn Injuries
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years
Practice Area: Bus Accidents
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years
Practice Area: Construction Site Accidents
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years
Practice Area: Dog Bites & Animal Attacks
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years
Practice Area: Motorcycle Accident
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years
Practice Area: Pedestrian Accidents
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years
Practice Area: Railroad/Train Crossing Accidents
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years
Practice Area: Semi Tractor Trailer Accidents
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years
Practice Area: Rollover Accidents (SUV, Van & ATV)
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years
Practice Area: Premises Liability - Slip, Trip & Fall, Negligent Maintence, Operation or Insection
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years
Injury caused by defective design or construction.
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat § 541.051, Subd. 1(c)
Time Period: 2 years after discovery of injury and no more than 10 years after substantial completion of project
Practice Area: Wrongful Death
Applicable Law: Minn Stat. § 573.02, Subd. 1
Time Period: Three years
Practice Area: Product Liability/Defective Products Notice after attorney-client relationship begins
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. § 604.04
Time Period: Six Months
Strict Liability
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. § 541.05, Subd. 2
Time Period: Four years
Warranty
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. § 336.2 - 725
Time Period: Four years
Negligence
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years
Expiration of a product's useful life as a factor in weighing fault
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. § 604.03
Time Period: Fact question
Practice Area: Medical Malpractice
Medical Malpractice - Injury
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. § 541.076
Time Period: Four years from the date the cause of action accrued.
Medical Malpractice - Death
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. § 541.076 Minn. Stat. § 573.02
Time Period: Three years from the date of death, but not more than four years from the date the cause of action started.
Practice Area: Liquor Liability or Dram Shop Claims
Notice requirements after attorney-client relationship was formed.
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. § 340A.802, Subd. 2
Time Period: 240 days
Statutes of limitations from date of injury
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. § 340A.802, Subd. 2
Time Period: Two years
Practice Area: Legal Malpractice
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six year from when damage occurs
Practice Area: Claims Against State or Municipality
Notice to municipality after loss or injury
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. § 466.05, Subd. 1 (municipality)
Time Period: 180 days
Notice to State after loss or injury
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. § 3.736(5) (state)
Time Period: 180 days
Notice requirement to a municipality after an injury or loss resulting in a death
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. § 466.05, Subd. 2 (municipality)
Time Period: One year
Notice requirement to a state after an injury or loss resulting in a death
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. § 3.736, Subd. 6 (state)
Time Period: One year
Practice Area: Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims (The applicable statute of limitations runs from the date of accident.)
Applicable Law: O'Neill v. Illinois Farmers, 381 N.W.2d 439 (Minn. 1986), Nelson v. State Farm, 567 N.W. 2d 770 (Minn. App. 1997).
Time Period: Six Years
Practice Area: Intentional tort such as assault and battery
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. § 541.07
Time Period: Two years
Practice Area: Statutes of Limitations for Children (Minors)
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. § 541.15(a)(1)
Time Period: One year after reaching majority (except in medical negligence cases: four-year statute of limitations plus seven-year tolling provision).
SOME EXCEPTIONS TO THE STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS
Minority (Anyone under the age of 18 when the injury occurs, has until age 19 to initiate litigation even if the statute of limitations would normally have run before the age of 19).
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. § 541.15(a)(1)
Time Period: One year after reaching majority
Contact our attorneys immediately to ensure that all of your rights are preserved.
