Statute of Limitations

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 the cause of action accrued.

Practice Area: Liquir 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

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