Statute of Limitations, Minnesota Lawsuits
Related Videos Available - Click to Collapse Click to Collapse

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. Section 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 Section 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six Years

Practice Area: Bicycle Accident

Applicable Law: Minn. Stat Section 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years

Practice Area: Boats, Personal Watercraft & Jet Skis Accidents

Applicable Law: Minn. Stat Section 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years

Practice Area: Burn Injuries

Applicable Law: Minn. Stat Section 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years

Practice Area: Bus Accidents

Applicable Law: Minn. Stat Section 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years

Practice Area: Construction Site Accidents

Applicable Law: Minn. Stat Section 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years

Practice Area: Dog Bites & Animal Attacks

Applicable Law: Minn. Stat Section 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years

Practice Area: Motorcycle Accident

Applicable Law: Minn. Stat Section 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years

Practice Area: Pedestrian Accidents

Applicable Law: Minn. Stat Section 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years

Practice Area: Railroad/Train Crossing Accidents

Applicable Law: Minn. Stat Section 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years

Practice Area: Semi Tractor Trailer Accidents

Applicable Law: Minn. Stat Section 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years

Practice Area: Rollover Accidents (SUV, Van & ATV)

Applicable Law: Minn. Stat Section 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years

Practice Area: Premises Liability - Slip, Trip & Fall
  • Negligent Maintence, Operation or Inspection
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat Section 541.05, Subd. 1(5)
Time Period: Six years
  • Injury caused by defective design or construction.
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat Section 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. Section 573.02, Subd. 1
Time Period: The lesser of three years from date of death or six years

Practice Area: Product Liability/Defective Products
  • Notice after attorney-client relationship begins
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. Section 604.04
Time Period: Six Months
  • Strict Liability
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. Section 541.05, Subd. 2
Time Period: Four years
  • Warranty
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. Section 336.2 - 725
Time Period: Four years
  • Negligence
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat Section 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. Section 604.03
Time Period: Fact question

Practice Area: Medical Malpractice
  • Medical Malpractice - Injury
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. Section 541.076
Time Period: Four years from the date the cause of action accrued.
  • Medical Malpractice - Death
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. Section 541.076 Minn. Stat. Section 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. Section 340A.802, Subd. 2
Time Period: 240 days
  • Statutes of limitations from date of injury
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. Section 340A.802, Subd. 2
Time Period: Two years

Practice Area: Legal Malpractice

Applicable Law: Minn. Stat Section 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. Section 466.05, Subd. 1 (municipality)
Time Period: 180 days
  • Notice to state after loss or injury
Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. Section 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. Section 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. Section 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. Section 541.07
Time Period: Two years

Practice Area: Statutes of Limitations for Children (Minors)

Applicable Law: Minn. Stat. Section 541.15(a)(1)
Time Period: One year after reaching majority

separator
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

Related Content

Legal Glossary Links/Resources Statue of Limitations