What is the personal injury statute of limitations in Minnesota?

1. General Personal Injury

Minn. Stat. § 541.05 imposes a 6-year SOL for personal injury actions, among the longest in the U.S.

2. Wrongful Death

Minn. Stat. § 573.02 imposes a 3-year SOL for wrongful death, but no later than 6 years after the act/omission causing death.

3. Medical Malpractice

Minn. Stat. § 541.076 imposes a 4-year SOL for health care provider negligence, running from when the cause of action accrues.

4. Discovery Rule

Minnesota applies the discovery rule in limited contexts (fraud, professional malpractice for legal/accounting). Personal injury accrues at injury under MacRae v. Group Health Plan.

5. Minor / Disability Tolling

Minn. Stat. § 541.15 tolls SOL during minority (under 18) and insanity; plaintiff has 1 year after disability ends, or the original SOL, whichever is longer.

6. Government Defendant

The Minnesota Municipal Tort Claims Act (§ 466.05) requires written notice within 180 days of accrual to the municipal clerk. The State Tort Claims Act (§ 3.736) requires similar 180-day notice. Damages capped at $500,000 per person / $1.5 million per occurrence.

7. Product Liability

Subject to the 4-year SOL under § 541.05 subd. 2 for strict products liability; no general statute of repose, though § 541.051 imposes 10/15-year repose on real property improvements.

8. Equitable Tolling / Fraudulent Concealment

Fraudulent concealment delays accrual until discovery; equitable tolling is narrowly applied.

9. Borrowing Statute

Minn. Stat. § 541.31 (Uniform Conflict of Laws-Limitations Act) applies the SOL of the state whose substantive law governs.

This is legal information, not legal advice.