1. Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben, P.A.
Focus Area: Personal injury and car accident litigation
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, dog bites, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death
Background: The firm was founded in 1974 and operates as Minnesota’s largest personal injury law firm. Over 50 years, the firm has helped more than 50,000 clients and recovered over $750 million in damages. The team includes 20 personal injury and car accident lawyers with a combined 500 years of experience. More than half of the attorneys are board certified, a distinction held by fewer than 3% of Minnesota attorneys.
Location: 80 South 8th Street, Suite 5120, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Contact: (612) 377-7777 | https://www.schwebel.com
Consultation: Free, no-obligation consultation. Contingency fee basis.
2. SiebenCarey
Focus Area: Personal injury and workers’ compensation
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, wrongful death
Background: Founded in 1952, SiebenCarey is Minnesota’s first personal injury law firm. The firm has represented more than 70,000 people throughout the region. Sixteen attorneys are Super Lawyers or Rising Stars honorees. The firm employs seven Certified Civil Trial Law Specialists from the Minnesota Bar Association and three Board Certified Trial Advocates from the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Contact: https://www.knowyourrights.com
Consultation: Free review with no risk or obligation. Contingency fee arrangement.
3. Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys
Focus Area: Personal injury law with multi-generational experience
Practice Areas: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries
Background: The firm has represented injured Minnesotans since 1979 across three generations. Attorneys hold over 80 years of combined experience in personal injury and insurance law. The firm has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers, the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, and Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating. The firm maintains a 5-star average rating on Avvo.
Location: Downtown West in Central Minneapolis, between S 9th St and S 8th St, inside the Medical Arts Building
Contact: https://www.hallinjurylaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation. No fees unless compensation is recovered.
4. Milavetz Injury Law, P.A.
Focus Area: Personal injury representation for individuals
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries
Background: The firm has operated for over seven decades. Over the years, Milavetz Injury Law has recovered more than $500 million in settlements for Minnesota clients. Attorneys David J. Milavetz, Michael R. Docherty, and Steven B. Levine lead the practice. The firm has been recognized by Best Law Firms and named among the Top 40 Personal Injury Attorneys.
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Contact: (612) 444-5604 | https://www.milavetzlaw.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation.
5. Heuer Fischer, P.A.
Focus Area: Personal injury and no-fault insurance claims
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, premises liability, wrongful death, amusement park negligence
Background: The firm brings over 50 years of combined experience representing Minnesotans injured in car accidents. Attorneys Jim Heuer and Jonathan Fischer work collaboratively on every case. The firm secured what is believed to be one of the largest monetary settlements for amusement park negligence in Minnesota history.
Location: 5353 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 600, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Contact: https://www.heuerfischer.com
Consultation: Free consultation available.
Personal Injury Laws in Minnesota
Statute of Limitations
Minnesota provides a six-year statute of limitations for most personal injury cases under Minnesota Statutes Section 541.05. This is longer than most states. Wrongful death claims must be filed within three years of the death. Medical malpractice claims have a four-year deadline from the date of the negligent act. Product liability claims based on strict liability have a four-year deadline. Claims against government entities require notice within 180 days for personal injury and one year for wrongful death.
Negligence Rule
Minnesota follows a modified comparative negligence rule. Injured parties can recover damages only if they are 50% or less at fault for their injuries. If a plaintiff is more than 50% responsible, they are barred from any recovery. When recovery is permitted, the damage award is reduced by the plaintiff’s percentage of fault.
Damage Caps
Minnesota does not impose caps on economic or non-economic damages in personal injury cases. Punitive damages are not capped in personal injury matters. This allows juries to fully compensate injured parties for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses without statutory limitations.
Auto Insurance Requirements
Minnesota is a no-fault state. All drivers must carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage in addition to liability insurance. Current minimum requirements include:
- $30,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $10,000 property damage liability per accident
- $40,000 Personal Injury Protection ($20,000 for medical expenses, $20,000 for non-medical expenses like lost wages)
- $25,000/$50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
No-Fault System Threshold
To pursue a liability claim outside the no-fault system and recover pain and suffering damages, an injured party must meet one of the following thresholds: incur at least $4,000 in reasonable medical expenses, suffer 60 days of disability, or experience permanent injury or permanent disfigurement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Minnesota’s no-fault insurance system affect my personal injury claim?
Under Minnesota’s no-fault system, you first seek compensation from your own Personal Injury Protection coverage regardless of who caused the accident. PIP covers up to $20,000 in medical expenses and $20,000 in non-medical benefits like lost wages. To pursue a claim against the at-fault driver for additional damages including pain and suffering, you must meet the tort threshold: $4,000 in medical expenses, 60 days of disability, or permanent injury or disfigurement.
What is the deadline for filing a no-fault claim in Minneapolis?
You must file a no-fault claim with your insurance company within six months of the accident under Minnesota Statutes Section 65B.55. However, late claims usually are not automatically denied unless the insurance company can demonstrate the delay caused prejudice. Medical bills should be submitted to the insurance company as they arrive.
Can I sue a city bus or Metro Transit after an accident in Minneapolis?
Claims against government entities like Metro Transit or the City of Minneapolis have accelerated deadlines. You must provide notice of your injury to the government agency within 180 days (approximately six months) for personal injury claims or within one year for wrongful death claims. Failing to provide timely notice will bar your claim. The six-year general statute of limitations does not override these shorter notice requirements.
How does Minnesota handle workers’ compensation alongside personal injury claims?
If injured at work in Minneapolis, you may have both a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party personal injury claim. Workers’ compensation covers medical expenses and wage loss benefits regardless of fault. If a third party (someone other than your employer or co-worker) caused your injury, you may also pursue a personal injury lawsuit against that party. Minnesota allows three to six years to file a workers’ compensation claim depending on whether your employer filed a First Report of Injury.
What happens if the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance in Minneapolis?
Minnesota requires all drivers to carry uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage with minimum limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. If the at-fault driver’s liability coverage is insufficient to cover your damages, your underinsured motorist coverage provides additional protection. This coverage applies after your PIP benefits and the at-fault driver’s liability limits are exhausted.