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Minnesota Personal Injury Overview
Personal injury law involves civil claims in which an individual is injured through the negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct of another person, a company, or property owner. A personal injury lawsuit may arise from physical or emotional injuries. Personal injury law compensates individuals injured as a result of another’s negligence or intentional misconduct. Personal injury laws vary from state to state. If you believe you have a personal injury claim, you should contact a personal injury lawyer in Minnesota to evaluate your claim.
Minnesota follows a system using the modified comparative negligence – 51% rule. In states following a modified comparative fault – 51% rule, an injured party can only recover if it is determined that his or her fault in causing the injury does not reach 51%. If the injured party was 50% or less at fault, he or she may still recover damages. However, if a plaintiff’s fault reaches 51%, he or she recovers nothing. In other words, a plaintiff may have caused half of the accident and still recover damages from the court, but if it is found that the plaintiff’s fault was responsible for more than half of the accident, that plaintiff is barred from receiving any damages determined by the court. Here, as in a pure comparative negligence state, a plaintiff’s recovery is reduced by the degree of his or her fault. For example, if Debbie sued Dave for damages she suffered in a car accident involving their vehicles, and Debbie was 51% at fault, Debbie would not recover anything from Dave. If, however, Debbie was 40% at fault, she could recover damages, but the damage award would be reduced by her portion of the fault in causing the injury. Therefore, a finding that Debbie suffered $10,000 in damages would result in Debbie receiving an award reduced by 40%, or a final award of $6,000.
Click here to read about contributory vs. comparative negligence.
A statute of limitations is a type of law that restricts the period of time that a person may initiate legal proceedings. Time limits can vary depending on the type of case and the state where the particular cause of action occurred. To learn more about statutes of limitations, read our Statute of Limitations page. To see a state by state comparison chart for the personal injury statute of limitations for each state, read our Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Actions page.
Minnesota Statutes of Limitations
In Minnesota, the courts follow a modified joint and several liability approach in entering judgment against multiple defendants. A defendant is subject to joint and severally liability when that defendant is more than 50% at fault, worked in concert with another to cause injury to the plaintiff, committed an intentional tort, or participated in certain environmental torts. If the defendant falls outside of the above situations, he or she will be responsible only for the amount of damages proportionate to his or her share of the fault.
Click here for more about Joint and Several Liability.
One of the best ways to research personal injury lawyers in Minnesota is to contact courts in MN and ask them for information about the personal injury attorneys who utilize their legal facilities when they bring personal injury cases to court. We have compiled a list below of some courts in Minnesota to get you started:
Supreme Court
Minnesota Supreme Court
Minnesota Judicial Center
25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-297-7650
Court of Appeals
Minnesota Court of Appeals
Minnesota Judicial Center
25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-297-7650
District Courts
1st Judicial District of Minnesota
Carver County Justice Center
604 East 4th Street
Chaska, MN 55318
952-361-1420
1st Judicial District of Minnesota
Dakota County Judicial Center
1560 West Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033
651-438-8100
1st Judicial District of Minnesota
Dakota County Western Service Center
14955 Galaxie Avenue
Apple Valley, MN 55124
952-891-7256
1st Judicial District of Minnesota
District Court
Northern Service Center
1 Mendota Road West, Suite 140
West St. Paul, MN 55118
651-554-6200
1st Judicial District of Minnesota
Goodhue County Justice Center
454 W 6th St
Red Wing, MN 55066-2587
651-267-4800
1st Judicial District of Minnesota
LeSueur County Courthouse
88 S Park Ave
Le Center, MN 56057-1600
507-357-2251
1st Judicial District of Minnesota
Scott County Justice Center
200 Fourth Avenue West
Government Center – JC115
Shakopee, MN 55379
952-496-8200
1st Judicial District of Minnesota
McLeod County Courthouse
830 11th Street East
Glencoe, MN 55336
320-864-5551
1st Judicial District of Minnesota
400 Court Ave
P.O. Box 867
Gaylord, MN 55334
2nd Judicial District of Minnesota
St. Paul City Hall Courthouse
15 W Kellogg Blvd
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-266-8266
3rd Judicial District of Minnesota
Dodge County
22 – East 6th Street, Dept. 12
Mantorville, MN 55955
507-635-6260
3rd Judicial District of Minnesota
Fillmore County
101 Fillmore Street
PO Box 436
Preston, MN 55965
507-765-3356
3rd Judicial District of Minnesota
Freeborn County
411 South Broadway
Albert Lea, MN 56007
507-377-5153
3rd Judicial District of Minnesota
Houston County
304 South Marshall Street, Room 204
Caledonia, MN 55921-1324
507-725-5806
3rd Judicial District of Minnesota
Mower County
201 First Street NE
Austin, MN 55912
507-437-9465
3rd Judicial District of Minnesota
Olmsted County
151 Fourth Street SE
Rochester, MN 55904
507-285-8363
3rd Judicial District of Minnesota
Rice County
218 NW Third St, Suite 300
Faribault, MN 55021
507-332-6107
3rd Judicial District of Minnesota
Steele County
111 East Main Street
Owatonna, MN 55060
507-444-7700
3rd Judicial District of Minnesota
Wabasha County
625 Jefferson Avenue
Wabasha, MN 55981
651-565-3012
3rd Judicial District of Minnesota
Waseca County
307 North State Street
Waseca, MN 56093
507-835-0544
3rd Judicial District of Minnesota
Winona County
171 West Third Street
Winona, MN 55987
507-457-6385
4th Judicial District of Minnesota
Hennepin County
300 South Sixth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55487
612-348-6000
4th Judicial District of Minnesota
Brookdale Branch
6125 Shingle Creek Parkway
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430-2181
763-569-2799
4th Judicial District of Minnesota
Ridgedale Branch
12601 Ridgedale Drive
Minnetonka, MN 55305-0744
952-541-7000
4th Judicial District of Minnesota
Southdale Branch
7009 York Avenue South
Edina, MN 55435-0654
952-830-4877
5th Judicial District of Minnesota
Blue Earth County Court
204 South Fifth Street
P.O. Box 0347
Mankato, MN 56002-0347
507-304-4050
5th Judicial District of Minnesota
Brown County Court
14 South State Street
P. O. Box 248
New Ulm, MN 56073-0248
507-233-6670
5th Judicial District of Minnesota
Cottonwood County Court
900 Third Avenue
P.O. Box 97
Windom, MN 56101-0097
507-831-4551
5th Judicial District of Minnesota
Faribault County Court
415 North Main
P. O. Box 130
Blue Earth, MN 56013-0130
507-526-6273
5th Judicial District of Minnesota
Jackson County Court
405 Fourth Street
P. O. Box 177
Jackson, MN 56143
507-847-4400
5th Judicial District of Minnesota
Lincoln County Court
Lincoln County Government Center
319 North Rebecca
P.O. Box 15
Ivanhoe, MN 56142-0015
507-694-1355
5th Judicial District of Minnesota
Lyon County Court
Lyon County Government Center
607 West Main
Marshall, MN 56258
507-537-6734
5th Judicial District of Minnesota
Martin County Court
Martin County Security Building
201 Lake Avenue
Fairmont, MN 56031
507-238-3205
5th Judicial District of Minnesota
Murray County Court
2500 28th Street
P.O. Box 57
Slayton, MN 56172-0057
507-836-6163, ext. 135
5th Judicial District of Minnesota
Nicollet County Court
Nicollet County Government Center
501 South Minnesota Avenue
P.O. Box 496
St. Peter, MN 56082
507-931-6800
5th Judicial District of Minnesota
Nobles County Court
Prairie Justice Center
1530 Airport Road
P.O. Box 547
Worthington, MN 56187
507-372-8263
5th Judicial District of Minnesota
Pipestone County Court
416 South Hiawatha
P.O. Box 337
Pipestone, MN 56164
507-825-6730
5th Judicial District of Minnesota
Redwood County Court
Third and Jefferson
P.O. Box 130
Redwood Falls, MN 56283-0130
507-637-4020
5th Judicial District of Minnesota
Rock County Court
204 East Brown Street
P.O. Box 745
Luverne, MN 56156-0745
507-283-5020
5th Judicial District of Minnesota
Watonwan County Court
710 Second Avenue South
P.O. Box 518
St. James, MN 56081
507-375-1238
6th Judicial District of Minnesota
Carlton County Courthouse
P.O. Box 190
301 Walnut Street
Carlton, MN 55718
218-384-4281
6th Judicial District of Minnesota
Cook County Courthouse
411 West 2nd Street
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-387-3610
6th Judicial District of Minnesota
Lake County Courthouse
601 3rd Avenue
Two Harbors, MN 55616
218-834-833
6th Judicial District of Minnesota
100 North 5th Ave. W.
Duluth, MN 55802-1285
218-726-2460
6th Judicial District of Minnesota
1810 E. 12th Ave.
Hibbing, MN 55746-1680
218-262-0105
6th Judicial District of Minnesota
300 5th Ave. South
Virginia, MN 55792-2666
218-749-7106
7th Judicial District of Minnesota
Becker County Court
915 Lake Avenue
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
218-846-7200 ext. 7305
7th Judicial District of Minnesota
Benton County Court
615 Highway 23
Foley, MN 56329
320-968-5205
7th Judicial District of Minnesota
Clay County Court
807 11th Street North
Moorhead, MN 56560
218-299-5065
7th Judicial District of Minnesota
Douglas County Court
305 8th Avenue West
Alexandria, MN 56308
320-762-3033
7th Judicial District of Minnesota
Mille Lacs County Court
635 2nd Street Southeast
Milaca, MN 56353
320-983-8313
7th Judicial District of Minnesota
Morrison County Court
213 1st Avenue Southeast
Little Falls, MN 56345
320-632-0327
7th Judicial District of Minnesota
Otter Tail County Court
121 West Junius Avenue
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
218-998-8420
7th Judicial District of Minnesota
Stearns County Court
725 Courthouse Square
St. Cloud, MN 56303
320-656-3620
7th Judicial District of Minnesota
Todd County Court
221 1st Avenue South
Long Prairie, MN 56347
320-732-7802
7th Judicial District of Minnesota
Wadena County Court
415 Jefferson Street South
Wadena, MN 56482
218-631-7633
8th Judicial District of Minnesota
Big Stone County Courthouse
20 Second Street SE
Ortonville, MN 56278
320-839-2536
8th Judicial District of Minnesota
Chippewa County Courthouse
629 North 11th Street
Montevideo, MN 56265
320-269-7774
8th Judicial District of Minnesota
Grant County Courthouse
PO Box 1007
Elbow Lake, MN 56531-1007
218-685-4825
8th Judicial District of Minnesota
Kandiyohi County Courthouse
505 Becker Avenue SW
Willmar, MN 56201
320-231-6206
8th Judicial District of Minnesota
Lac qui Parle County Courthouse
600 Sixth Street
PO Box 36
Madison, MN 56256
320-598-3536
8th Judicial District of Minnesota
Meeker County Courthouse
325 North Sibley
Litchfield, MN 55355
320-693-5230
8th Judicial District of Minnesota
Pope County Courthouse
130 East Minnesota
Glenwood, MN 56334
320-634-5222
8th Judicial District of Minnesota
Renville County Courthouse
500 East DePue
Third Level
Olivia, Minnesota 56277
320-523-3680
8th Judicial District of Minnesota
Stevens County Courthouse
Fifth and Colorado
PO Box 530
Morris, MN 56267
320-589-7287
8th Judicial District of Minnesota
Swift County Courthouse
301 14th Street North
P.O. Box 110
Benson, MN 56215
320-843-2744
8th Judicial District of Minnesota
Traverse County Courthouse
702 2nd Avenue North
PO Box 867
Wheaton, MN 56296
320-563-4343
8th Judicial District of Minnesota
Wilkin County Courthouse
300 South 5th Street
PO Box 219
Breckenridge, MN 56520
218-643-7172
8th Judicial District of Minnesota
Yellow Medicine County Courthouse
415 9th Avenue
Granite Falls, MN 56241
320-564-3325
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Aitkin County Courthouse
209 Second Street NW
Aitkin, MN 56431
218-927-7337
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Beltrami County Courthouse
619 Beltrami Avenue NW
Bemidji, MN 56601-3068
218-333-8431
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Cass County Courthouse
300 Minnesota Avenue – PO Box 3000
Walker, MN 56484
218-547-7210
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Clearwater County Courthouse
213 Main Avenue N, Dept 303
Bagley, MN 56621
218-694-6177
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Crow Wing County Courthouse
326 Laurel Street
Brainerd, MN 56401
218-824-1310
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Hubbard County Courthouse
301 Court Ave – PO Box 72
Park Rapids, MN 56470
218-732-5286
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Itasca County Courthouse
123 4th St NE
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
218-327-7454
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Kittson County Courthouse
410 5th St South
Hallock, MN 567288
218-843-3632
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Koochiching County Courthouse
715 4th Street
International Falls, MN 56649
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Koochiching County Courthouse
715 4th Street
International Falls, MN 56649
218-283-1160
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Lake of the Woods County Courthouse
206 8th Ave SE – PO Box 808
Baudette, MN 56623
218-634-1451
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Mahnomen County Courthouse
311 N Main – PO Box 459
Mahnomen, MN 56557
218-935-2251
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Marshall County Courthouse
208 East Colvin
Warren, MN 56762
218-745-4816
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Norman County Courthouse
16 3rd Ave East
Ada, MN 56510
218-784-5458
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Pennington County Courthouse
101 N Main – PO Box 619
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
218-683-7023
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Polk County Courthouse
612 N Broadway, Ste 301
Crookston, MN 56716
218-281-2332, Ext. 1312
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Red Lake County Courthouse
124 Langevin Ave – PO Box 339
Red Lake Falls, MN 56750
218-253-4281
9th Judicial District of Minnesota
Roseau County Courthouse
606 5th Ave SW, Rm 20
Roseau, MN 56751
218-463-2541
10th Judicial District of Minnesota
Anoka County Courthouse
325 East Main Street
Anoka, MN 55303
763-422-7350
10th Judicial District of Minnesota
Chisago County Courthouse
313 North Main Street
Center City, MN 55012
651-213-8650
10th Judicial District of Minnesota
Isanti County Courthouse
555 18th Avenue SW
Cambridge, MN 55008
763-689-2292
10th Judicial District of Minnesota
Kanabec County Courthouse
18 North Vine Street
Mora, MN 55051
320-679-6400
10th Judicial District of Minnesota
Pine County Courthouse
315 Main Street South
Pine City, MN 55063
320-629-5634
10th Judicial District of Minnesota
Sherburne County Courthouse
13880 Hwy 10
Elk River, MN 55330
763-241-2800
10th Judicial District of Minnesota
Washington County Courthouse
14949 62nd Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082
651-430-6263
10th Judicial District of Minnesota
Wright County Courthouse
10 2nd Street NW
Buffalo, MN 55313
763-682-7539
