Do I need a lawyer after a car accident in Minnesota?
Every rule below is quoted from Minnesota law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
The short answer
We can't tell you whether you need a lawyer. We can show you the Minnesota rules that usually decide it: how fault is split, how long you have, and how injury lawyers are allowed to charge. Many people with only car damage settle directly with the insurer. People with injuries, disputed fault or a claim near a deadline often talk to a lawyer first.
How fault changes your claim
If you were partly at fault
Minnesota uses modified comparative fault. You can recover damages as long as your share of fault is not greater than the fault of the people you are suing. If your fault is greater, you recover nothing.
“if the contributory fault was not greater than the fault of the person against whom recovery is sought”
When you can sue the other driver
You can only sue another driver for pain and suffering if your medical and related economic losses go over four thousand dollars, or you meet another listed injury threshold such as permanent injury, disfigurement, or 60 days of disability.
“no person shall recover damages for noneconomic detriment unless the sum of the following exceeds $4,000”
How long you have
- 6 years
- to sue for injuriesMinn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1
- 6 years
- to sue for car or property damageMinn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1
- 3 years from death, 6 year outer limit
- for a family to sue after a deathMinn. Stat. § 573.02, subd. 1
- 180 days
- to notify the government if a public vehicle or road was involvedMinn. Stat. § 466.05, subd. 1
Deadline to sue for injuries
You have six years from the crash to sue for your injuries.
“Six-year limitation. Except where the Uniform Commercial Code otherwise prescribes, the following actions shall be commenced within six years”
If a government vehicle or road was involved
If a city, town, or other municipality vehicle or road was involved, you must present a written notice of the crash to that municipality within one hundred eighty days after you discover the loss or injury.
“shall cause to be presented to the governing body of the municipality within 180 days after the alleged loss or injury is discovered a notice stating the time, place and circumstances”
How injury lawyers charge in Minnesota
Contingency fee rules
Minnesota has no statute capping personal injury contingency fees. A lawyer may charge a contingent fee as long as it is in a signed written agreement stating how the fee is calculated.
“A fee may be contingent on the outcome of the matter for which the service is rendered, except in a matter in which a contingent fee is prohibited by paragraph”
Questions to ask any lawyer before you sign
- What percentage do you charge, and does it change if the case goes to trial?
- Who pays case costs like records and expert fees if we lose?
- Will you handle my case yourself, or pass it to someone else?
- How long do cases like mine usually take here?
- What is the deadline for my claim, and when will you file?
If the insurer is the problem
File a complaint with the state
To file a complaint against an insurance company in Minnesota, use the Department of Commerce's online complaint portal and select "Insurance" as the topic.
“By filing a complaint through our online portal, you will be able to communicate with the investigator and add documents throughout the investigation.”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.