Minneapolis Personal Injury Lawyers Who Know How the Other Side Thinks

We've spent 32 years representing injured Minnesotans — and defending major insurance carriers. That dual perspective means we know exactly how adjusters evaluate claims before they make you an offer.

If You Were Hurt by Someone Else's Negligence, You Deserve a Straight Answer

Most people who contact us aren't sure whether their situation warrants a lawyer. They're dealing with medical bills, missed work, and an insurance company that seems eager to settle quickly. That urgency from the insurer is rarely a coincidence.


Insurance companies routinely offer injured claimants less than the full value of their claim in early communications. Our job in a free evaluation is to tell you what your case is actually worth — before you sign anything, waive anything, or accept anything.


If you were hurt in a car accident, a truck crash, a fall on someone else's property, or any incident caused by another party's negligence, that's worth a conversation. We represent clients across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and North Dakota, and there's no cost to find out where you stand.

Man seated on a bed with crutches, looking at a smartphone in a bright bedroom
Lawyers in suits discussing a case with a gavel and clipboard on the table

What Minnesota Personal Injury Law Covers — and What It Means for Your Claim

Minnesota's legal framework for personal injury claims has several features that directly affect what you can recover and when. These are the concepts every injured person in this state should understand before speaking with an insurer.

Minnesota's No-Fault Insurance System

Minnesota operates under a no-fault auto insurance system. After a car accident, your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays for initial medical expenses and a portion of lost wages — regardless of who caused the crash. PIP benefits are capped, and they don't compensate you for pain, suffering, or the full scope of your economic losses.

The $4,000 Tort Threshold

To step outside the no-fault system and pursue a liability claim directly against the at-fault driver, your medical expenses must meet or exceed $4,000, or your injuries must meet specific severity criteria under Minnesota law. Once that threshold is crossed, a personal injury claim against the responsible party becomes available — and the potential recovery expands significantly.

Minnesota's Statute of Limitations

For most negligence-based personal injury claims in Minnesota, you have six years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. Certain claim types — including wrongful death — carry different deadlines. Waiting too long can permanently bar your right to recover, which is why an early evaluation matters even if you're not certain you want to pursue a claim.

Modified Comparative Fault — the 51% Rule

Minnesota follows a modified comparative fault standard. If you are found partially at fault for your own injury, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. However, if you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you are barred from recovering anything. Insurance adjusters are trained to assign fault to claimants. We are trained to counter that.

Black legal scales emblem with laurel branches and a star on a white background

You Pay Nothing Unless We Recover Compensation

Every personal injury matter we handle is taken on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs, no hourly charges, and no fees of any kind unless we obtain a recovery on your behalf. We also take over all communications with the insurance company from the moment you retain us — so you can focus on your recovery while we focus on your case.


  • Free initial case evaluation for all personal injury matters
  • Contingency fee representation — our fee comes from the recovery, not your pocket
  • Licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and North Dakota
  • 32 years of continuous practice in Minneapolis
  • Attorneys who have represented Travelers Insurance and other major carriers — and know how they operate

Personal Injury Cases We Handle

Below are the nine practice areas within our personal injury practice. Each page provides detailed information on the specific legal standards, common injuries, and claim strategies relevant to that case type.

Severe front-end collision between a silver car and a black SUV against a concrete wall

Auto Accidents

Car crashes are the most common personal injury matter we handle. We represent injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians in claims involving distracted driving, drunk driving, intersection collisions, and multi-vehicle accidents throughout the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota.

Yellow truck off the road in a ditch beside a guardrail, with emergency vehicles nearby

Truck Accidents

Commercial trucking accidents involve federal regulations, multiple liable parties, and insurers with significant litigation resources. We have the experience to build these cases correctly from the first day of investigation.

Person kneeling by a stone bench in a garden, holding white flowers and wearing black clothing.

Wrongful Death

When a family loses someone due to another party's negligence, the legal process adds a layer of complexity to an already devastating situation. We handle wrongful death claims with the care and directness that families in this position deserve.

Person using crutches with blue supports while a gloved caregiver adjusts one hand

Catastrophic Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and severe burns require a different level of case preparation. Long-term care costs, future lost earnings, and quality-of-life damages must all be calculated and documented thoroughly. We build these cases for the full scope of what our clients have lost.

Dog biting a person in a red padded suit during training outdoors

Dog Bites

Minnesota imposes strict liability on dog owners when their animal injures another person. If you were bitten or attacked, the owner is generally responsible regardless of whether the dog had a prior history of aggression.

Injury report being filled out by a worker with an arm in a cast beside a hard hat and keyboard

Construction Accidents

Construction sites generate serious injuries — falls, equipment failures, electrocutions, and structural collapses. These cases often involve contractors, subcontractors, property owners, and equipment manufacturers as potentially liable parties.

Person lying on a wooden floor beside a yellow wet floor caution sign in a living room

Premises Liability

Property owners have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions for visitors. When a slip and fall, inadequate security, or other hazardous condition causes injury, the property owner may be held liable.

Engineer inspecting metal parts on a factory floor, holding a clipboard and pen.

Product Liability

When a defective product causes injury — whether due to a design flaw, manufacturing defect, or failure to warn — the manufacturer and others in the distribution chain can be held accountable.

Person riding a yellow ATV through snowy woods

Recreational Product Liability

ATVs, snowmobiles, watercraft, and other recreational equipment are involved in serious injuries every year in Minnesota. When a product defect or inadequate safety design contributes to an accident, a product liability claim may be available alongside any other negligence theory.

32 Years of Representing Injured Minnesotans — and Knowing How Insurers Thin

Pattee, Tewksbury & Kerfeld was founded in 1994. Our eight attorneys are licensed across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and North Dakota, and our practice has always included both plaintiff-side personal injury work and defense representation for major corporate clients and carriers, including Travelers Insurance, Waste Management, and Coca-Cola.


That combination is deliberate. When we sit across from an insurance adjuster on your behalf, we understand the internal frameworks they use to evaluate claims — because we've worked within those frameworks. That knowledge shapes how we build cases, how we negotiate, and when we take a matter to trial rather than accept an inadequate offer.


We maintain an active referral network built over three decades, and our Google Business Profile reflects the outcomes we've achieved for clients across the region.

Many California families begin planning because they own a home, have children, want to simplify future administration, or want to avoid unnecessary probate proceedings. In communities like Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, and Calabasas, real estate often represents a significant portion of family wealth, making proper planning especially important.

Two overlapping speech bubbles, one white with a question mark and one black.

Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Claims in Minnesota

  • How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Minnesota?

    For most negligence-based personal injury claims, Minnesota allows six years from the date of the injury. Wrongful death claims carry a three-year deadline. These deadlines are firm — missing them typically eliminates your right to recover. If you're unsure where you stand, a free evaluation will give you a clear answer.

  • What if the insurance company has already made me an offer?

    You are under no obligation to accept any offer before consulting an attorney. Early settlement offers frequently fail to account for future medical costs, long-term lost income, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering. We can review any offer you've received and tell you whether it reflects the actual value of your claim.

  • Do I have to pay anything to hire a personal injury lawyer?

    No. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means our fee is a percentage of the recovery we obtain for you. If we don't recover compensation, you owe us nothing.

  • What if I was partially at fault for my accident?

    Minnesota's modified comparative fault rule allows you to recover compensation even if you were partially at fault — as long as your share of fault is 50% or less. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies often try to assign more fault to claimants than the evidence supports. We work to counter that from the start.

  • Do you handle personal injury cases outside of Minneapolis?

    Yes. Our attorneys are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and North Dakota. We represent injured clients throughout the Twin Cities metro, greater Minnesota, and across all four licensed states.

  • What is the best personal injury lawyer in Minneapolis, Minnesota?

    The right firm for your case is one with trial experience, a genuine understanding of how insurance carriers evaluate claims, and a 32-year track record of results in this region. We encourage you to read our client reviews, review our case results, and call us to discuss your situation directly.

Start With a Free Evaluation — No Commitment Required

If you were injured by someone else's negligence, the most important step you can take right now is to find out what your case is worth before you make any decisions. Our evaluation is free, there's no obligation to retain us, and it takes one conversation.


Call us at 612-334-3399 or 800-837-9117, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You can also submit a case evaluation request online and we'll route your inquiry to the right attorney.