When Someone You Love Dies Because of Another Person's Negligence
Losing a family member is a grief that no legal process can undo. What the law can do is hold the responsible party accountable and provide your family with the financial support you need to move forward. At Pattee, Tewksbury & Kerfeld, we have guided Minnesota families through wrongful death claims for over three decades — with the care this process requires and the legal strength it demands.
What a Wrongful Death Claim Actually Does for Your Family
A wrongful death claim is not about turning a tragedy into a transaction. It is a civil accountability mechanism — a formal way of saying that someone's negligence had consequences, and that those consequences cannot simply be absorbed by the people left behind. Families who pursue these claims often tell us that the process gave them a sense of purpose during an otherwise helpless time.
Accountability and financial security are not in conflict. They are both part of what we pursue on your family's behalf.
Under Minnesota law, wrongful death claims can recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses incurred before death
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of the deceased's income and financial contributions
- Loss of companionship, guidance, and support
We handle wrongful death cases on a contingency basis. You pay nothing to retain us — we receive a fee only if we recover compensation for your family. You are already carrying enough. Legal fees do not have to be part of it.
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.
Who Has the Right to File, and How Long Do You Have
One of the most common questions we hear from families is whether they have the legal standing to pursue a claim — and whether they have waited too long. Both are worth understanding clearly.
In Minnesota, a wrongful death claim is filed by the trustee of the decedent's estate on behalf of surviving family members. The trustee is often a spouse, parent, or adult child, though the court can appoint one if needed. The claim is brought for the benefit of the surviving family — not just the estate itself.
The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in Minnesota is three years from the date of death. Missing that deadline typically forecloses the right to recover, regardless of how strong the underlying claim may be. If you are unsure where your family stands on timing or eligibility, the right move is to ask now rather than assume. We assess both in the initial consultation — at no cost to you.
Personal injury representation for individuals injured in auto and truck accidents, construction accidents, premises liability incidents, dog bites, and product liability matters — plaintiff-side, across all licensed states
The Circumstances That Give Rise to a Wrongful Death Claim
Wrongful death claims arise when a person's death is caused by the negligent, reckless, or intentional conduct of another party. The legal framework applies across a wide range of circumstances, and families often do not realize their loss qualifies until they speak with an attorney.
Common causes we handle include:
- Auto accidents: Fatal crashes caused by distracted, impaired, or reckless drivers are among the most frequent sources of wrongful death claims in Minnesota. If another driver's negligence caused the collision, your family may have a claim against that driver and their insurer.
- Truck accidents: Commercial trucking accidents often involve multiple liable parties — the driver, the carrier, and sometimes the cargo loader or vehicle manufacturer. These cases require immediate investigation to preserve evidence before it disappears.
- Construction accidents: Fatal worksite injuries may give rise to wrongful death claims against general contractors, subcontractors, or property owners when safety violations or negligent supervision contributed to the death.
- Product failures: When a defective product — a vehicle component, piece of equipment, or consumer good — causes a fatal injury, the manufacturer or distributor may bear civil liability.
- Premises liability: Property owners have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions. Fatal injuries caused by hazardous conditions on someone else's property can support a wrongful death claim.
If you are uncertain whether your family's loss fits within this framework, tell us what happened. We will tell you honestly what the law allows.
You Pay Nothing Unless We Recover Compensation
Why Trial Willingness Changes Everything in a Wrongful Death Case
Insurance carriers and corporate defendants know that grieving families are under financial pressure. They know that funeral costs are due, that income has stopped, and that the thought of years of litigation can feel overwhelming. Early, low-value settlement offers are a deliberate strategy — made when families are most vulnerable and least equipped to evaluate them.
A wrongful death attorney Minneapolis families should trust is one who is prepared to take the case to verdict if the defendant's offer does not reflect the true value of the loss.
At Pattee, Tewksbury & Kerfeld, we try cases. That posture is not incidental — it is a deliberate part of how we practice law, and defense attorneys know it. Our attorneys represent major corporate defendants and insurance carriers in civil litigation on the defense side of our practice, which means we understand exactly how the other side evaluates risk. That perspective makes us more effective advocates for the families we represent. When a defendant knows we will go to trial, the negotiating dynamic changes.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Death Claims in Minnesota
Who can file a wrongful death claim in Minnesota?
In Minnesota, a wrongful death claim is filed by the trustee of the decedent's estate on behalf of surviving family members. The trustee is typically a close family member such as a spouse, parent, or adult child, but a court can appoint one if no trustee has been designated. The claim is brought for the benefit of the surviving family, not solely the estate.How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim in Minnesota?
The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in Minnesota is three years from the date of death. Waiting to consult an attorney puts your family at risk of losing the right to recover entirely. If you are unsure about your timeline, contact us now — we assess eligibility in the initial consultation at no charge.What compensation can a wrongful death claim recover?
Minnesota wrongful death claims can recover medical expenses incurred before the death, funeral and burial costs, the deceased's lost income and financial contributions to the family, and loss of companionship, guidance, and support. The specific damages available depend on the circumstances of the loss and the surviving family's relationship to the deceased.Do I have to pay anything upfront to hire a wrongful death attorney?
No. We handle wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing to retain us. We receive a fee only if we recover compensation for your family. There are no upfront costs and no out-of-pocket legal fees during the case.What if the death was caused by a car accident or a defective product — does that still qualify?
Yes. Wrongful death claims arise from a wide range of circumstances, including fatal auto accidents, truck accidents, construction site injuries, defective products, and hazardous property conditions. The common element is that another party's negligence or misconduct caused the death. If you are unsure whether your family's situation qualifies, the best step is to speak with an attorney who can evaluate the facts directly.
We Have Guided Minnesota Families Through This Before. We Can Guide Yours.
Pattee, Tewksbury & Kerfeld has represented families across Minnesota in wrongful death claims for over 32 years. We know how to move through this process with both legal precision and genuine respect for what your family is experiencing. Our attorneys are licensed across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and North Dakota, and we are prepared to evaluate your family's claim wherever the loss occurred.
You may have more rights than you realize. The first step is a conversation.