Premises Liability Lawyer in Minneapolis, MN

Direct Attorney Representation for Minneapolis Injury Victims

At Butwinick Injury Law, you work directly with Robert S. Butwinick from the first call through resolution, not a case manager and not a junior associate. If you’ve been hurt on someone else’s property, that kind of personal attention can make a real difference. We prepare every case for trial from the moment we take it on. This strengthens our position whether a matter settles or goes to court.

With more than 25 years of experience representing injury victims in Minnesota and over 2,500 cases handled, Butwinick Injury Law has recovered over $10 million in compensation for our clients. We intentionally limit the number of cases we accept so each client receives more time, closer communication, and more thorough preparation. Robert Butwinick has been selected to Minnesota Super Lawyers, served as an appointee of the American Arbitration Association in no-fault automobile insurance disputes, and was recognized by Trial Lawyers Care for pro bono legal service to 9/11 victims. We also offer free consultations, virtual consultations, and 24/7 availability for injured people and families across Minneapolis and Minnesota.

Don’t face insurance companies or the legal system alone. Get help from the team at Butwinick Injury Law. Call us at (763) 415-7462 and request a free consultation.

Understanding Premises Liability Law in Minnesota

Premises liability holds property owners and occupiers accountable when a hazardous condition on their property injures a lawful visitor. Under Minnesota law, property owners owe a duty of reasonable care to keep their premises reasonably safe and to warn visitors of known or discoverable dangers. When that duty is breached and someone is hurt, the property owner or responsible party can be held liable for the resulting damages.

Minnesota law recognizes different duties depending on the visitor’s classification. Invitees, customers, tenants, and business guests, are owed the highest duty of care. Licensees, such as social guests, are owed a duty to warn of known non-obvious dangers. Trespassers are generally owed limited or no duty, with an important exception for child trespassers under the attractive nuisance doctrine. To establish liability, a plaintiff must show that a dangerous condition existed, the owner knew or should have known about it, the owner failed to repair it or warn visitors, and the condition directly caused the injury.

Minnesota also applies a modified comparative fault rule under Minn. Stat. § 604.01. A plaintiff’s damages are reduced by their percentage of fault, and recovery is barred entirely only if the plaintiff is more than 50% at fault. Most premises liability claims must be filed within six years of the injury under Minn. Stat. § 541.05, Subd. 1(5). Claims against a government entity such as the City of Minneapolis or Hennepin County, however, require written notice within 180 days of the injury under Minn. Stat. § 466.05. This is a much shorter window that injured people can’t afford to miss.

Premises liability cases in Minneapolis cover a wide range of situations, including:

• Slip and fall accidents caused by wet floors, icy sidewalks, or uneven surfaces. Minneapolis ordinance requires property owners to clear sidewalks within four daytime hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) after snowfall ends.
• Negligent security injuries from assaults in apartment complexes, parking ramps, or commercial spaces where owners failed to provide adequate lighting, functioning locks, or appropriate security measures.
• Dog bites and animal attacks: Minnesota imposes strict liability on dog owners under Minn. Stat. § 347.22, meaning the owner is responsible for injuries regardless of the dog’s prior history, as long as the victim was not trespassing or provoking the animal.
• Defective conditions and structural hazards such as broken railings, crumbling stairs, unmarked hazards, and building code violations in commercial buildings, apartment complexes, and retail spaces.
• Retail and commercial property injuries at grocery stores, restaurants, and other businesses where owners ignored or failed to discover hazardous conditions within a reasonable time.