Verdicts and Settlements
Over $1 Billion
Awarded to Our Clients Since 1952
I remember when Harry Sieben and SiebenCarey were on WCCO Point of Law. So when a family member needed a car accident attorney, I told them to go with the “Know Your Rights” attorneys. There’s a reason they keep winning awards for Best Law Firm, Best Lawyers, and Super Lawyers. They do a great job -- and they're fantastic community supporters.
My experience with Jim Carey and my case was Superb!! I highly recommend him as a Attorney if you need one with your case! Thanks to his team we came out even better than I expected.
Susan Holden and her team were professional, knowledgeable,
compassionate and kept me informed of new developments throughout the process. I am extremely happy with their legal expertise and the outcome of my lawsuit! They are the BEST!
My wife was involved in a personal injury case and Art was so wonderful to her. He was very knowledgeable and made a stressful situation easier.
Don’t Regret Your Decision
Request a FREE case evaluation and find out what Minnesota’s original personal injury law firm can do for you. We have the resources, the experience and the proven track record to provide you outstanding representation and peace of mind.
REVIEW MY CASE FOR FREE!
Or Call 24/7 Toll Free:1 (800) 231-6631
Minneapolis Wrongful Death Attorneys
When a Preventable Death Shatters Your Family, We Fight for Justice
Nothing can prepare you for the loss of a loved one. This grief is only made worse when they were stolen from you through someone's carelessness or recklessness. Minnesota law provides a path to hold responsible parties accountable and secure the financial resources your family needs to rebuild.
At SiebenCarey, our Minneapolis wrongful death lawyers have guided hundreds of families through this painful process over the past 70 years. We take on the legal battles so you can grieve, heal, and support your family during this impossibly difficult time.
Get immediate legal help. Call 612-333-4500 for your free consultation.
Our Minneapolis wrongful death attorneys are available 24/7 to discuss your case. No fees unless we win.
What Qualifies as Wrongful Death in Minnesota?
Under Minnesota statutes, a wrongful death occurs when someone dies because another person or company acted negligently or committed a wrongful act. The law covers deaths caused by everything from drunk driving crashes to medical errors to defective products.
The fundamental test is straightforward: could the victim have filed a personal injury lawsuit if they had survived? If the answer is yes, the death likely qualifies for a wrongful death claim.
In 2023, Minnesota made history by becoming the final state in America to allow families to seek damages for their loved one's pain and suffering before death. Before this change, the law only permitted economic damages. Now, families can pursue full compensation for what their loved one endured.
Who Can Recover Compensation?
Minnesota law limits recovery to specific relatives:
- Surviving spouses
- Children (including adult children)
- Parents of deceased children
- Grandparents
- Siblings
If you've lost a loved one due to preventable circumstances, our Minneapolis lawyers can help you understand your options.
Call 1-800-4-RIGHTS now for your free consultation.
Minnesota's Unique Trustee Requirement
Most states allow family members to file wrongful death lawsuits directly. Minnesota doesn't work that way. State law requires appointing a trustee through the court system before any lawsuit can proceed. There is a three-step process for this:
- Petitioning the Court: A spouse or close relative must formally ask the court to designate someone as trustee for the wrongful death claim. This petition initiates the legal process.
- Receiving Appointment: After reviewing the petition, the court appoints a trustee (typically a family member) who receives legal authority to bring the lawsuit and manage the case.
- Consolidating Claims: All eligible family members must be part of one unified lawsuit rather than filing separately. This protects everyone's interests and prevents conflicting claims.
At SiebenCarey, we help families navigate this court appointment process efficiently, ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Get reliable help with Minnesota’s unique legal process.
Our Minneapolis attorneys explain everything clearly. Call 612-333-4500 for guidance.
Compensation Your Family Can Pursue
Minnesota law recognizes both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are concrete financial losses, while non-economic damages cover the intangible personal losses resulting from a wrongful death.
Economic Damages
- Future Earnings: You can recover all the money your loved one would have earned throughout their remaining work years, including salary increases and bonuses.
- Lost Benefits: This includes the value of health coverage, pension contributions, 401(k) matching, life insurance, and other employment benefits your family has lost.
- Medical Treatment Costs: You may seek compensation for every dollar spent on emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, and treatment related to the fatal injury.
- Burial and Memorial Costs: You can recover expenses for funeral home services, cemetery plots, cremation, headstones, and memorial services.
- Household Service Value: Compensation is available for the economic value of childcare, cooking, home repairs, yard work, and other services your loved one provided.
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and Suffering: Minnesota's 2023 law change now allows families to seek compensation for the physical pain your loved one suffered before dying.
- Mental Anguish: You can recover damages for emotional distress your loved one experienced in those final moments or hours.
- Lost Relationship: You can pursue compensation for losing their loved one's presence, advice, emotional support, and companionship.
- Punitive Damages: When defendants acted with extreme recklessness or intentional malice, courts may award punitive damages. These are specifically designed to punish wrongdoers and deter similar conduct in the future.
We can calculate the damages you are owed under Minnesota law.
Our Minneapolis lawyers offer free case evaluations. Call 612-333-4500.
Critical Deadlines to Meet
Minnesota law imposes firm time limits on wrongful death lawsuits. Missing these deadlines typically means losing your right to any compensation.
General Rules
The standard deadline is three years from your loved one's death. However, there's a second deadline: six years from the negligent act or injury that caused death. Either deadline can end your right to seek compensation. For example, if someone was injured in 2020 and passed away in 2025, their deadline would be 2026, even though it is not yet three years from the date of death.
Special Situations
- Murder Cases: No statute of limitations applies when death resulted from intentional murder. You can file at any time.
- Medical Negligence: Healthcare provider negligence cases have special rules about when the deadline clock starts running.
- Product Defects: Discovery of the defect, not the date of injury, may determine when deadlines begin.
The real deadline is always “sooner is better.” Evidence degrades over time. Witnesses' memories fade, or they become unreachable. Documents get destroyed or lost. Starting early maximizes your chances of building a strong case.
What We Must Prove to Win
Four elements must be established for successful wrongful death claims.
1 Step
Establishing a Legal Duty
We must show the defendant owed your loved one a duty to act with reasonable care. Drivers owe this duty to other road users. Doctors owe it to patients. Product makers owe it to consumers. Property owners owe it to visitors.
2 Step
Proving the Duty Was Violated
Next, we demonstrate how the defendant breached that duty through careless, reckless, or intentional conduct. Maybe they were speeding. Maybe they prescribed the wrong medication. Maybe they knew about a safety defect but hid it.
3 Step
Connecting the Breach to Death
We must prove a direct causal link between the defendant's breach and your loved one's death. This requires showing that proper conduct would have prevented the death.
4 Step
Documenting Damages
Finally, we must prove and quantify the harm suffered by surviving family members, both financial and emotional.
Our attorneys build comprehensive cases with expert testimony, detailed investigations, and compelling evidence addressing each element.
You need a law firm with the resources to prove your case.
SiebenCarey has recovered millions for Minneapolis families. Call 612-333-4500.
Why Minneapolis Families Choose SiebenCarey
A Track Record of Results
Over 70 years, we've recovered millions of dollars for Minnesota families who lost loved ones to preventable deaths. We've taken on and beaten major corporations, large hospital systems, well-funded insurance companies, and other powerful defendants who thought they were untouchable.
You Pay Nothing Unless We Win
We handle wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you won't pay any legal fees upfront or during the case. Our fees come only from the compensation we recover for your family. If we don't win, you don't owe us anything.
Resources to Build Strong Cases
Winning wrongful death cases requires extensive investigation and expert testimony. We bring in the specialists needed to prove your case: medical experts who can explain what happened, economists who calculate financial losses, accident reconstructionists who demonstrate how the death occurred, and other professionals who strengthen your claim.
Deep Knowledge of Minnesota Law
Minnesota handles wrongful death cases differently from other states, with unique trustee requirements and specific damage rules. Our attorneys know these laws inside and out. We understand local court procedures, how Minneapolis judges handle these cases, and what it takes to win in Minnesota courtrooms.
Personal Attention During a Difficult Time
We know you're dealing with grief, anger, and uncertainty. You'll work directly with experienced attorneys who treat you with compassion and respect. We take time to explain things clearly, answer your questions, and keep you informed. You're not just a case number to us.
We’re Here When You Need Us
We're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you're unable to travel to our office, we'll come to your home or hospital. We meet you where you are, both physically and emotionally, and provide the support you need throughout this process.
Pursue the justice you need and the compensation you’re owed.
Our track record demonstrates our commitment to Minneapolis families. Call 1-800-4-RIGHTS today.
Your Wrongful Death Case Timeline: What to Expect
Initial Meeting
Your case begins with a free, confidential consultation. We'll sit down together so you can tell us what happened in your own words and at your own pace. We listen carefully, ask questions to understand the full picture, and review all the circumstances surrounding your loved one's death. Before you leave, we'll explain how Minnesota wrongful death law applies to your specific situation and what options are available to your family.
Investigation Phase
Our legal team launches a comprehensive investigation into your loved one's death. We gather police reports, medical records, and other documentation. We locate and interview witnesses who saw what happened. We consult with medical experts, engineers, safety specialists, and other professionals who can help prove what went wrong.
Court Procedures
We handle all the legal paperwork and court filings. This includes petitioning the court to appoint a trustee, preparing and filing the wrongful death lawsuit, and ensuring everything gets done before strict deadlines expire. You won’t need to worry about navigating court procedures or completing complex legal documents. We manage every detail.
Information Exchange
During the discovery phase, both sides exchange information and evidence. We take depositions, which are sworn statements from witnesses and the defendants. We submit written questions that must be answered under oath. We work with expert witnesses to analyze the evidence and strengthen your case. Throughout this process, we're building the strongest possible foundation for either settlement or trial.
Settlement Talks
Most wrongful death cases settle without going to trial. We enter negotiations armed with strong evidence and a clear understanding of what your case is worth. Our goal is to secure fair compensation that accounts for all your losses without putting you through the uncertainty and stress of a trial. However, we never recommend accepting a settlement unless it truly serves your family's best interests.
Court Battle (If Necessary)
If the defendants won't offer fair compensation, we're fully prepared to take your case to trial. Our experienced trial attorneys will present your story to a jury, call expert witnesses to testify, cross-examine the defense's witnesses, and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. We've won millions in verdicts for Minnesota families, and we're not afraid to go to court when that's what it takes.
Begin your fight for justice today.
Call SiebenCarey at 1-800-4-RIGHTS to schedule your free wrongful death consultation.
Minneapolis Office
901 S Marquette Avenue, Suite 500Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
Phone: 612-333-4500Fax: 612-333-5970
