Minneapolis Slip And Fall Accident Lawyer

Slip And Fall Accident Lawyer Minneapolis, MN

For those who’ve been hurt in slip and fall accidents, it’s common to feel dismissed by property owners, insurance adjusters, and even the people who witnessed it. Many often assume that falls are minor, or that the injured person should have just been more careful. Neither is necessarily true.

A serious fall can cause broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and months of recovery. And when it happened because a property owner failed to address a hazard they knew about or should have known about, you have the right to seek compensation. At Bennerotte & Associates, P.A., our Minneapolis, MN slip and fall accident lawyer represents injured people throughout Minneapolis and across Minnesota. We have 19 years of experience as a firm and a combined 161 years of legal practice amongst our attorneys. Contact us today to set up a free consultation and learn about your options for recovery.

Why Choose Bennerotte & Associates, P.A. For Slip And Fall Claims In Minneapolis, MN?

Experience With Minnesota Premises Liability Cases

Thomas R. Bennerotte has been handling personal injury cases in Minnesota since 1991, including slip and fall and premises liability claims against property owners, businesses, and municipalities. Admitted in Minnesota and North Dakota, he graduated cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law and has spent his entire career representing injured people. He knows how property owners and their insurers defend these cases, and what it takes to establish liability when they’d rather point the finger at the person who fell.

Attorney Jeffrey R. Murray focuses his practice on personal injury litigation, including premises liability and slip and fall claims. Attorney Michael Phoenix represents injured clients across motor vehicle crashes, premises liability, and other personal injury matters. Between them, the firm’s attorneys have handled these cases at every stage, from initial investigation through trial.

Tom is a member of the Minnesota Association for Justice and lectures regularly at legal and medical seminars across Minnesota. As a personal injury lawyer in Minneapolis, MN, he has helped thousands of injury victims hold negligent parties accountable and recover the compensation they deserved.

Results That Come From Doing The Work

Our attorneys have helped clients recover millions of dollars across premises liability, slip and fall, and other serious injury cases. Slip and fall claims require evidence, and that evidence has to be gathered quickly before surveillance footage gets overwritten, incident reports disappear, and witnesses move on. We know what to look for and how to preserve it.

Thomas Bennerotte is a Life Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, reserved for trial attorneys with multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements. He’s been selected for Super Lawyers multiple times and named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. Attorney Wade Rabenhorst holds the AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest available for legal ability and ethics.

No Fees Unless We Win

Slip and fall cases at Bennerotte & Associates are handled on a contingency fee basis. Nothing to pay upfront. No retainer. No hourly billing. You owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

What Clients Say

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Thanks to the professionalism and dedication of Danielle Puttkammer and the staff at Bennerotte & Associates, I was able to receive fair compensation for the injury I suffered.” — David Park

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types Of Slip And Fall Cases We Handle In Minneapolis

Slip and fall accidents happen in a wide variety of locations and circumstances. What matters legally is whether the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to address it. Here’s what we handle.

• Wet floor and liquid spill accidents. Grocery stores, restaurants, retail shops, and other commercial properties have an obligation to clean up spills and wet floors promptly and to warn customers when they don’t. When they fail and someone falls, that failure is the basis of the claim. 
• Ice and snow hazards. Minnesota winters create real dangers on sidewalks, parking lots, and building entrances. Property owners have a responsibility to address snow and ice hazards within a reasonable time. When they don’t, and someone is hurt on an unsalted walkway or icy entryway, there may be a viable premises liability claim.
• Uneven surfaces and trip hazards. Cracked sidewalks, raised pavement, broken flooring, and poorly maintained thresholds are common causes of serious trip and fall injuries. These defects are often visible for months or years before someone gets hurt, which makes the property owner’s awareness of the hazard a central issue in the claim.
• Inadequate lighting. Poorly lit stairwells, parking garages, and common areas create conditions where a fall becomes much more likely. When insufficient lighting contributed to a slip or trip, the property owner’s failure to maintain safe conditions is part of the liability analysis.
• Staircase and railing failures. Broken handrails, slippery stairs, and improperly designed stairways cause serious falls. These accidents frequently result in significant injuries, and the property owner’s maintenance records and knowledge of the defect are key to building the claim.
• Retail and grocery store falls. Stores owe customers a duty of care. Injuries in stores and public places are something we handle regularly, from large retailers to smaller commercial properties throughout Minneapolis.
• Construction zone hazards. Active job sites and properties under renovation create hazards for visitors, passersby, and workers alike. When inadequate barriers, debris, or unsafe conditions cause a fall, there may be claims against the contractor, property owner, or both.
• Collisions and knockdowns. Not every premises liability case involves a trip or slip. Being knocked down by a cart, display, or another person in a commercial space can be just as serious. When the property owner’s negligence created the condition that led to the knockdown, the claim follows the same legal framework.

Minnesota Legal Requirements For Slip And Fall Claims

Several specific legal principles govern how slip and fall cases are evaluated in Minnesota. Before making any decisions about your claim, it’s important to understand the following.

Property Owner Duty Of Care

Under Minnesota premises liability law, property owners and occupiers owe a duty of reasonable care to people who enter their property. The standard applied depends on the visitor’s status. Invitees, meaning customers, guests, and others invited onto the property for a business purpose, are owed the highest duty of care. That duty requires property owners to inspect for hazards, address them in a reasonable time, and warn visitors of known dangers. When they fail to meet that standard and someone is injured as a result, they can be held liable. The Minnesota Court System’s civil resources provide additional context on how these claims are handled in court.

Statute Of Limitations

Under Minnesota Statutes Section 541.05, most slip and fall injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of the accident. That deadline doesn’t pause while you’re recovering or waiting to see how your injuries develop. Missing it almost certainly means losing the right to recover anything. If a government entity, such as a city or public agency, owns or maintains the property where you fell, a shorter notice deadline may apply under Minnesota Statutes Section 466.05. Acting quickly matters in either scenario.

Comparative Fault And Slip And Fall Cases

Insurance companies defending slip and fall claims almost always argue that the injured person shares fault. You should have been watching where you were going. You were wearing the wrong shoes. You ignored a warning sign. Some of these arguments have merit. Many don’t. Under Minnesota Statutes Section 604.01, shared fault reduces recovery proportionally but doesn’t eliminate it as long as the injured person’s share doesn’t exceed 50%. Understanding how comparative negligence applies to your specific facts is one of the first things we assess.

Notice Requirements For Snow And Ice Claims

Minnesota courts have historically applied specific rules to slip and fall claims involving snow and ice on commercial property. Property owners are generally not liable for naturally accumulating ice and snow unless they took steps to address it and created a more dangerous condition in the process, or unless the accumulation resulted from an unnatural condition on the property. These distinctions matter significantly for how a winter slip and fall claim is built and presented.

What Damages Are Recoverable In A Minneapolis Slip And Fall Case?

Economic Damages

The financial losses from a serious slip and fall can be significant and lasting. Medical expenses are the primary component, including emergency treatment, imaging, surgeries, physical therapy, and any ongoing care required by the injuries. Lost wages cover the income you couldn’t earn while recovering. If your injuries affect your ability to work going forward, lost earning capacity becomes part of the claim as well. Older adults and people with prior health conditions sometimes sustain more serious injuries from falls. The value of any slip and fall claim depends on a careful accounting of both current and future losses. Every element requires documentation, and we handle that process from the start.

Non-Economic Damages

Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life are all recoverable in Minnesota premises liability cases. A serious fall injury changes daily life in ways that go beyond the medical bills. Mobility limitations, fear of falling again, chronic pain, and the loss of activities that mattered before the accident are all legitimate components of non-economic damages. Minnesota doesn’t cap these damages in most personal injury cases, which means there’s no artificial ceiling on what an injured person can pursue. Insurance companies minimize this piece of a claim whenever they can. We don’t let them.

Punitive Damages

When a property owner’s failure to address a known hazard was particularly egregious, such as ignoring repeated complaints or deliberately concealing a dangerous condition, Minnesota law allows for punitive damages under Minnesota Statutes Section 549.20. They’re not available in every slip and fall case, but when the facts support them, they increase total recovery and send a message to property owners who treat safety as optional.

Contact Bennerotte & Associates, P.A.

Slip and fall claims are harder to win than most people expect going in. Property owners have insurance companies and defense attorneys on their side from day one. The evidence that proves what they knew and when they knew it can disappear fast. If you were hurt in a fall in Minneapolis or anywhere in Minnesota, don’t wait to get legal advice. Bennerotte & Associates handles these cases on contingency, so there are no fees unless we win. Contact us to get started with a free consultation.

Slip And Fall Accident Statistics In Minneapolis, MN

Falls send more people to the hospital than almost any other kind of injury, and the numbers have climbed for years. For older adults especially, a single fall can mean surgery, months of rehabilitation, or a permanent loss of independence. Our Minneapolis slip and fall accident lawyer represents injured clients across the city. Serious falls often cause lasting injuries rather than minor ones.

The toll reaches into the billions of dollars every year, and property conditions play a real role in a large share of these injuries. Unsalted entryways, worn stairs, spilled liquids, and broken pavement turn ordinary spaces into hazards. In Minneapolis, winter ice and unshoveled walkways drive a seasonal rise in falls that milder climates avoid. The consequences fall hardest on older adults, whose injuries are more likely to require surgery and long recoveries. The figures below put the scope in perspective for anyone weighing a slip and fall claim in Minneapolis, MN.

• Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related death among adults 65 and older, according to CDC fall data.
• Roughly 3 million older adults visit emergency departments each year because of falls, and about 1 million are hospitalized, according to fall prevention data.
• In 2024, more than 43,000 older adults died from preventable falls, and nearly 3.85 million were treated in emergency rooms the prior year, per the National Safety Council.
• Falls, slips, and trips caused 38.4 percent of construction industry deaths in 2022, based on federal labor data.
• Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries, per CDC injury data.

What Steps Should I Take After A Slip And Fall Accident In Minneapolis?

What you do in the hours and days after a fall often decides whether a claim succeeds. Property owners and their insurers move quickly to protect themselves, and you should as well.

1. Get medical attention right away. Even when you feel fine at the scene, injuries like concussions and spinal cord injuries can take days to reveal their full severity. A prompt medical record also ties your injury to the fall.
2. Report the fall to the property owner or manager, and ask that an incident report be created. Request a copy before you leave if one is available.
3. Photograph everything you can. The hazard that caused the fall, the surrounding area, the lighting, your footwear, and your visible injuries. Conditions change within hours, so photographs are often the strongest evidence in the case.
4. Collect the names and contact information of any witnesses. An independent account carries weight your own version cannot, and witnesses scatter quickly.
5. Keep the shoes and clothing you were wearing, unwashed. Insurers often blame footwear, and what you wore can rebut that.
6. Ask whether the property has surveillance video. Many businesses record over their footage within days, and a prompt written request may be the only way to save it.
7. Watch what you say and post. The adjuster works for the property owner, not you, and casual comments get used against injured people. It is wise to avoid social media until your claim resolves.
8. Talk with a Minneapolis slip and fall attorney before giving any recorded statement.

Minneapolis Slip And Fall Lawyer FAQs

How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Slip And Fall Lawyer In Minneapolis?

Nothing out of pocket. We handle slip and fall cases on contingency, which means our fee is a percentage of what we recover, with no retainer or hourly billing. Because the arrangement is contingent, the real cost of hiring our firm is nothing unless we win. If we don’t, you owe no attorney fees.

Do You Offer A Free Consultation For Slip And Fall Cases?

Yes. Every slip and fall claim begins with a free consultation where we review what happened, explain your options, and assess the strength of your case. There is no obligation to hire us afterward. Bring any photographs, medical records, and the incident report, and we will walk you through what comes next.

How Long Do I Have To File A Slip And Fall Claim In Minnesota?

For most negligence-based injuries, including slip and fall claims, Minnesota gives you six years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit under Minnesota Statutes 541.05, subdivision 1(5). Claims involving a city or public entity carry much shorter notice deadlines. Waiting is still risky, since evidence disappears and memories fade, so filing on time protects both your legal deadline and the proof your case depends on.

What Happens If I Was Partly At Fault For My Fall?

You can still recover. Minnesota follows a modified comparative fault approach under Minnesota Statutes 604.01, which reduces your compensation by your share of the blame rather than erasing it, unless your share exceeds the other side’s. Insurers routinely exaggerate an injured person’s fault, so understanding how comparative fault rules apply to your facts is one of the first things we assess.

What Is My Minneapolis Slip And Fall Case Worth?

No lawyer can promise a figure early on. Value depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical costs, lost income, and how the fall has changed your daily life. Serious falls often support pain and suffering compensation alongside economic losses. We build a claim’s value through documentation, medical opinions, and a full accounting of current and future needs.

How Do You Prove A Property Owner Was Liable?

Liability usually turns on notice. We show that the owner knew, or reasonably should have known, about the hazard and failed to fix it or warn about it within a reasonable time. That often means maintenance logs, prior complaints, inspection records, and testimony. These premises liability basics decide most slip and fall claims, and the evidence has to be gathered before it is gone.

Who Can Be Held Responsible For A Slip And Fall In Minneapolis?

More than one party can share responsibility for a single fall. Depending on where it happened, the liable party may be a property owner, a business tenant, a management company, or a maintenance contractor. Stores owe their own duties to customers, and store liability rules often bring a retailer into the claim alongside the owner. We identify every party whose negligence contributed to the hazard.

What Are The Most Common Injuries In A Slip And Fall?

Broken wrists and hips, head injuries, and back injuries top the list. Falls onto ice and hard commercial flooring frequently cause fractures that require surgery. Some of the most serious common fall injuries involve the brain and spine, where symptoms may be delayed and long-term care becomes part of the claim.

How Long Does A Slip And Fall Case Take To Resolve?

It depends on the case. Straightforward claims with clear liability can settle within a few months, while serious injuries or disputed fault take longer. We usually wait until your medical treatment stabilizes before placing a value on the claim, because settling too early can leave future costs uncovered. These settlement timelines vary case by case, and we keep you informed at every stage.

Should I Talk To The Insurance Company After A Slip And Fall?

Be cautious. The adjuster who calls represents the property owner’s insurer, not you, and early recorded statements are often used to shrink a claim. You are not required to give one before speaking with a lawyer, and it is one of the most common personal injury questions we hear in a first meeting. We handle those conversations for our clients so careless phrasing never sinks a valid case.

Important Resources For Minneapolis Slip And Fall Cases

Most Dangerous Locations For Slip And Fall Accidents In Minneapolis

Minnesota winters make certain places especially treacherous. Icy sidewalks and entryways, unshoveled walkways, and slick parking ramps account for a large share of the falls we see, and winter slip risks climb sharply once the temperature drops. Downtown skyways, transit platforms, and building entrances gather heavy foot traffic and moisture tracked in from outside. Parking lots deserve their own mention, since uneven pavement, poor lighting, and untreated ice combine into parking lot dangers that owners often ignore until someone is hurt. Grocery stores, restaurants, and apartment buildings across Minneapolis generate year-round hazards from spills and disrepair.

What Are Important Local Resources For Minneapolis Slip And Fall Cases?

If you have been hurt in a fall, these local resources can help you get care and document what happened.

• Hennepin Healthcare (HCMC), the region’s Level 1 Trauma Center in downtown Minneapolis, at 612-873-3000.
• Minneapolis Police Department, for incident reports and non-emergency matters, at 612-673-3000.
• Minneapolis 311, to report unsafe or unshoveled public sidewalks and similar hazards, at 612-673-3000.

Bennerotte & Associates, P.A. is not affiliated with these organizations and does not endorse or receive any endorsement from them. They are listed only as a convenience for injured people in Minneapolis, MN.

About Bennerotte & Associates, P.A.

Thomas R. Bennerotte is the Owner and Founding Partner of Bennerotte & Associates, P.A., and premises liability sits at the center of the work he has built the firm around. Our results include a $3.1 million recovery in a premises liability case, one piece of the millions we have obtained for injured Minnesotans. Tom is an active member of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the firm takes part in the Susan G. Komen Race held in Eagan each year. A large share of our cases arrive by referral from doctors, former clients, and fellow attorneys who trust how we handle a slip and fall claim in Minneapolis, MN.

What Our Clients Say

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Tom is one of the most passionate, honest, intelligent and deeply caring and talented personal injury attorneys in Minnesota. Not only a great lawyer but also a great person. You are in good hands with Tom and his team.”

Jacob Birkholz

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Additional Resources For Minneapolis Slip And Fall Cases

• Steps To Take After A Slip And Fall Injury
• What Injuries Are Common In Slip And Fall Cases
• Who Is Liable For Someone’s Slip And Fall Injuries In Minnesota
• Understanding Premises Liability In Slip And Fall Cases
• Property Owner Defenses In MN Falls

Contact Bennerotte & Associates, P.A.

A slip and fall claim only gets harder the longer you wait, because the proof of what a property owner knew tends to vanish. If you were hurt in a fall anywhere in Minneapolis, MN, our slip and fall accident attorney can review your case at no cost and handle the insurer for you. We work on contingency, so there are no fees unless we recover compensation for you. You can expect a straight answer about your options and steady communication throughout. Contact us to schedule your free consultation.