2025 Session Last amended: 1986 session

§ 176.141 — Notice of Injury

Plain-Language Summary

If you are injured at work in Minnesota, you should give your employer written notice of the injury within 14 days. You must give notice within 180 days or you may lose your right to workers' compensation benefits. If the employer already knows about the injury, formal notice is not required.

176.141 NOTICE OF INJURY.

Unless the employer has actual knowledge of the occurrence of the injury or unless the injured worker, or a dependent or someone in behalf of either, gives written notice thereof to the employer within 14 days after the occurrence of the injury, then no compensation shall be due until the notice is given or knowledge obtained. If the notice is given or the knowledge obtained within 30 days from the occurrence of the injury, no want, failure, or inaccuracy of a notice shall be a bar to obtaining compensation unless the employer shows prejudice by such want, defect, or inaccuracy, and then only to the extent of the prejudice. If the notice is given or the knowledge obtained within 180 days, and if the employee or other beneficiary shows that failure to give prior notice was due to the employee’s or beneficiary’s mistake, inadvertence, ignorance of fact or law, or inability, or to the fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit of the employer or agent, then compensation may be allowed, unless the employer shows prejudice by failure to receive the notice, in which case the amount of compensation shall be reduced by a sum which fairly represents the prejudice shown. Unless knowledge is obtained or written notice given within 180 days after the occurrence of the injury no compensation shall be allowed, except that an employee who is unable, because of mental or physical incapacity, to give notice to the employer within 180 days from the injury shall give the prescribed notice within 180 days from the time the incapacity ceases.

History:

1953 c 755 s 14; 1977 c 342 s 19; Ex1979 c 3 s 47; 1986 c 444

History: History: 1953 c 755 s 14; 1977 c 342 s 19; Ex1979 c 3 s 47; 1986 c 444

Practical Notes

When this applies: Immediately after any work-related injury in Minnesota. Who this affects: All Minnesota employees who are hurt on the job. Key points: Give written notice to your employer as soon as possible, ideally within 14 days. If you give notice within 30 days, minor mistakes in the notice will not prevent your claim unless the employer was actually harmed by the error. If you miss the 30-day window but give notice within 180 days, you can still get benefits if you show a good reason for the delay (like not knowing the injury was work-related). After 180 days with no notice and no employer knowledge, your claim is barred. If you are physically or mentally unable to give notice, the 180-day clock does not start until you are able.

Source: Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes