In general, can an injured employee sue their employer for a work-related injury in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, the correct answer is that workers' compensation serves as the exclusive remedy against the employer for work-related injuries. This means that an injured employee cannot sue their employer for damages in a traditional personal injury lawsuit, even if the employer might have acted negligently or recklessly.

The rationale behind this system is that workers' compensation is designed to provide quick and certain compensation to injured workers without requiring them to prove fault. In exchange for this assured compensation, employees relinquish their right to sue for additional damages, which is a fundamental principle of workers' compensation laws across many states, including Minnesota. This arrangement also limits the legal liability of employers, protecting them from extensive lawsuits that could arise from workplace injuries.

While there are exceptions in cases involving intentional harm or gross negligence, these are not the general rule and do not apply to everyday workplace injury claims. Therefore, the broad protection for both employees and employers provided by the workers' compensation system reinforces why suing an employer for work-related injuries does not align with the established workers' compensation framework in Minnesota.