Minnesota § 169A.76 CIVIL ACTION; PUNITIVE DAMAGES

Minnesota Statutes

§ 169A.76 — CIVIL ACTION; PUNITIVE DAMAGES

Minnesota § 169A.76

PartTRANSPORTATION

Ch. 169ADRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED

This text of Minnesota § 169A.76 (CIVIL ACTION; PUNITIVE DAMAGES) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Minn. Stat. § 169A.76 (2026).

Text

(a)In a civil action involving a motor vehicle accident, it is sufficient for the trier of fact to consider an award of punitive damages if there is evidence that the accident was caused by a driver:

(1)with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more;

(2)who was under the influence of a controlled substance;

(3)who was under the influence of alcohol and refused to take a test required under section169A.51(chemical tests for intoxication); or

(4)who was under the influence of an intoxicating substance and the person knows or has reason to know that the substance has the capacity to cause impairment.

(b)A criminal charge or conviction is not a prerequisite to consideration of punitive damages under this section. At the trial in an action where the trier of fact will consider an award of

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(a) In a civil action involving a motor vehicle accident, it is sufficient for the trier of fact to consider an award of punitive damages if there is evidence that the accident was caused by a driver:
(1) with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more;
(2) who was under the influence of a controlled substance;
(3) who was under the influence of alcohol and refused to take a test required under section169A.51(chemical tests for intoxication); or
(4) who was under the influence of an intoxicating substance and the person knows or has reason to know that the substance has the capacity to cause impairment.
(b) A criminal charge or conviction is not a prerequisite to consideration of punitive damages under this section. At the trial in an action where the trier of fact will consider an award of punitive damages, evidence that the driver has been convicted of violating section169A.20(driving while impaired),609.2112,609.2113, or609.2114(criminal vehicular homicide or injury) is admissible into evidence.