1. Cannon & Dunphy S.C.
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death claims, catastrophic injury litigation, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, road rash injuries, insurance disputes
Case Types Handled: Left-turn motorcycle accidents, intersection collisions, rear-end collisions with motorcycles, head-on collisions, single-vehicle motorcycle accidents, multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents, drunk driver collisions, distracted driver accidents, hit-and-run motorcycle accidents, wrongful death motorcycle cases
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, motorcycle accident reconstruction, witness interviews, police report analysis, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, comparative negligence defense
Background: Cannon & Dunphy has over 39 years of experience representing motorcycle accident victims in Wisconsin. The firm has recovered over $1 billion in judgments and paid settlements on behalf of injured victims across Wisconsin. The firm handles all injury cases on a contingency fee basis.
Location: 1509 N Prospect Ave, Suite 300, Milwaukee, WI 53202 and 595 N. Barker Road, Brookfield, WI 53045
Contact: (262) 782-2700 | https://www.cannon-dunphy.com
Consultation: Free consultation, available 24/7, contingency fee arrangement
2. Gruber Law Offices
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, personal injury, car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, slip and fall injuries, burn injuries, brain injuries
Case Types Handled: Left-turn accidents, lane change accidents, rear-end collisions with motorcycles, head-on motorcycle collisions, motorcycle vs. truck accidents, drunk driver accidents, distracted driver accidents, wrongful death from motorcycle accidents, catastrophic injuries from motorcycle collisions
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, negligence investigation, evidence gathering, accident scene documentation, traffic camera footage retrieval, witness interviews, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering compensation, loss of consortium claims
Background: Gruber Law Offices has over 40 years of experience serving the Milwaukee community and cities throughout Wisconsin. The firm has recovered well over a billion dollars for clients and works on a contingency fee basis. David Gruber founded the firm and is recognized for the tagline “One Call, That’s All.”
Location: 411 East Wisconsin Avenue, Floor 19, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Contact: (414) 276-6666 | https://www.gruber-law.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation, available 24/7, contingency fee (no fee until they win)
3. Habush Habush & Rottier S.C.
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, personal injury, car accidents, truck accidents, nursing home abuse, product liability, medical malpractice, electrical and fire injuries, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. car collisions, motorcycle vs. truck collisions, left-turn accidents, intersection accidents, highway motorcycle accidents, wrongful death from motorcycle accidents, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, catastrophic injuries
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, liability investigation, accident reconstruction, medical expert consultation, economic expert analysis, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, subrogation dispute resolution, uninsured/underinsured motorist claims
Background: Habush Habush & Rottier has been representing injured persons since 1930. The firm has recovered billions of dollars in compensation for clients, more than all other Wisconsin firms combined. The firm has more National Board of Trial Advocacy certified trial lawyers than any other firm in Wisconsin.
Location: 777 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 2300, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Contact: (800) 242-2874 | https://www.habush.com
Consultation: Free consultation, no upfront fees, contingency fee arrangement
4. Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, personal injury, car accidents, truck accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, ATV accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, intersection accidents, rear-end accidents, head-on collisions, rollover accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, wrongful death motorcycle cases, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, burn injuries
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, accident reconstruction, collaboration with medical doctors and economic experts, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, comparative negligence defense, evidence preservation
Background: GRGB Law is a Milwaukee-based law firm with extensive experience handling motorcycle accident cases throughout Wisconsin. The firm collaborates with accident investigators, reconstructionists, medical doctors, and economic experts to build strong cases. The attorneys understand the unique legal challenges facing motorcycle accident victims.
Location: 330 East Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 1170, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Contact: (414) 271-1440 | https://www.grgblaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation available
5. Pitman, Kalkhoff, Sicula & Dentice, S.C. (PKSD)
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, personal injury, car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, nursing home abuse, medical malpractice
Case Types Handled: Left-turn motorcycle accidents, intersection collisions, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, lane change accidents, drunk driver accidents, distracted driver accidents, hit-and-run motorcycle accidents, wrongful death claims
Legal Services: Evidence gathering from accident scenes, police report review, at-fault driver investigation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, comparative negligence defense, helmet defense arguments
Background: PKSD has over 150 years of combined legal experience. Partner M. Angela Dentice has been selected for Wisconsin Super Lawyers every year from 2005 to 2020 and serves on the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Association for Justice. Co-founding partner Jeffrey Pitman is a past president of the Wisconsin Association for Justice and has been helping injury victims for more than 20 years.
Location: 321 S 2nd St, Suite 1, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Contact: (414) 333-3333 | https://www.pksd.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation, contingency fee basis
Motorcycle Accident Laws and Regulations in Wisconsin
Statute of Limitations: Wisconsin allows three years from the date of the motorcycle accident to file a personal injury claim under Wis. Stat. § 893.54. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years. Claims against government entities have shorter deadlines.
Fault System: Wisconsin is an at-fault (tort) state. The party responsible for causing the accident is liable for damages.
Comparative Negligence: Wisconsin follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Wis. Stat. § 895.045. An injured motorcyclist can recover damages if they are 50% or less at fault. Compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to the motorcyclist. If the motorcyclist is found more than 50% at fault, they cannot recover any compensation.
Minimum Motorcycle Insurance Requirements:
- $25,000 for bodily injury to one person
- $50,000 for bodily injury to two or more persons
- $10,000 for property damage
Helmet Law: Wisconsin has a partial helmet law. Helmets are required only for motorcycle operators and passengers under 18 years of age, and for riders with instructional permits (Wis. Stat. § 347.485). Adults over 18 with a full motorcycle license are not required to wear helmets.
Eye Protection: All motorcycle riders must wear eye protection such as goggles, glasses, or a face shield, unless the motorcycle has a windshield extending at least 15 inches above the handlebars.
Lane Splitting/Filtering: Lane splitting is illegal in Wisconsin. Motorcycles must occupy a full traffic lane. However, two motorcycles may ride side by side in a single lane if both riders consent.
Motorcycle Licensing: Riders must have a Class M motorcycle license or motorcycle instruction permit. The instruction permit is valid for six months and requires passing a knowledge test, sign test, and vision screening.
Equipment Requirements: Motorcycles must have at least one mirror, turn signals, a headlight that must be on whenever in motion, and a muffler with no cutouts. Handlebar height maximum is 30 inches above the seat.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Every motor vehicle insurance policy in Wisconsin must include uninsured motorist coverage with minimum limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
Helmet Use as Evidence: If a motorcyclist over 18 was not wearing a helmet, the insurance company may argue injuries would have been less severe with a helmet, potentially affecting compensation under comparative negligence rules.
Damage Caps: Wisconsin does not have caps on compensatory damages in personal injury cases. Punitive damages are available when the defendant acted maliciously or with intentional disregard for the plaintiff’s rights.
Red Light Exception: Under Wisconsin Statutes 346.37, a motorcycle facing a red signal at an intersection may, after stopping for not less than 45 seconds, proceed cautiously through the intersection if no other vehicles are present and the rider reasonably believes the signal is vehicle-actuated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Wisconsin?
A: Wisconsin law provides a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from motorcycle accidents, starting from the date of the accident. Wrongful death claims have a two-year deadline from the date of death. Claims involving government vehicles or entities have much shorter deadlines, sometimes as little as 120 days to file a notice of claim. Missing these deadlines typically means forfeiting your right to seek compensation.
Q: If I was partially at fault for my motorcycle accident in Wisconsin, can I still recover compensation?
A: Yes, Wisconsin follows a modified comparative negligence system. You can recover compensation as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50%. Your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your damages are $100,000 and you are found 30% at fault, you would receive $70,000. However, if you are found 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover any compensation from the other party.
Q: Do I have to wear a motorcycle helmet in Wisconsin?
A: Wisconsin requires helmets only for motorcycle operators and passengers under 18 years old and for those riding with an instructional permit. Adults 18 and older with a full motorcycle license are not legally required to wear helmets. However, if you are injured while not wearing a helmet, insurance companies may argue your injuries would have been less severe with a helmet, potentially reducing your compensation under comparative negligence principles.
Q: Is lane splitting legal for motorcyclists in Wisconsin?
A: No, lane splitting is explicitly illegal in Wisconsin. Motorcyclists must occupy a full traffic lane and cannot ride between lanes of stopped or slow-moving traffic. However, Wisconsin law does permit two motorcycles to ride side by side in a single lane if both riders consent. Violating this law could negatively affect your injury claim if an accident occurs while lane splitting.
Q: What damages can I recover in a Wisconsin motorcycle accident case?
A: Wisconsin motorcycle accident victims may recover economic damages including medical expenses, lost wages, future medical care, rehabilitation costs, and property damage. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional trauma, loss of enjoyment of life, and long-term disability. In cases involving egregious conduct by the at-fault party, punitive damages may also be awarded. If a loved one died in a motorcycle accident, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim for loss of income, funeral expenses, and loss of companionship.