Wisconsin is known for Milwaukee and Madison, the Great Lakes, its love of ice cream, and Green Bay; what is less known is that motorcycle accidents in Wisconsin are common. However, there are hundreds of motorcycle accidents every single year in Wisconsin and dozens of motorcyclist fatalities.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident in Wisconsin, our experienced and passionate motorcycle accident attorneys at the Martin Law Offices, S.C. are here to help. Please call our law firm directly today to schedule a free consultation with our motorcycle accident lawyers in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Motorcycle Accident Statistics

Between 2014-2018, there was an average of 2,149 motorcycle crashes per year reported in Wisconsin, resulting in an average of 77 motorcyclists killed and 1,888 injured annually. This means that a motorcycle crash occurs roughly every four hours in the state.

Data shows that the majority of motorcycle crashes happen on local roads. While motorcycle crashes on the highway are less common, when they do occur, they are statistically more deadly. About 1.9 percent of interstate crashes result in death (according to 2018 data), whereas about five percent of county highway crashes are fatal. Data also shows that wearing a helmet can save a life–of the motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes, 54 percent were not wearing helmets.

How Motorcycle Accidents Occur

Understanding how motorcycle accidents occur is key for accident awareness and prevention, as well as determining liability in the aftermath of a crash. The vast majority of motorcycle accidents in Wisconsin are caused by the negligence of one of the parties involved. Common acts of negligence that can lead to motorcycle crashes include:

• Speeding: Whether on the part of the motorcyclist or the motorist–can be deadly. Not only does speeding increase the risk of loss of control of a vehicle/motorcycle and therefore the chance of an accident, but it also increases the severity of an accident should a crash occur.
• Illegal lane changes: Performing any type of illegal maneuver, including illegal lane changes, can increase the risk of an accident and put motorcyclists on the road at risk of serious injury. Drivers should always be sure to signal, yield the right-of-way when appropriate, and indicate their intentions.
• Failure to check blind spots: Sometimes, motorcycle accidents occur simply because the driver fails to see the motorcyclist. Often, this occurs when a driver is changing lanes and fails to double-check their blind spots.
• Driving aggressively: Driving aggressively is never safe behavior. Swerving, zooming around other vehicles, and tailgating are all dangerous behaviors that put drivers and motorcyclists at risk of injury.
• Driving while distracted or impaired: Finally, driving while distracted or impaired are both leading causes of accidents in our state. Drivers and motorcyclists both have a duty to operate their vehicles in a way that is safe and responsible, which means putting distractions away and always driving/riding while sober.

Injuries from a Motorcycle Accident

When a motorcycle and a motor vehicle collide, it is almost always the motorcycle that is more badly damaged and the motorcyclist who suffers severe injuries. While injuries vary on a case-by-case basis depending on things like the type of crash, the speed at which the vehicles were traveling at the time of the collision, and the use of safety equipment, such as a helmet, common injuries in a motorcycle accident include:

• Traumatic brain injuries, which are one of the most common and most serious types of injuries. A traumatic brain injury can impact a person’s memory, learning, thinking, sensations, reasoning, and emotions long-term.
• Back, neck, and spine injuries, including spinal cord injuries. A spinal cord injury can cause permanent complete or partial paralysis from the injury site downwards.
• Injuries to extremities, including soft tissue injuries, bone fracture injuries, road rash injuries, and crush injuries. While some of these injuries may heal with time, in the most severe of cases, injuries may result in loss of use of the limb or even amputation.
• Internal injuries, such as punctured or damaged organs, leading to internal bleeding and organ failure in the most serious of cases.
• Psychological injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression as a result of the crash and injuries.

Liability for a Motorcycle Accident

When a motorcycle accident occurs in Oak Creek and a motorcyclist is severely injured, it’s important that liability–or legal responsibility–for the accident is determined so that the motorcyclist can be compensated for their injuries. Wisconsin is an at-fault state, also known as a tort liability state.

This means that when a crash of any type occurs, the party who caused the crash is responsible for the damages that result. In a motorcycle accident, this means that an injured motorcyclist can file a claim for damages against the liability insurance of the driver who caused the accident, if the motorcyclist can prove that the accident would not have occurred but for the driver’s actions.

How Our Personal Injury Attorneys in Oak Creek, Wisconsin Can Help

If you have been involved in a motorcycle crash, your life may be dramatically changed. You may be facing serious injuries, as well as high medical bills, pain, suffering, the inability to return to work and earn an income, and a variety of other economic and noneconomic losses. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Oak Creek believe that you deserve to be compensated in full for your losses.

When you hire our personal injury attorneys, you can count on us to investigate your case, hire experts to build your claim and testify on your behalf, prove the value of your damages, dispute any allegations of fault made against, handle 100 percent of the claims filing process and represent you in conversations with insurance adjusters, and aggressively negotiate for a fair settlement. While most claims settle out of court, our lawyers have trial experience and can represent you during litigation, too.

After a crash, we know how much is on the line for you. To take the first steps towards improving your future today, call our motorcycle accident lawyers in Oak Creek, Wisconsin directly at 414-856-4010 for your free consultation, or send us a message telling us more about your case using the intake form on our website.