Motorcycle Amputations and Limb Loss in Wisconsin

Life Can Change in a Second — But So Can the Fight to Take It Back

If you’ve lost a limb in a motorcycle crash, you already know this isn't just about physical recovery — it's about finding your footing again in every sense of the word. Life doesn’t look the same after an amputation. It’s harder, it’s raw, and it’s often isolating.

But it doesn’t mean you’ve lost who you are.

At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we represent Wisconsin riders who’ve suffered catastrophic injuries, including amputations and limb loss. We don’t just file claims. We fight to make sure riders are heard, seen, and paid what they’re truly owed — because the cost of an amputation goes far beyond hospital bills.

What Kinds of Motorcycle Accidents Lead to Amputations?

Motorcycle accidents don’t have to happen at high speed to do serious damage. Riders are vulnerable, and even a single careless mistake by a driver can leave someone with a life-altering injury.

We’ve seen amputations result from all types of crashes, but these are the most common:

Left-Turn Accidents

One of the top causes of motorcycle injuries in Wisconsin. A car turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle, either misjudging speed or failing to see the rider at all. These accidents often lead to T-bone collisions, which can crush a rider’s legs or lead to high-impact trauma causing irreversible damage.

Head-On Collisions

Head-on crashes between motorcycles and cars are devastating. When a vehicle crosses the centerline or swerves into oncoming traffic, the rider often takes the full brunt of the impact. These violent crashes can result in the immediate severing of a limb or injuries so severe that the limb cannot be saved.

Sideswipe or Lane-Change Accidents

When a driver merges or changes lanes without checking their blind spot, they can sideswipe a motorcyclist, pinning them between vehicles or running them off the road. These accidents can crush limbs, drag riders along pavement, or force contact with guardrails and curbs — all of which can lead to partial or full limb loss.

Rear-End Collisions

If a car rear-ends a stopped motorcycle at a light or in traffic, the rider may be thrown forward or pinned between two vehicles. This can cause severe leg trauma, especially if the motorcycle is sandwiched between bumpers or crushed under a larger vehicle.

Guardrail and Barrier Crashes

When a rider is thrown from their bike, they may collide with a fixed object like a guardrail, pole, or median. These barriers can act like blades at high speeds, leading to traumatic amputations on impact.

Low-Side and High-Side Lows

Even accidents caused by sudden braking or uneven pavement can result in amputations — especially if the rider slides into oncoming traffic or a stationary object, or if their limbs are caught beneath the bike or another vehicle.

Types of Amputations Common in Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle crashes can result in a wide range of amputations, depending on how the crash occurred and the medical response. Common types include:

  • Below-the-knee amputations

  • Above-the-knee amputations

  • Foot or toe amputations

  • Partial foot or ankle disarticulations

  • Arm or forearm amputations

  • Hand or finger loss

  • Multiple limb loss in extreme cases

Some riders lose limbs at the scene. Others undergo emergency surgery hours or days later when doctors determine the damage is too severe or infection too dangerous to risk keeping the limb.

The Real Cost of Limb Loss — Financial, Physical, and Emotional

If you’ve been through this kind of trauma, you already know that the hardest parts aren’t just medical. They’re everything that comes after.

Here’s what you may be facing:

  • Surgeries and follow-up procedures

  • Inpatient and outpatient rehab

  • Custom prosthetics (and replacements every few years)

  • Chronic pain and phantom limb syndrome

  • Home and vehicle modifications

  • Job loss or career changes

  • PTSD, Daily emotional stress, anxiety, and depression

  • Rebuilding your sense of independence

And the truth is, insurance companies are trained to minimize these costs. They’ll talk about “maximum medical improvement” when you’re still figuring out how to walk again or hold your coffee with a prosthetic hand.

That’s why we push back — hard.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Motorcycle Amputation?

If someone else caused your crash — whether it was a distracted driver, a drunk driver, or someone who just didn’t look before opening their door — you may be entitled to full compensation for your injuries and losses.

That may include:

  • Emergency medical costs

  • Surgical care and prosthetics

  • Physical and occupational therapy

  • Mental health counseling

  • Lost wages and future loss of income

  • Pain and suffering

  • Loss of enjoyment of life

  • Out-of-pocket costs for medical equipment, transportation, and more

We don’t settle for “what the insurance is willing to offer.” We build cases to reflect what you actually need to rebuild your life — even if that means taking the case all the way to trial.

Who We Are — And Why Riders Trust Us

McCarthy Motorcycle Law isn’t just a personal injury firm that occasionally handles bike cases. We are Wisconsin’s Motorcycle Law Firm — built specifically to help riders and their families after the worst has happened.

We’ve represented riders who’ve lost limbs, suffered spinal cord injuries, endured traumatic brain injuries, and more. We’ve gone up against the biggest insurance companies and national defense firms — and won.

More importantly, we understand the culture. We ride. We’ve lost friends to these roads. And we’re not afraid to stand up to whoever caused you harm.

Top Medical Centers in Wisconsin for Amputation Recovery

We work closely with riders and their families to make sure they’re getting the best possible care, both now and in the future. Here are a few of the top hospitals and prosthetics providers in Wisconsin:

Hospitals & Trauma Centers:

  • Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee) – Advanced trauma and orthopedic care

  • UW Health University Hospital (Madison) – Known for high-level limb salvage and rehabilitation services

  • Aurora BayCare Medical Center (Green Bay) – Specialized trauma response and orthopedic surgery

  • Gundersen Health System (La Crosse) – Strong amputee support and recovery programs

Prosthetics and Rehabilitation:

  • Hanger Clinic – Statewide presence and cutting-edge prosthetics for active lifestyles

  • NeuroSpine Center of Wisconsin – Post-trauma support and therapy

  • Wisconsin Orthotics & Prosthetics – Based in Madison and Janesville

Need help connecting with the right medical professionals or therapists? We’ve got contacts. You don’t have to figure this out alone.

We Make Insurance Companies Pay Attention

When you call us, here’s what we do:

  • Investigate the crash and collect evidence (dash cams, witnesses, black box data, and more)

  • Prove fault using accident reconstruction experts when needed

  • Calculate the real long-term cost of limb loss

  • Work with medical experts, prosthetists, and economists to estimate lifetime needs

  • Handle every negotiation and, if needed, every court appearance

  • Keep you informed at every stage, so you know what’s happening and why

And we don’t charge anything unless we win.

Our Contingency Fee Promise

We believe you shouldn’t pay us a dime unless we recover money for you. That’s why we work on a contingency fee basis:

  • 30% if your case settles before a lawsuit is filed

  • 33% if we file a lawsuit

  • 40% if we take it to trial or fight off a motion for summary judgment

Why that structure? Because we want to settle cases quickly when insurance companies make fair offers — and we want to gear up for battle if they don’t.

We also front the case costs (filing fees, expert reports, etc.), and you don’t owe us those unless we recover money for you. No surprises. No fine print. Just transparency.

You’re Still You. And We’ve Got Your Back.

Losing a limb is one of the most brutal injuries a rider can face — but it doesn’t have to be the end of your freedom, your strength, or your story.

You’ve already proven you’re a fighter. Now it’s time to make sure the people responsible — and their insurance companies — are held accountable for what they took from you.

We’re here to help make that happen.

Get a free, confidential case evaluation. You’ll talk directly with a lawyer who rides, respects what you’ve been through, and knows how to fight for what you deserve.

McCarthy Motorcycle Law
Wisconsin’s Motorcycle Law Firm
Standing up for injured riders. And standing with you.