Labor Day Motorcycle Rides in Wisconsin
5 Legal Mistakes to Avoid
Labor Day is one of the best weekends of the year to ride in Wisconsin. The weather is (usually) perfect, the roads are alive with riders heading to rallies and poker runs, and it feels like summer’s last big send-off before fall sets in.
But there’s a flip side. Labor Day weekend is also one of the most dangerous times of year to be on a motorcycle. Traffic spikes, alcohol flows, and everyone’s in a rush to squeeze in one last adventure. That mix too often leads to crashes, tickets, and legal headaches.
As a Wisconsin motorcycle accident lawyer, I’ve seen the same patterns play out again and again over holiday weekends. Riders make a few avoidable mistakes, and those mistakes can have huge consequences—on the road and in court.
So let’s break down the top five legal mistakes riders make on Labor Day weekend in Wisconsin—and how you can avoid them.
1. Skimping on Insurance Coverage
Plenty of riders roll into Labor Day with nothing more than the minimum liability insurance Wisconsin requires:
$25,000 for bodily injury per person
$50,000 for bodily injury per accident
$10,000 for property damage
That looks fine on paper. But here’s the problem: that coverage only protects other people if you cause a crash. It does nothing for you, your injuries, or your bike.
Now picture this: you’re hit by an uninsured driver leaving a tailgate party. You’ve got medical bills, missed work, and your bike’s totaled. If you only carry bare-bones liability, you’re paying out of pocket.
How to avoid it:
Add uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Look into medical payments coverage and collision.
Always carry proof of insurance—holiday weekends are prime time for checkpoints.
2. Group Riding Without a Plan
Labor Day is prime time for group rides. Maybe it’s the Tomahawk Fall Ride, maybe it’s just a bunch of friends heading up the Great River Road. Riding in a pack is fun, but it comes with risks—and legal pitfalls riders don’t always think about.
Here’s what Wisconsin law says:
Lane splitting is illegal.
You can ride two-abreast, but only if both riders agree.
Each rider is liable for their own actions.
Translation: if the guy in front of you clips a car while changing lanes, it doesn’t matter that you were following the group—you’re still responsible for your own riding. And if you’re organizing the ride, you may find yourself in the hot seat if there’s a crash and people say you didn’t communicate hazards.
How to avoid it:
Set ground rules before you ride.
Use hand signals and ride staggered.
Designate a lead and sweep rider to keep order.
Don’t assume “group ride” means “shared liability.”
3. Mixing Riding and Alcohol
It’s Labor Day. The grill’s going, the cooler’s full, and someone hands you a beer before the evening ride back to camp. That’s how too many weekends end in tragedy.
Wisconsin’s OWI laws apply just as much to motorcycles as cars.
BAC limit is 0.08% for riders over 21.
Riders under 21 must be 100% sober—any alcohol is illegal.
Repeat offenders face stricter limits (as low as 0.02%) and harsher penalties.
Even if you’re under the legal limit, you can still be charged if your riding looks impaired. And impaired riding isn’t just about a ticket—it’s slower reactions, bad balance, and a higher chance of a crash.
How to avoid it:
Don’t ride after drinking, period.
Have a sober rider or trailer your bike back.
Remember: feeling “fine” doesn’t mean your reaction time is fine.
4. Not Documenting an Accident
We have a whole page answering “What do I do if I’ve been in a motorcycle accident in Wisconsin?”. Crashes on Labor Day happen fast. One second you’re cruising, the next you’re on the pavement. In that chaos, riders often skip crucial steps—like calling the police or snapping photos—that later make or break their case.
Wisconsin requires you to report accidents that cause injury or significant property damage. More importantly, that report can be the difference between the insurance company believing your side of the story or not.
And remember: Wisconsin uses modified comparative negligence. You can recover damages even if you’re partly at fault—but not if you’re more than 50% responsible. Documentation helps prove the other driver was the bigger problem.
How to avoid it:
Call 911 right away.
Take photos of vehicles, injuries, skid marks, and road conditions.
Exchange information.
Don’t admit fault—stick to the facts.
See a doctor, even if you think you’re fine.
5. Thinking You Don’t Need a Lawyer
Here’s a big one: riders try to handle insurance claims themselves. Maybe the accident seems minor, or maybe you don’t want the hassle. But insurance companies know how to play this game—and they don’t play fair.
Motorcyclists often get blamed unfairly. Adjusters may assign you more fault than you deserve or lowball your medical bills. Without someone pushing back, you end up with less than what you need to recover.
How to avoid it:
Talk to a motorcycle accident attorney early.
Don’t settle before you know the real value of your claim.
Pick a lawyer who understands both the law and the riding culture.
Bonus: Labor Day Ride Checklist
Before you roll out for the long weekend:
Gear up: We’re big on All the Gear; All the time. But, at a minimum: helmet, gloves, boots, reflective gear.
Check your bike: Tires, brakes, lights, fluids.
Plan ahead: Know your route, have alternates, and avoid congested highways if you can.
Watch the sky: Wisconsin weather can flip from sunny to stormy in an hour.
Ride defensive: Assume drivers don’t see you.
Wrapping It Up
Labor Day in Wisconsin should be about the joy of the ride—the winding Driftless roads, the Lake Michigan shoreline, the camaraderie of a group run. Don’t let one bad decision turn your holiday into a hospital stay or a courtroom battle.
If you avoid these five legal mistakes, you’ll put yourself in the best position to enjoy the weekend safely.
And if the worst does happen? Know that help is out there.
Need Help After a Labor Day Motorcycle Accident in Wisconsin?
If you or someone you love is injured in a motorcycle accident this Labor Day, don’t go it alone. Insurance companies won’t cut you a break just because it’s a holiday weekend.
📞 Call McCarthy Motorcycle Law
🛡️ Free case evaluations for injured riders
📍 Serving Milwaukee, Madison, La Crosse, and all of Wisconsin