How to Find the Right Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Wisconsin
Looking for a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Wisconsin?
Let’s be honest—if you’re reading this, your life probably just turned upside down. Maybe you were riding your motorcycle and got hit by a careless driver. Maybe someone you love was seriously injured or killed in a crash. Either way, you're suddenly staring down a pile of medical bills, insurance calls, and questions you never thought you'd have to ask—like:
“How do I find the right lawyer for this?”
We wrote this guide to answer that exact question. Whether you're thinking about working with Wisconsin’s Motorcycle Law Firm or you've already been told we’re not the right fit for your case, this page will walk you through what to look for, what to avoid, and how to protect yourself every step of the way.
You Deserve a Lawyer Who Knows Motorcycles—and the Law
Motorcycle accident cases aren't just car accident cases with different vehicles. They involve unique injuries, unique dynamics, and—let’s be honest—unique bias from insurance companies and juries. If your lawyer doesn't get motorcycles, they could miss what really matters in your case.
Look for a lawyer who:
Knows how motorcycles work. They should understand visibility issues, braking distances, countersteering, and lane positioning.
Has handled serious motorcycle injury or death cases. You want someone who knows what to do when brain injuries, spinal cord damage, or wrongful death are involved.
Knows what it's like to ride—or at least respects those who do. A lawyer who’s dismissive about “risky bikers” isn’t the one you want fighting for your case.
Has a history of going up against big insurance companies—and winning. These cases often don’t settle unless your lawyer has the experience and the guts to go to trial.
If that sounds like us, we’re here to help. But if we’re not the right fit or we’ve already told you we can’t take your case, read on—we want to help you find someone who is.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Unfortunately, not all lawyers are created equal. And when you’re dealing with something as serious as a motorcycle crash, the wrong lawyer can cost you time, money, and peace of mind.
Here are some red flags to be wary of:
🚩 They Don’t Handle Motorcycle Cases Regularly
If you ask how many motorcycle cases they’ve handled, and they can’t give you a clear answer—or worse, they lump motorcycles in with “car accidents”—move on.
🚩 They Hand You Off to a Paralegal After the Intake
You deserve to speak with a real lawyer, not a case manager or intake clerk. If you can’t talk directly with the person handling your case, that’s a bad sign.
🚩 They Promise Quick Money or a Fast Settlement
Serious injury cases take time. A lawyer promising “fast cash” might just be trying to churn through cases without actually fighting for full value.
🚩 They Don’t Ask About Your Bike or the Crash Details
The right lawyer will care about more than just the injuries—they’ll ask how the crash happened, what kind of bike you were riding, what gear you had on, and more.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
It’s okay to interview lawyers before you hire one. In fact, you should. Here are some good questions to ask during your first consultation, and our answers so we can save time:
How many motorcycle accident cases have you handled?
We’ve been representing injured riders since 2007. We typically take on 6-8 motorcycle accident cases per year, and a few bicycle accident cases per year so we can focus on the cases we have, which typically include complex injury and wrongful death claims across Wisconsin and beyond.
What kinds of injuries were involved in those cases?
We’ve represented riders with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, amputations, severe road rash, and families dealing with fatal crashes.
Do you try cases in court, or do you mostly settle?
We prepare every case like it’s going to trial, and while many settle, we’re not afraid to take a case all the way if that’s what it takes to get justice.
Will I be able to reach you if I have a question?
Yes—you’ll work directly with your award-winning lawyer, not a case manager or junior associate. You can call, text, or email John anytime.
How do you charge? Is it a contingency fee?
Yes, we work on a contingency fee, which means you don’t pay anything unless we win money for you.
Do you advance the costs, like experts or investigators?
Yes—we cover all the upfront costs for things like expert witnesses, accident reconstruction, and court filing fees, so you’re not out of pocket.
What’s your plan for building my case?
We dig deep—gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, bringing in top experts, and putting together a compelling story that proves what happened and what you’ve lost.
A good lawyer will welcome these questions—and have thoughtful answers.
What Is a Contingency Fee, and What Will This Cost Me?
Most motorcycle accident lawyers (us included) work on what’s called a contingency fee. That means you don’t pay anything up front—and if we don’t win, you owe us nothing for our time. If we do win, our fee comes out of the recovery. But we believe in being crystal clear about how that works.
At Wisconsin’s Motorcycle Law Firm, our contingency fee is:
30% if we settle your case before filing a lawsuit
33% after we file
40% if we’re within 100 days of trial or the defense files a motion for summary judgment—whichever comes first
Why that structure? Because we work hard to settle for full policy limits early, and if we can't, we’re all in for trial. We’re not afraid of courtrooms, and we don’t settle for lowball offers just to close a file.
What About Case Costs?
In addition to the attorney’s fee, there are case costs—things like:
Court filing fees
Medical records
Expert witnesses (like accident reconstruction or medical experts)
Investigators
Depositions and transcripts
These are the out-of-pocket costs it takes to build a strong case. We cover all of these costs up front, so you’re not paying anything as the case progresses. At the end of the case—if we win—those costs get reimbursed from the settlement or judgment, just like our fee.
If we don’t recover anything for you, you don’t owe us anything—not even the costs. We take on the risk so you don’t have to.
That said, not all contingency fee agreements are created equal. Some lawyers:
Charge retainers and make you advance costs
Charge significantly higher fees just for filing—even if they don’t move your case forward
Make you repay case costs (like expert witnesses or filing fees) even if you lose
Bury hidden fees in the fine print
Read the agreement carefully. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut—and don’t be afraid to get a second opinion.
What If I’ve Already Been Turned Down?
If we’ve spoken and we weren’t able to take your case, please know this: it doesn’t mean you don’t have a valid claim. Different lawyers have different capacities, experience levels, and risk tolerance. Here’s what you can do next:
Ask why your case was declined. A good lawyer should be willing to explain. We always do in our declination email.
Get a second (or third) opinion. Just like with doctors, it’s okay to ask around.
Contact a lawyer referral service. The State Bar of Wisconsin has resources to help: https://www.wisbar.org/
Look for niche trial lawyers in your area. Motorcycle forums and rider groups sometimes share referrals that aren’t easy to find with a Google search.
Where to Find Motorcycle Lawyers in Wisconsin
Here are some ideas for finding local, experienced help:
Google searches for terms like “motorcycle accident lawyer near me” or “Wisconsin motorcycle injury attorney”
Online reviews (Google, Yelp, and Avvo can be helpful)
Ask local rider groups—bike clubs often know who the real ones are
Check lawyer directories like Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, or the Wisconsin Bar
Ask us. Even if we can’t take your case, we may be able to point you to someone who can.
Our Approach at Wisconsin’s Motorcycle Law Firm
If you are considering us, here’s what you should know.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we represent injured motorcyclists and their families. We don’t take car crash cases, dog bites, or slip and falls. We focus on motorcycle injury and wrongful death claims—and we care deeply about doing it right.
We know what it’s like to lose loved ones in motorcycle crashes.
We don’t pass clients off to paralegals or junior associates.
We ride (or used to), and we treat motorcyclists with the respect they deserve.
We work with experts, investigators, and doctors who get motorcycle crashes.
We’ve recovered millions for our clients.
If we’re not the right fit for you, we’ll still do our best to help you find someone who is.
Final Thoughts: Trust Your Gut, But Get Help
This whole process—finding a lawyer, dealing with insurance, recovering from an injury or loss—it’s a lot. We get it. But don’t go it alone. A good lawyer can take the weight off your shoulders so you can focus on healing.
If something feels off during your search, it probably is. Trust your instincts. But also, don’t give up. There are good lawyers out there who truly care about riders, and who know how to fight back when the system isn’t fair.
Whether that’s us or someone else—we hope this page helps you find the support you need.
Want to Talk?
We offer free case evaluations. If we can help, we will. If we can’t, we’ll try to steer you toward someone who can.
Stay safe out there.