Drunk Driver Motorcycle Accidents
Drunk Driver Motorcycle Accidents in Wisconsin
If a Drunk Driver Hit You or Took Someone You Love, You Deserve Justice — and We're Here to Help.
There’s something especially enraging about a motorcycle crash caused by a drunk driver. Riding a motorcycle already requires you to be extra alert, extra cautious, and always scanning the road — because you know what’s at stake. But all that care and skill can’t always protect you when another driver makes the selfish and dangerous choice to get behind the wheel while impaired.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we’ve represented riders who were seriously injured — and families who lost someone they loved — because a drunk driver made a reckless choice that changed someone else's life forever. These are some of the most heartbreaking cases we see. But they’re also some of the ones where we fight the hardest.
We’re not just Wisconsin motorcycle injury attorneys — we’re your advocates, your voice, and your team when you’re going through one of the most difficult chapters of your life. And we’re ready to stand up and fight for the justice you and your family deserve.
Why Drunk Driving Crashes Are So Devastating for Motorcyclists
Motorcyclists don’t have seat belts, airbags, or a steel cage around them. When a car swerves into your lane, runs a red light, or makes a sudden left turn because the driver is impaired, you often have no chance to avoid it. The result? Catastrophic injuries. Sometimes, fatal ones.
We’ve worked with riders who suffered:
Severe road rash, burns, or disfigurement
Permanent disability
And we’ve worked with families who lost sons, daughters, spouses, parents, and friends to these preventable tragedies.
What makes it worse is knowing that the crash didn’t happen because of bad weather or an honest mistake. It happened because someone chose to drink (or use drugs) and drive anyway — and that choice turned deadly.
You’re Not Alone. And You’re Not Powerless.
If you were hit by a drunk driver while riding your motorcycle in Wisconsin — or if you lost someone you love — you might feel helpless. The hospital bills are piling up. You’re out of work. You’re in pain, or grieving, or both. And the insurance company? They’re either dragging their feet or offering you a number that doesn’t come close to making things right.
That’s where we come in.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we help riders and their families across Wisconsin hold drunk drivers accountable. We investigate every detail, gather the evidence, and build a case that shows exactly how much harm was done — physically, emotionally, and financially.
We can’t undo what happened. But we can fight to make sure you’re not left paying the price for someone else’s reckless decision.
What Compensation Can You Get After a Drunk Driving Motorcycle Crash?
Every case is different, but in general, motorcycle crash victims injured by drunk drivers in Wisconsin can recover compensation for:
Medical bills (past and future)
Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress and trauma
Property damage (your bike, gear, phone, etc.)
Out-of-pocket costs for home care, physical therapy, or travel to specialists
If you lost a loved one, you may be entitled to wrongful death damages, which can include:
Funeral and burial expenses
Loss of companionship
Loss of financial support
Emotional suffering
You may also be entitled to punitive damages — additional compensation meant to punish the drunk driver for especially reckless behavior. Wisconsin law allows these damages in certain drunk driving cases, and we’ll do everything in our power to make that happen when appropriate.
Criminal Case vs. Civil Case: What’s the Difference?
A lot of people assume that if the drunk driver is arrested or convicted, justice has been served. But the criminal justice system and the civil system are two separate things.
A criminal DUI case is brought by the state — and it may result in jail time, fines, license suspension, etc.
But that doesn’t help you. You don’t get compensation through the criminal system.
To recover money for your injuries, your losses, and your pain, you have to file a civil personal injury or wrongful death claim. That’s what we handle. And we do it with a deep understanding of what it takes to prove fault, maximize your recovery, and stand up to the insurance companies trying to protect their bottom line.
Insurance Companies Don’t Make It Easy — But We’re Ready
Even when it’s obvious that the driver was drunk — maybe they were arrested at the scene, maybe their blood alcohol content was sky-high — the insurance company still isn’t just going to hand you a fair settlement. That’s not how they operate.
They’ll try to:
Blame you for part of the crash
Downplay your injuries
Question your medical treatment
Offer a lowball settlement to make you go away
We’ve seen it all. And we don’t play their game.
When you work with McCarthy Motorcycle Law, you don’t just get a lawyer — you get a team that knows how to fight, how to win, and how to make sure you’re treated with the respect and dignity you deserve.
Why Riders Trust McCarthy Motorcycle Law
We’ve gotten the reputation of Wisconsin’s motorcycle injury attorneys for a reason.
We’re not a giant firm where your case gets handed off to someone you’ve never met. We’re a lean, tough, trial-ready practice that treats every case like it’s going to court — and treats every client like family.
We’ve helped injured motorcyclists across the state get justice. We’ve taken on some of the biggest insurance companies in the country. And we’ve recovered life-changing settlements and verdicts for clients who were told by other lawyers to settle for pennies on the dollar.
We understand motorcycle culture. We understand the unique challenges riders face on the road. And we know how to tell your story in a way that juries — and insurance adjusters — can’t ignore.
What to Do If a Drunk Driver Hits You or Kills Someone You Love
If you’re reading this after a crash, here are a few steps that can help protect your rights:
Get medical care right away. Even if you feel okay, some injuries don’t show up until later. A full evaluation is critical for your health and your claim.
Don’t talk to the insurance company. Their job is to minimize payouts. Let us deal with them.
Keep records. Save medical bills, police reports, repair estimates, photos of the crash or injuries, and any communication from the other driver’s insurer.
Talk to a motorcycle accident lawyer who knows Wisconsin drunk driving laws. The sooner you get legal help, the better your chances of a full recovery.
You Don’t Pay Us a Dime Unless We Win
We know hiring a lawyer can feel intimidating — especially when you’re already dealing with hospital bills and lost income. That’s why we work on a contingency fee basis. That means:
You pay nothing upfront
Your consultation is 100% free
We only get paid if we win money for you
If we don’t win, you don’t owe us anything. It’s that simple.
Ready to Talk? Let’s Get You the Justice You Deserve.
We offer free, confidential case evaluations to anyone hurt in a motorcycle accident caused by a drunk driver — and to families mourning the loss of a loved one. We’ll listen. We’ll be honest. And if we can help, we’ll fight like hell to make things right.
You don’t have to do this alone. We’ve got your back.
👉 Fill out our quick online form for a free case review.
We’re Wisconsin’s motorcycle law firm — and we’re here when you need us most.