John McCarthy

Wisconsin’s Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

I grew up in a small town where people looked out for each other—and that’s how I practice law. I represent injured riders and families who’ve lost someone in a motorcycle crash because I’ve lived it. I know the heartbreak. I’ve felt how fast life can change.

Before I ever stepped into a courtroom, I was a rider. I’ve had grease under my fingernails, sweat and dust on my face, and a deep love for bikes in my bones. My original retirement dream? An old Triumph motorcycle and a sailboat to chase the horizon.

Then I met my wife—who gets seasick and is terrified of motorcycles. I promised her I’d give it all up. But the real shift came when one of my closest friends and mentors was killed in a motorcycle accident. My wife and I were talking about starting a family. I was helping his widow shut down his law practice. And it hit me—if something happened to me, I couldn’t imagine putting my wife or future kids through that.

That’s when I swore off riding for good. But I never swore off riders.

I still love the community, and I’ve devoted my legal career to standing up for riders and their families when everything falls apart. I know the risks you take every time you get on a bike—and I know how unfair the system can be when you get hurt or taken from the people who love you.

I met this wild Wisconsin guy named Clay Griessmeyer in law school. We were both small-town kids who loved to ride and drive fast—and we both believed the law should help people, not protect big corporations. Clay and I have been close friends ever since. We’ve recovered millions for our clients on two wheels. We’ve taken on powerful firms, tough cases, and gone to trial when others would have folded. We don’t back down.

There are plenty of lawyers in Wisconsin who say they “handle” motorcycle cases. But I don’t just handle them—I focus my entire practice on them. I’m one of the only lawyers in Wisconsin who’s made motorcycle crashes and rider justice the center of everything I do. This isn’t just another type of case to me. It’s personal.

At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, you’ll never get passed off to an assistant or a junior lawyer. You get me (and sometimes Clay). I’ll listen to your story, give it to you straight, and if I can help—I’ll fight like hell for you. If I can’t, I’ll still make sure you’re pointed in the right direction.

Case Evaluations are always free, always confidential, and always come directly to me.

If you’ve been injured in a crash—or lost someone who meant everything to you—you deserve someone who actually understands. I’m here.