Personal injury claims in Wisconsin
This is the Wisconsin hub of the Ask Legal Matters injury law guides. It summarizes the rules that apply to every injury claim in the state and links to local guides for 335 Wisconsin communities, each with pages on car, truck, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents, slip and fall injuries, workplace injuries and workers' compensation, medical malpractice and wrongful death.
Wisconsin gives injured people three years to file most personal injury lawsuits (Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m)) and a different deadline for medical malpractice (three years). The state follows modified comparative negligence (51% bar): you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault. Wisconsin is an at-fault auto insurance state with minimum liability limits of 25/50/10. Injury cases are tried in the Circuit Court of the county where the accident happened, and work injuries must be reported to your employer within 30 days.
Wisconsin at a glance
In Wisconsin, most injury lawsuits must be filed within three years (Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m)). The state follows modified comparative negligence (51% bar): you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault. Wisconsin is an at-fault car insurance state, so the at-fault driver's liability insurance pays first; the minimum liability coverage is 25/50/10.
| Rule | In Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Personal injury deadline | three years from the injury (Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m)) |
| Medical malpractice deadline | three years (discovery-rule exceptions) |
| Fault rule | modified comparative negligence (51% bar) |
| Auto insurance | At-fault |
| Minimum auto liability | 25/50/10 |
| Trial court | County Circuit Court |
| Workers' compensation | Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development |
| Workers' comp claim deadline | About two years |
Sources: Wisconsin Court System; Wisconsin Worker's Compensation Division; Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m). Last checked: November 2, 2026. Citation cross-checked against secondary 50-state compilations (MWL 2022 chart, FindLaw, Justia); primary statute text not read for every state.
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Injured in Wisconsin? Click here for a free claim review.
Tell us where and when the accident happened, how you were injured, and whether you received treatment. Your request may be shared with independent attorneys and legal services partners who handle inquiries in Wisconsin. Partner availability and case acceptance depend on the facts of your situation.
Click here for a free claim review — submit accident detailsAsk Legal Matters is a lead-generation service, not a law firm. Submitting a request does not hire an attorney. Review the contact consent and privacy policy on the form before submitting.
Wisconsin injury guides by county
Every Wisconsin county has its own page covering the county court, the state rules and every community in the county, large or small.
- Adams County, WI5 communities
- Ashland County, WI9 communities
- Barron County, WI14 communities
- Bayfield County, WI11 communities
- Brown County, WI9 communities
- Buffalo County, WI6 communities
- Burnett County, WI5 communities
- Calumet County, WI8 communities
- Chippewa County, WI9 communities
- Clark County, WI14 communities
- Columbia County, WI14 communities
- Crawford County, WI10 communities
- Dane County, WI22 communities
- Dodge County, WI22 communities
- Door County, WI11 communities
- Douglas County, WI10 communities
- Dunn County, WI12 communities
- Eau Claire County, WI5 communities
- Florence County, WI3 communities
- Fond Du Lac County, WI13 communities
- Forest County, WI5 communities
- Grant County, WI23 communities
- Green County, WI8 communities
- Green Lake County, WI7 communities
- Iowa County, WI12 communities
- Iron County, WI7 communities
- Jackson County, WI7 communities
- Jefferson County, WI10 communities
- Juneau County, WI10 communities
- Kenosha County, WI15 communities
- Kewaunee County, WI4 communities
- La Crosse County, WI7 communities
- Lafayette County, WI9 communities
- Langlade County, WI10 communities
- Lincoln County, WI5 communities
- Manitowoc County, WI15 communities
- Marathon County, WI16 communities
- Marinette County, WI13 communities
- Marquette County, WI7 communities
- Menominee County, WI2 communities
- Milwaukee County, WI7 communities
- Monroe County, WI10 communities
- Oconto County, WI11 communities
- Oneida County, WI10 communities
- Outagamie County, WI14 communities
- Ozaukee County, WI8 communities
- Pepin County, WI4 communities
- Pierce County, WI11 communities
- Polk County, WI13 communities
- Portage County, WI10 communities
- Price County, WI8 communities
- Racine County, WI9 communities
- Richland County, WI6 communities
- Rock County, WI11 communities
- Rusk County, WI8 communities
- Saint Croix County, WI11 communities
- Sauk County, WI14 communities
- Sawyer County, WI8 communities
- Shawano County, WI15 communities
- Sheboygan County, WI14 communities
- Taylor County, WI8 communities
- Trempealeau County, WI12 communities
- Vernon County, WI11 communities
- Vilas County, WI11 communities
- Walworth County, WI16 communities
- Washburn County, WI7 communities
- Washington County, WI11 communities
- Waukesha County, WI24 communities
- Waupaca County, WI14 communities
- Waushara County, WI9 communities
- Winnebago County, WI11 communities
- Wood County, WI13 communities
Largest communities in Wisconsin
- Milwaukee, WIMilwaukee County · pop. 600,155
- Madison, WIDane County · pop. 248,951
- Green Bay, WIBrown County · pop. 105,207
- Kenosha, WIKenosha County · pop. 99,858
- Racine, WIRacine County · pop. 77,742
- Appleton, WIOutagamie County · pop. 74,139
- Waukesha, WIWaukesha County · pop. 71,970
- Eau Claire, WIEau Claire County · pop. 67,778
- Oshkosh, WIWinnebago County · pop. 66,555
- Janesville, WIRock County · pop. 64,123
- La Crosse, WILa Crosse County · pop. 52,306
- Sheboygan, WISheboygan County · pop. 48,797
- Fond du Lac, WIFond Du Lac County · pop. 42,933
- New Berlin, WIWaukesha County · pop. 39,825
- Brookfield, WIWaukesha County · pop. 38,025
- Beloit, WIRock County · pop. 36,891
- Franklin, WIMilwaukee County · pop. 36,222
- Menomonee Falls, WIWaukesha County · pop. 36,119
- Oak Creek, WIMilwaukee County · pop. 35,243
- Manitowoc, WIManitowoc County · pop. 33,010
- Sun Prairie, WIDane County · pop. 32,365
- West Bend, WIWashington County · pop. 31,695
- Stevens Point, WIPortage County · pop. 26,604
- Neenah, WIWinnebago County · pop. 25,792
More Wisconsin city guides: Superior, WI, Wausau, WI.
Wisconsin cities with the most fatal crashes, 2020-2024
These Wisconsin communities recorded the most fatal crashes coded to them in NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System from 2020 through 2024. Each community page ranks its own roads by fatal crashes and breaks down its numbers by year and time of day.
- Milwaukee, WI356 fatal crashes · 396 deaths
- Madison, WI69 fatal crashes · 75 deaths
- Racine, WI25 fatal crashes · 26 deaths
- Green Bay, WI20 fatal crashes · 23 deaths
- Janesville, WI19 fatal crashes · 20 deaths
- Kenosha, WI18 fatal crashes · 19 deaths
- Eau Claire, WI15 fatal crashes · 16 deaths
- South Milwaukee, WI15 fatal crashes · 15 deaths
- Oshkosh, WI14 fatal crashes · 14 deaths
- Waukesha, WI14 fatal crashes · 14 deaths
Wisconsin claims by injury type
- Car Accident claimsHow car accident injury claims work in every state
- Truck Accident claimsHow semi-truck and commercial vehicle injury claims differ from car accidents
- Motorcycle Accident claimsHow motorcycle injury claims work across the United States
- Pedestrian Accident claimsWhat happens legally when a pedestrian is hit by a car in the United States
- Slip and Fall claimsHow premises liability works in the United States
- Workplace Injury claimsHow injured workers get paid in the United States
- Medical Malpractice claimsWhat medical malpractice is, how it is proven, state-by-state deadlines and damage caps, and the kinds of errors that most often lead to successful claims.
- Wrongful Death claimsHow wrongful death and survival actions work across the United States
Read the statute of limitations overview for every state for a side-by-side comparison of filing deadlines.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Wisconsin?
Generally three years from the date of injury (Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m)). Medical malpractice claims generally must be filed within three years, and claims against government entities require a notice of claim much sooner.
What happens if I was partly at fault in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin applies modified comparative negligence (51% bar): you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault.
Is Wisconsin a no-fault state?
No. Wisconsin is an at-fault state; the negligent driver's liability insurance (minimum 25/50/10) is the primary source of compensation.
Where are injury lawsuits filed in Wisconsin?
In the Circuit Court of the county where the accident happened or where the defendant resides. Claims against out-of-state companies may be removed to federal court.
How do I find a personal injury lawyer near me in Wisconsin?
Choose your county or community below for local information, or click the free claim review button; your request may be shared with independent attorneys and legal services partners who handle inquiries in Wisconsin.
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Ready to share what happened in Wisconsin?
Tell us where and when the accident happened, how you were injured, and whether you received treatment. Your request may be shared with independent attorneys and legal services partners who handle inquiries in Wisconsin. Partner availability and case acceptance depend on the facts of your situation.
Click here for a free claim review — submit accident detailsAsk Legal Matters is a lead-generation service, not a law firm. Submitting a request does not hire an attorney. Review the contact consent and privacy policy on the form before submitting.