Green Bay, Wisconsin continues to face significant challenges with alcohol-impaired driving incidents despite statewide prevention efforts. The city has reported concerning trends in DUI-related crashes, with statistics showing that alcohol is a factor in approximately 30% of fatal accidents in the area. These incidents often result in catastrophic injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and orthopedic trauma. For victims, the aftermath extends beyond physical recovery to include substantial medical expenses, lost income, and emotional distress. When pursuing a personal injury claim after a drunk driving accident in Green Bay, victims must navigate Wisconsin's comparative negligence laws, understand the criminal prosecution's relationship to civil claims, and properly document all damages. Insurance coverage disputes are common in these cases, particularly when the intoxicated driver lacks adequate coverage, potentially necessitating underinsured motorist claims or third-party liability considerations under Wisconsin's dram shop liability provisions.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Wisconsin operates under a modified comparative negligence system where victims can recover damages as long as they are not more than 51% at fault for the accident. For drunk driving cases specifically, Wisconsin Statute §346.63 establishes a legal BAC limit of 0.08%, with enhanced penalties for levels exceeding 0.15%. Wisconsin's minimum auto insurance requirements include $25,000 for injury or death of one person, $50,000 for injury or death of multiple people, and $10,000 for property damage. Victims have three years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit under Wisconsin's statute of limitations (Wis. Stat. §893.54). Compensation may include economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages), non-economic damages (pain and suffering), and in egregious cases, punitive damages specifically designed to punish intoxicated drivers for their reckless behavior. Wisconsin places no statutory cap on compensatory damages in drunk driving cases. An experienced Green Bay drunk driving accident lawyer(link is external) will handle all aspects of the legal claim.

Ten Key Terms Related to a Drunk Driving Accident Insurance Claim in Wisconsin

• Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) - The legal measurement used to determine intoxication levels, with 0.08% being the legal limit in Wisconsin
• OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) - Wisconsin's legal term for drunk driving offenses
• Comparative Negligence - Wisconsin's 51% rule that allows recovery of damages as long as the plaintiff is not more than 51% at fault
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM) - Insurance that protects victims when the at-fault driver has insufficient or no coverage
• Dram Shop Liability - Potential third-party liability for establishments that served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person
• Statute of Limitations - The three-year deadline for filing personal injury claims in Wisconsin
• Punitive Damages - Additional compensation specifically designed to punish drunk drivers for particularly reckless behavior
• No-Fault Medical Payments Coverage - Optional insurance that pays for medical expenses regardless of fault
• Permanent Impairment Rating - Medical assessment that quantifies long-term injuries for compensation purposes
• Subrogation - The process where health insurers can recover costs from the at-fault driver's insurance after paying for a victim's medical care

DUI driving can be a cause of all kinds of injury accidents. Click the links below to get information from an experienced attorney for accidents and injuries including:

• Green Bay car accident attorney(link is external);
• Green Bay pedestrian accident attorney(link is external);
• Green Bay motorcycle accident lawyer(link is external);
• Green Bay truck accident lawyer(link is external);
• Green Bay bicycle accident attorney(link is external);

Related Resources

Local Courts:

• Brown County Circuit Court
• Green Bay Municipal Court

Support Services:

• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Wisconsin Chapter
• Brain Injury Alliance of Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Crime Victim Services

Relevant Laws and Regulations:

• Wisconsin Department of Transportation OWI Laws
• Wisconsin Statute §346.63 (Operating Under Influence)
• Wisconsin Statute §125.035 (Dram Shop Liability)

Return to the Green Bay - Appleton accident information page