Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) serves as a critical safety net for motorcyclists in Green Bay, Wisconsin who experience accidents with drivers lacking adequate insurance. This specialized insurance protection fills the financial gap when a negligent motorist either has no insurance or carries insufficient coverage to fully compensate for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. For motorcycle riders, who often face more severe injuries than car occupants, this coverage becomes especially vital as medical costs can quickly exceed minimum liability requirements. Many motorcyclists are unaware that Wisconsin law does not make UM/UIM coverage mandatory for motorcycle policies, leaving them vulnerable to substantial out-of-pocket expenses. In personal injury claims involving motorcycles, UM/UIM coverage can determine whether an injured rider receives fair compensation or faces financial hardship on top of physical recovery challenges.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Wisconsin operates under a modified comparative negligence system, allowing motorcyclists to recover damages as long as they are not more than 50% responsible for the accident. State law requires automobile insurers to offer UM coverage with minimum limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, though these minimums often prove inadequate for serious motorcycle injuries. UIM coverage, while not mandatory, follows "difference-in-limits" rules where your policy limits minus the at-fault driver's coverage determines maximum compensation. Wisconsin imposes a strict three-year statute of limitations for filing motorcycle accident lawsuits (Wis. Stat. § 893.54), and claims may include compensation for medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and permanent disability. Notably, motorcyclists are not subject to Wisconsin's "truth in auto" policies that can limit certain coverage stacking options. An experienced Wisconsin motorcycle accident lawyer(link is external) will handle all aspects of the legal claim.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage can be a factor in all kinds of injury accident claims. Click the links below to get information from an experienced attorney for accidents including:

• Green Bay car accident attorney(link is external);
• Green Bay pedestrian accident attorney(link is external);
• Green Bay truck accident lawyer(link is external);
• Green Bay bicycle accident attorney(link is external);
• Green Bay brain injury lawyer(link is external);
• Green Bay spine injury attorney(link is external);
• Green Bay wrongful death claim lawyer(link is external).

Related Resources

Relevant Local Courts

• Brown County Circuit Court
• Wisconsin Eastern District Federal Court (Green Bay Division)
• Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance

Support Services for Accident Victims

• Brain Injury Alliance of Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Disability Resources
• ABATE of Wisconsin (Motorcycle Safety and Awareness)
• Green Bay Department of Transportation - Motorcycle Safety Program

State Traffic Laws and Regulations

• Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 344 - Financial Responsibility
• Wisconsin Administrative Code Trans 101 - Insurance Requirements
• Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 632 - Insurance Contracts Generally
• Wisconsin Department of Transportation - Motorcycle Operator Manual

Return to the Green Bay motorcycle accident statistics information page