Motorcycle crashes can result in serious injuries because riders have considerably less physical protection than occupants of passenger vehicles. A collision may involve another vehicle, a roadway hazard, wildlife, or other circumstances, and the resulting injuries can range from fractures to permanent disabilities.
Wisconsin’s crash data reflects the potential severity of these incidents. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), 2,041 motorcycle crashes occurred in Wisconsin in 2025. These crashes resulted in 1,710 motorcyclist injuries and 103 motorcyclist deaths. WisDOT also recorded 609 serious motorcyclist injuries during the year.
Understanding the statistics, common causes, and injuries associated with motorcycle crashes can provide Wisconsin riders and other motorists with a clearer picture of the risks involved.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has recorded approximately 2,000 motorcycle crashes in several recent years. WisDOT’s final statistics show:
- 2022: 2,104 motorcycle crashes
- 2023: 2,082 motorcycle crashes
- 2024: 1,921 motorcycle crashes
- 2025: 2,041 motorcycle crashes
In 2025, these crashes resulted in 1,710 injured motorcyclists and 103 motorcyclist fatalities. Of the reported injuries, 609 were classified as serious A-level injuries under Wisconsin’s crash reporting system.
The statistics also show why the number of fatalities alone does not describe the full impact of motorcycle crashes. Hundreds of riders each year may suffer serious injuries that require emergency treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, or continuing medical care.
Why Can Motorcycle Crashes Cause Serious Injuries?
Passenger vehicles provide occupants with a protective structure, seat belts, airbags, and other safety systems. Motorcyclists do not have the same physical protection between their bodies and the roadway or another vehicle.
During a collision, a rider may be thrown from the motorcycle, struck by another vehicle, or hit the pavement or a fixed object. The severity of an injury can depend on the speed and direction of the impact, the point of contact, roadway conditions, and other circumstances.
Protective equipment can reduce the risk or severity of certain injuries, but it cannot eliminate the possibility of serious harm in a significant collision.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle crashes can result from several different factors. Driver behavior, rider actions, roadway conditions, and environmental hazards may all contribute to a collision.
Failure to See a Motorcycle
Motorcycles are smaller than most passenger vehicles and can be more difficult for drivers to recognize in traffic. A driver may fail to notice a motorcycle when entering an intersection, changing lanes, or approaching from another direction.
A failure to see a motorcycle does not by itself establish legal responsibility. The circumstances surrounding the collision must be evaluated to determine what occurred.
Left-Turn Collisions
A vehicle turning left across the path of an approaching motorcycle can create a serious collision risk. The driver may misjudge the motorcycle’s speed or distance, leaving the rider with limited time to respond.
Because the motorcycle offers little protection in a direct impact, a left-turn collision can result in severe injuries even when the vehicles are traveling at moderate speeds.
Unsafe Lane Changes
A driver who changes lanes without adequately checking surrounding traffic may enter the path of a motorcycle. Blind spots and differences in vehicle size can make motorcycles more difficult to identify.
Evidence such as vehicle damage, witness statements, photographs, and available video may help establish how a lane-change collision occurred.
Distracted Driving
Cellphone use, adjusting vehicle controls, eating, and other distractions can reduce a driver’s attention to surrounding traffic.
When a motorcycle is present, a brief lapse in attention may prevent a driver from recognizing the rider or responding appropriately to changing traffic conditions.
Speeding
Speed can affect both the likelihood and severity of a motorcycle crash. Higher speeds reduce the time available to respond to hazards and can increase the forces involved when a collision occurs.
Roadway Hazards
Potholes, loose gravel, debris, uneven pavement, and wet surfaces can create particular risks for motorcycles. A roadway condition that a passenger vehicle can pass over with limited difficulty may cause a motorcycle to lose stability or leave the roadway.
Wildlife
Wildlife is another factor in Wisconsin motorcycle crashes. WisDOT reported 223 motorcycle-deer crashes in 2025, resulting in four fatalities and 80 serious injuries. WisDOT noted that 38% of motorcycle-deer crashes resulted in either a fatality or serious injury, compared with less than 0.1% of deer crashes involving automobiles or light trucks.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle crashes can cause injuries affecting multiple parts of the body. The type and severity of an injury depend on the circumstances of the collision and the rider’s position at the time of impact.
Common injuries include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Wrist and hand injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee and leg injuries
- Road rash
- Neck and back injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Nerve damage
- Amputations
- Permanent disabilities
Some injuries are immediately apparent, while others may become noticeable after the initial effects of the crash have subsided. Medical evaluation can help identify injuries and determine appropriate treatment following a significant motorcycle accident.
Wrist and Hand Injuries After a Motorcycle Crash
Wrist and hand injuries deserve particular attention after a motorcycle accident. A rider may instinctively extend their hands during a fall, while the collision itself can place substantial force on the wrists, fingers, and arms.
Possible injuries include fractures, ligament damage, dislocations, and nerve injuries. Depending on their severity, these conditions may require immobilization, surgery, physical therapy, or other rehabilitation.
A serious hand or wrist injury can also interfere with work and everyday activities, particularly for individuals whose occupations require lifting, gripping, typing, operating equipment, or repetitive hand movements.
What Should You Do After a Motorcycle Accident?
After a motorcycle accident, immediate safety and appropriate medical care should be the first priorities. Once those concerns have been addressed, preserving information about the collision can become important.
When circumstances permit, consider:
- Reporting the accident to law enforcement.
- Obtaining appropriate medical attention.
- Photographing the motorcycle, other vehicles, roadway, and visible injuries.
- Obtaining contact information from witnesses.
- Keeping medical records, bills, and treatment documentation.
- Documenting time missed from work because of the injury.
- Preserving photographs, video, and other evidence.
- Keeping relevant insurance correspondence.
- Avoiding statements about fault that are not supported by the available facts.
Evidence can become more difficult to obtain over time. Vehicles may be repaired, witnesses’ recollections may change, and surveillance footage may no longer be available.
Who May Be Responsible for a Motorcycle Accident?
Responsibility depends on the specific circumstances of the crash and the available evidence.
Another driver may potentially be responsible when negligent conduct, such as an unsafe lane change or failure to yield, contributes to a collision. In other cases, roadway conditions, vehicle defects, wildlife, or multiple contributing factors may need to be considered.
Determining responsibility may require reviewing police reports, witness statements, photographs, video footage, vehicle damage, roadway conditions, medical records, and insurance information.
The involvement of a motorcycle does not, by itself, establish who caused the accident.
Can You Recover Compensation After a Motorcycle Accident?
An injured motorcyclist may have a personal injury claim when another party’s negligence or other legally recognized conduct contributed to the accident.
Depending on the circumstances, damages may include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other losses recognized under Wisconsin law.
The availability and amount of compensation depend on the facts of the individual case, the nature of the injuries, available evidence, and applicable law.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How many motorcycle crashes occurred in Wisconsin in 2025?
WisDOT recorded 2,041 motorcycle crashes in Wisconsin in 2025. These crashes resulted in 1,710 motorcyclist injuries and 103 deaths, including 609 serious A-level injuries.
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What are the common causes of motorcycle accidents?
Common contributing factors include drivers failing to see motorcycles, left-turn collisions, unsafe lane changes, distracted driving, speeding, roadway hazards, and wildlife. The cause of an individual crash depends on its specific circumstances.
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How many motorcycle crashes occurred in Wisconsin in 2025?
WisDOT recorded 2,041 motorcycle crashes in Wisconsin in 2025. These crashes resulted in 1,710 motorcyclist injuries and 103 deaths, including 609 serious A-level injuries.
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What are the common causes of motorcycle accidents?
Common contributing factors include drivers failing to see motorcycles, left-turn collisions, unsafe lane changes, distracted driving, speeding, roadway hazards, and wildlife. The cause of an individual crash depends on its specific circumstances.
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What injuries can result from a motorcycle accident?
Common injuries include fractures, road rash, wrist and hand injuries, shoulder and leg injuries, neck and back injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, internal injuries, and permanent disabilities.
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Can a motorcycle accident cause permanent injuries?
Yes. Severe motorcycle crashes can result in permanent disabilities, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, and other conditions requiring long-term treatment and rehabilitation.
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Can another driver be responsible for a motorcycle accident?
Yes. Another driver may be legally responsible when their negligent conduct contributed to the collision. Responsibility should be determined from the facts and available evidence rather than assumptions about either party.
Speak With a Wisconsin Motorcycle Accident Attorney
A serious motorcycle accident can result in medical expenses, lost income, rehabilitation needs, and injuries that affect a person’s life long after the collision.
If you or a family member has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Wisconsin, MacGillis Law Group, LLC can review the circumstances of the crash and explain the legal options that may be available.
