HomeLaws by stateWisconsin
Wisconsin car accident laws
Is Wisconsin a no-fault state? No. Wisconsin is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
Wisconsin gives you three years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m)(a)).
The legal minimum liability coverage in Wisconsin is $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash and $10,000 for property (25/50/10).
In a crash with one other at-fault driver, you can recover if your negligence was not greater than theirs (50% or less), reduced by your share; above 50% you recover nothing from them. With several at-fault parties, your fault is compared with each one separately.
Quoted from Wisconsin statutes and official pages, checked October 2, 2026 · not legal advice
The rules in one table
| Rule | Wisconsin | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline to sue for an injury | Three years to recover damages for injuries to the person, including injuries from a motor vehicle accident | Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m)(a) |
| Deadline for vehicle damage | Three years for an injury to real or personal property caused by an accident involving a motor vehicle (six years for other property injury) | Wis. Stat. § 893.52(2) |
| Deadline for a wrongful death claim | Two years after the cause of action accrues for wrongful death arising from a motor vehicle accident (three years for other wrongful death) | Wis. Stat. § 893.54(2m) |
| Claims against a government body | Written notice of the circumstances of the claim must be served on the governmental body within 120 days after the event (or actual notice plus no prejudice to the body); a claim for damages must then be presented and disallowed before suit. | Wis. Stat. § 893.80(1d)(a) |
| Insurance system | at-fault | Wis. Stat. § 344.62(1) |
| If you were partly at fault | modified comparative (51% bar). In a crash with one other at-fault driver, you can recover if your negligence was not greater than theirs (50% or less), reduced by your share; above 50% you recover nothing from them. With several at-fault parties, your fault is compared with each one separately. | Wis. Stat. § 895.045(1) |
| Minimum liability coverage | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per crash / $10,000 property | Wis. Stat. § 344.01(2)(d) |
| Dog bites | strict liability. A dog's owner is liable for the full amount of damages caused by the dog injuring a person (subject to comparative negligence); the owner owes double damages for a serious bite if previously notified of a prior serious bite. | Wis. Stat. § 174.02(1)(a) |
Deadlines can be shorter or longer for minors, for injuries found later, and for claims against a government. A lawyer licensed in Wisconsin can tell you the date that applies to you.
Next steps after a Wisconsin crash
How to get a Wisconsin crash report ($6 per crash report (WisDOT DMV fees page)).
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
A filing date and a rough value range for Wisconsin. Both take under a minute.
Questions
How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Wisconsin?
Three years for an injury claim (Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m)(a)) and three years for vehicle damage. Shorter notice rules can apply to claims against a government.
Is Wisconsin a no-fault state?
No. Wisconsin is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin follows modified comparative (51% bar). In a crash with one other at-fault driver, you can recover if your negligence was not greater than theirs (50% or less), reduced by your share; above 50% you recover nothing from them. With several at-fault parties, your fault is compared with each one separately.
What is the minimum car insurance in Wisconsin?
The legal minimum liability coverage in Wisconsin is $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash and $10,000 for property (25/50/10).
Sources
- Deadline to sue for an injury (Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m)(a)): docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893.pdf
893.54 Injury to the person. (1m) Except as provided in sub. (2m), the following actions shall be commenced within 3 years or be barred: (a) An action to recover damages for injuries to the person, including an action to recover damages for injuries to the person caused or sustained by or arising from an accident involving a motor vehicle.
- Deadline for vehicle damage (Wis. Stat. § 893.52(2)): docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893.pdf
(2) An action, not arising on contract, to recover damages for an injury to real or personal property that are caused or sustained by, or that arise from, an accident involving a motor vehicle shall be commenced within 3 years after the cause of action accrues or be barred.
- Deadline for a wrongful death claim (Wis. Stat. § 893.54(2m)): docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893.pdf
(2m) An action brought to recover damages for death caused by the wrongful act, neglect, or default of another and arising from an accident involving a motor vehicle shall be commenced within 2 years after the cause of action accrues or be barred.
- Claims against a government body (Wis. Stat. § 893.80(1d)(a)): docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893.pdf
(1d) Except as provided in subs. (1g), (1m), (1p) and (8), no action may be brought or maintained against any volunteer fire company organized under ch. 213, political corporation, governmental subdivision or agency thereof nor against any officer, official, agent or employee of the corporation, subdivision or agency for acts done in their official capacity or in the course of their agency or employment upon a claim or cause of action unless: (a) Within 120 days after the happening of the event giving rise to the claim, written notice of the circumstances of the claim
- Insurance system (Wis. Stat. § 344.62(1)): docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/344.pdf
344.62 Motor vehicle liability insurance required. (1) Except as provided in s. 344.63, no person may operate a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the owner or operator of the vehicle has in effect a motor vehicle liability policy with respect to the vehicle being operated.
- If you were partly at fault (Wis. Stat. § 895.045(1)): docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/895.pdf
895.045 Contributory negligence. (1) COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE. Contributory negligence does not bar recovery in an action by any person or the person’s legal representative to recover damages for negligence resulting in death or in injury to person or property, if that negligence was not greater than the negligence of the person against whom recovery is sought, but any damages allowed shall be diminished in the proportion to the amount of negligence attributed to the person recovering. The negligence of the plaintiff shall be measured separately against the negligence of each person found to be …
- Minimum liability coverage (Wis. Stat. § 344.01(2)(d)): docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/344.pdf
(d) “Proof of financial responsibility” or “proof of financial responsibility for the future” means proof of ability to respond in damages for liability on account of accidents occurring subsequent to the effective date of such proof, arising out of the maintenance or use of a motor vehicle in the amount of $25,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident and, subject to that limit for one person, in the amount of $50,000 because of bodily injury to or death of 2 or more persons in any one accident and in the amount of $10,000 because of injury to or destruction o…
- Dog bites (Wis. Stat. § 174.02(1)(a)): docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/174.pdf
(1) LIABILITY FOR INJURY. (a) Without notice. Subject to s. 895.045 and except as provided in s. 895.57 (4), the owner of a dog is liable for the full amount of damages caused by the dog injuring or causing injury to a person, domestic animal or property.
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.