Client Reviews
What our clients are saying about us
DAVID G.
Mark and his team go into representing a client 110%. I received a settlement of over $1,000,000 dollars because I
followed their advice and trusted them to the end. As far as my wife and I are concerned there is no other firm in Wisconsin that I would recommend!
View More Reviews on Google Maps and Yelp
Milwaukee Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Mingo & Yankala, S.C. | (414) 273-7400
If you were injured in a motorcycle crash by a negligent driver, Mingo & Yankala, S.C. represents riders in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin. Insurers often use “biker bias” to unfairly shift blame, but under Wisconsin’s comparative fault rule (Wis. Stat. § 895.045), you can recover compensation as long as your share of fault is 50% or less. Attorney Mark Mingo is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law with over 100 jury trials and former experience representing major insurers and motorcycle manufacturers. Do not let the insurance company undervalue your claim. Attorney Mark Mingo is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law and has tried more than 100 cases to verdict, including motorcycle-injury cases recovering more than $1.7 million. No fee unless we win. Call (414) 273-7400.
Motorcyclists who are seriously injured by negligent drivers face a challenge other crash victims do not: bias. Insurance adjusters and juries often assume the rider was reckless, and insurers use that assumption to shift blame and cut compensation. Overcoming it takes a trial lawyer who can prove what actually happened.
Mingo & Yankala, S.C. represents motorcycle accident victims in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin. Before representing injured people, attorney Mark Mingo spent years on the defense side representing major insurance companies — and earlier in his career represented Yamaha Motor Corporation and Bombardier Recreational Products. He knows exactly how insurers build the “reckless biker” narrative, and how to dismantle it. That knowledge now works entirely for injured riders.
Mark Mingo also argued and won DeShaney v. Winnebago County, 489 U.S. 189 (1989) before the United States Supreme Court — one of the most significant Fourteenth Amendment decisions in American constitutional law, cited thousands of times by courts across the country and taught in virtually every law school in the United States. Fewer than one percent of licensed attorneys have ever argued before the Supreme Court. That level of advocacy stands behind every motorcycle accident case this firm handles.
No fee unless we win.
Types of Motorcycle Accident Cases We Handle
- Left-turn collisions (driver turns across a rider’s path)
- Failure-to-yield and right-of-way violations
- Lane-change and blind-spot crashes
- Rear-end collisions at stops and signals
- Dooring accidents
- Intersection and stop-sign crashes
- Distracted, impaired, and drowsy driver crashes
- Unsafe road conditions and defective roadway design
- Defective motorcycle parts or maintenance failures
- Catastrophic-injury and wrongful-death motorcycle cases
Overcoming “Biker Bias” in Wisconsin Motorcycle Cases
The single biggest obstacle in a motorcycle injury claim is not the law — it is prejudice. Insurers know that many people unconsciously assume motorcyclists are speeding risk-takers, and they exploit that assumption from the first phone call. They will argue you were going too fast, splitting lanes, or hard to see, even when the driver who hit you clearly violated your right-of-way. We counter this with evidence: scene photographs, physical and skid-mark analysis, vehicle data, witness statements, and, where needed, accident-reconstruction experts who establish the real sequence of events.
How Wisconsin’s Comparative Fault Rule Affects Your Recovery
Wisconsin follows a modified comparative fault rule under Wis. Stat. § 895.045. You can recover damages as long as your share of fault is 50% or less, and your recovery is reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault. For example, a rider found 20% at fault with $200,000 in total damages recovers $160,000. Because even a small increase in a rider’s assigned fault directly reduces what they collect — and bars recovery entirely once their fault is greater than the other party’s — insurers fight hard to inflate the rider’s percentage. Establishing the correct allocation of fault is often the most valuable work in the case.
What Insurance Companies Do After a Motorcycle Crash
Adjusters often move quickly to take a recorded statement, hoping a rider will say something that can be twisted into an admission of fault. They may extend a fast, low settlement offer before the full extent of injuries — road rash, fractures, spinal damage, traumatic brain injury — is known. Once you sign a release, the claim is closed permanently, even if you later need surgery. Do not give a recorded statement or accept any offer before speaking with an attorney.
“Receiving multiple awards and being recognized as a top attorney in Wisconsin for nineteen consecutive years is an honor, but my clients’ satisfaction is my most cherished award.”
Mark Mingo
FOUNDER & ATTORNEY
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer if I was injured in a motorcycle accident in Wisconsin?
If you suffered anything beyond minor injuries, yes. Motorcycle cases are defended more aggressively than ordinary car-accident claims because insurers exploit bias against riders to argue you were at fault. An attorney preserves the evidence that proves what really happened, counters the insurer’s “reckless biker” narrative, and protects you from a recorded statement or lowball offer that can permanently undervalue your claim. Consultations are free and there is no fee unless we win.
Does Wisconsin require motorcyclists to wear a helmet?
Under Wis. Stat. § 347.485, only operators and passengers under 18, and anyone riding on an instructional permit, are required to wear a helmet. Riders 18 and older with a full motorcycle license are not legally required to wear one. Wisconsin separately requires eye protection (goggles, a face shield, or glasses) for all riders unless the motorcycle has a windshield.
Can I still recover compensation if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?
Generally, yes. For riders 18 and older, not wearing a helmet is not illegal and does not automatically bar recovery. It does not excuse the negligence of the driver who caused the crash. Insurers frequently raise helmet non-use to argue your injuries were worse than they should have been and to reduce what they pay, but they often overstate its legal effect. The strength of your claim still turns on the other driver’s fault and the evidence of how the crash happened.
How is fault determined in a Wisconsin motorcycle accident?
Fault is established through the police crash report, scene and vehicle photographs, skid-mark and physical-evidence analysis, witness statements, any available traffic or dashcam video, vehicle data, and, in serious cases, accident-reconstruction experts. Because Wisconsin’s comparative fault rule reduces recovery by the rider’s percentage of fault, and insurers work to inflate that percentage, building a clear and well-documented fault record is one of the most important parts of a motorcycle case.
What if the driver who hit me was uninsured or underinsured?
Wisconsin auto policies must include uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is commonly carried as well. If the at-fault driver had no insurance or not enough to cover your injuries, you may have a claim under your own UM/UIM coverage. These claims are negotiated against your own insurer, which is still a business motivated to minimize payment, so having an attorney matters even when the claim is on your own policy.
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin’s general statute of limitations for personal-injury claims is three years from the date of the accident. If a government entity is involved — for example a municipal vehicle or a dangerous roadway maintained by a government body — a written notice of claim may be required within 120 days. Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your claim, and physical evidence and witness memories fade quickly, so it is best to consult an attorney promptly.
What damages can I recover after a Wisconsin motorcycle accident?
Recoverable damages include past and future medical expenses; lost wages and reduced earning capacity; rehabilitation costs; pain and suffering; scarring and disfigurement; loss of enjoyment of life; and property damage to your motorcycle. In cases involving egregious conduct, such as a drunk driver, punitive damages may also be available. The value of any case depends on the severity and permanence of the injuries and the specific facts.
Why should I hire Mingo & Yankala, S.C. for my motorcycle accident case?
Attorney Mark Mingo argued and won DeShaney v. Winnebago County, 489 U.S. 189 (1989) before the United States Supreme Court, has been selected to Wisconsin Super Lawyers for 19 consecutive years, holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and an Avvo 10/10 (Superb) rating, and has tried more than 100 personal injury cases to verdict. Before representing injured people he defended insurance companies and represented motorcycle and powersports manufacturers — giving him firsthand insight into how riders’ claims are evaluated and contested. The firm has won motorcycle verdicts including $1,710,000 and $1,412,500. No fee unless we win.
Schedule Your Free Consultation →
Mark J. Mingo
Meet Mark J. Mingo, a renowned lawyer and founding member of Mingo & Yankala, S.C. Mark is a real legal champion, having over 100 successful jury trials and a track record of successfully settling countless personal injury claims. Mark has been recognized as a Wisconsin Super Lawyers for 19 consecutive years (2008 – 2026), has been named one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys, and has a perfect 10/10 “Superb” AVVO rating. Mark Mingo will show you how to achieve excellence.
- Years of experience: More than 50 years’ experience
- Associations:
- Wisconsin State Bar # 1004153
- American Bar Association
- Wisconsin Association for Justice
- Ozaukee Country Club
- Milwaukee Athletic Club
- Location: Milwaukee, WI
