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Personal injury law involves civil claims in which an individual is injured through the negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct of another person, a company, or property owner. A personal injury lawsuit may arise from physical or emotional injuries. Personal injury law compensates individuals injured as a result of another’s negligence or intentional misconduct. Personal injury laws vary from state to state. If you believe you have a personal injury claim, you should contact a personal injury lawyer in Wisconsin to evaluate your claim.
Wisconsin follows a system using the modified comparative negligence – 51% rule. In states following a modified comparative fault – 51% rule, an injured party can only recover if it is determined that his or her fault in causing the injury does not reach 51%. If the injured party was 50% or less at fault, he or she may still recover damages. However, if a plaintiff’s fault reaches 51%, he or she recovers nothing. In other words, a plaintiff may have caused half of the accident and still recover damages from the court, but if it is found that the plaintiff’s fault was responsible for more than half of the accident, that plaintiff is barred from receiving any damages determined by the court. Here, as in a pure comparative negligence state, a plaintiff’s recovery is reduced by the degree of his or her fault. For example, if Debbie sued Dave for damages she suffered in a car accident involving their vehicles, and Debbie was 51% at fault, Debbie would not recover anything from Dave. If, however, Debbie was 40% at fault, she could recover damages, but the damage award would be reduced by her portion of the fault in causing the injury. Therefore, a finding that Debbie suffered $10,000 in damages would result in Debbie receiving an award reduced by 40%, or a final award of $6,000.
Click here to read about contributory vs. comparative negligence.
A statute of limitations is a type of law that restricts the period of time that a person may initiate legal proceedings. Time limits can vary depending on the type of case and the state where the particular cause of action occurred. To learn more about statutes of limitations, read our Statute of Limitations page. To see a state by state comparison chart for the personal injury statute of limitations for each state, read our Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Actions page.
Wisconsin Statutes of Limitations
In Wisconsin, the courts follow a modified joint and several liability approach in entering judgment against multiple defendants. A defendant found to be 51% or more negligent in causing the injury is jointly and severally liable, making that defendant subject to the entire judgment amount. A defendant less than 51% negligent will be responsible only for the portion of damages proportionate to his or her share of the negligence. However, a defendant less than 51% negligent who acted as part of a common plan to injure another will fall under the scheme of joint and several liability.
Click here for more on Joint and Several Liability
One of the best ways to research personal injury lawyers in Wisconsin is to contact courts in WI and ask them for information about the personal injury attorneys who utilize their legal facilities when they bring personal injury cases to court. We have compiled a list below of some courts in Wisconsin to get you started:
Supreme Court
Wisconsin Supreme Court
16 East State Capitol
PO Box 1688
Madison, WI 53701-1688
608-266-1880
Wisconsin Courts of Appeals
Court of Appeals – District I
633 W Wisconsin Ave Ste 1400
Milwaukee, WI 53203-1908
414-227-4680
Court of Appeals – District II
2727 N Grandview Blvd Ste 300
Waukesha, WI 53188-1672
262-521-5230
Court of Appeals – District III
2100 Stewart Ave Ste 310
Wausau, WI 54401
715-848-1421
Court of Appeals – District IV
10 E Doty St Ste 700
Madison, WI 53703-3397
608-266-9361
Circuit Courts
Adams County Circuit Court
6th Judicial District
Courthouse
402 Main St
PO Box 200
Friendship, WI 53934-0200
608-339-4208
Ashland County
10th Judicial District
Courthouse
201 Main St W
Ashland, WI 54806-1652
715-682-7016
Barron County
10th Judicial District
Justice Center
1420 State Hwy 25 N
Barron, WI 54812-3006
715-537-6265
Bayfield County
10th Judicial District
Courthouse
117 E 5th St
PO Box 296
Washburn, WI 54891-0296
715-373-6108
Brown County
8th Judicial District
Courthouse
100 S Jefferson St
PO Box 23600
Green Bay, WI 54305-3600
920-448-4155
Buffalo County
7th Judicial District
Courthouse
407 2nd St S
Alma, WI 54610-9753
608-685-6212
Burnett County
10th Judicial District
Government Center
7410 Co Rd K #115
Siren, WI 54872-9043
715-349-2147
Calumet County
4th Judicial District
Courthouse
206 Court St
Chilton, WI 53014-1198
920-849-1414
Chippewa County
10th Judicial District
Courthouse
711 N Bridge St
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729-1876
715-726-7758
Clark County
6th Judicial District
Courthouse
517 Court St
Neillsville, WI 54456-1904
715-743-5181
Columbia County
6th Judicial District
Administration Building
400 DeWitt St
PO Box 587
Portage, WI 53901-0587
608-742-9642
Crawford County
7th Judicial District
Courthouse
220 N Beaumont Rd
Prairie du Chien, WI 53821-1405
608-326-0209
Dane County
5th Judicial District
Dane County Courthouse
215 S Hamilton St
Madison, WI 53703
608-266-4679
Dodge County
6th Judicial District
Dodge County Justice Facility
210 W Center St
Juneau, WI 53039-1091
920-386-3570
Door County
8th Judicial District
Justice Center
1209 S Duluth Ave
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
920-746-2205
Douglas County
10th Judicial District
Courthouse
1313 Belknap St
Superior, WI 54880-2769
715-395-1469
Dunn County
10th Judicial District
Judicial Center
615 Stokke Pkwy Ste 1300
Menomonie, WI 54751
715-232-2611
Eau Claire County
10th Judicial District
Courthouse
721 Oxford Ave
Eau Claire, WI 54703-5481
715-839-4816
Florence County
9th Judicial District
Courthouse
501 Lake Ave
PO Box 410
Florence, WI 54121-0410
715-528-3205
Fond du Lac County
4th Judicial District
Courthouse
160 S Macy St
PO Box 1355
Fond du Lac, WI 54936-1355
920-929-3040
Forest County
9th Judicial District
Courthouse
200 E Madison St
Crandon, WI 54520-1414
715-478-3323
Grant County
7th Judicial District
Courthouse
130 W Maple St
Lancaster, WI 53813
608-723-2752
Green County
5th Judicial District
Courthouse
1016 16th Ave
Monroe, WI 53566
608-328-9433
Green Lake County
6th Judicial District
Courthouse
492 Hill St
PO Box 3188
Green Lake, WI 54941-3188
920-294-4145
Iowa County
7th Judicial District
Courthouse
222 N Iowa St
Dodgeville, WI 53533-1548
608-935-0395
Iron County
9th Judicial District
Courthouse
300 Taconite St
Hurley, WI 54534-1546
715-561-4084
Jackson County
7th Judicial District
Courthouse
307 Main St
Black River Falls, WI 54615-0609
715-284-0208
Jefferson County
3rd Judicial District
Courthouse
320 S Main St
Jefferson, WI 53549-1799
920-674-7150
Juneau County
6th Judicial District
Juneau County Justice Center
200 Oak Street
Mauston, WI 53948
608-847-9356
Kenosha County
2nd Judicial District
Courthouse
912 56th St
Kenosha, WI 53140-3747
262-653-2664
Kewaunee County
8th Judicial District
Courthouse
613 Dodge St
Kewaunee, WI 54216-1398
920-388-7144
La Crosse County
7th Judicial District
La Crosse Law Enforcement Ctr
333 Vine St
La Crosse, WI 54601-3296
608-785-9590
Lafayette County
5th Judicial District
Courthouse
626 Main St
Darlington, WI 53530-1396
608-776-4832
Langlade County
9th Judicial District
Courthouse
800 Clermont St
Antigo, WI 54409-1985
715-627-6215
Lincoln County
9th Judicial District
Courthouse
1110 E Main St
Merrill, WI 54452-2579
715-536-0319
Manitowoc County
4th Judicial District
Courthouse
1010 S 8th St
PO Box 2000
Manitowoc, WI 54221-2000
920-683-4030
Marathon County
9th Judicial District
Courthouse
500 Forest St
Wausau, WI 54403-5568
715-261-1300
Marinette County
8th Judicial District
Courthouse
1926 Hall Ave
Marinette, WI 54143-1717
715-732-7450
Marquette County
6th Judicial District
Courthouse
77 W Park St
PO Box 749
Montello, WI 53949-0749
608-297-9136
Menominee County
9th Judicial District
Courthouse
PO Box 279
Keshena, WI 54135-0279
715-799-3313
Milwaukee County
1st Judicial District
Courthouse
901 N 9th St
Milwaukee, WI 53233-1425
414-278-5362
Monroe County
7th Judicial District
Courthouse
112 S Court St
Sparta, WI 54656-1765
608-269-8745
Oconto County
8th Judicial District
Courthouse
301 Washington St
Oconto, WI 54153-1621
920-834-6857
Oneida County
9th Judicial District
Courthouse
1 Courthouse Square
PO Box 400
Rhinelander, WI 54501-0400
715-369-6120
Outagamie County
8th Judicial District
Justice Center
320 S Walnut St
Appleton, WI 54911-5991
920-832-5131
Ozaukee County
3rd Judicial District
Courthouse
1201 S Spring St
PO Box 994
Port Washington, WI 53074-0994
262-284-8409
Pepin County
7th Judicial District
Government Center
740 7th Ave W
PO Box 39
Alma, WI 54736-0039
715-672-8861
Pierce County
7th Judicial District
Courthouse
414 W Main St
Ellsworth, WI 54011
715-273-3531
Polk County
10th Judicial District
Justice Center
1005 W Main St
Balsam Lake, WI 54810
715-485-9599
Portage County
6th Judicial District
Courthouse
1516 Church St
Stevens Point, WI 54481-3598
715-346-1364
Price County
9th Judicial District
Courthouse
126 Cherry St
Phillips, WI 54555-1249
715-339-2353
Racine County
2nd Judicial District
Courthouse
730 Wisconsin Ave Rm 703
Racine, WI 53403-1274
262-636-3333
Richland County
7th Judicial District
Courthouse
181 W Seminary St
Richland Center, WI 53581-2356
608-647-3956
Rock County
5th Judicial District
Courthouse
51 S Main St – 5th Fl
Janesville, WI 53545-3978
608-743-2200
Rusk County
10th Judicial District
Courthouse
311 Miner Ave E
Ladysmith, WI 54848-1862
715-532-2108
Sauk County
6th Judicial District
Courthouse
515 Oak St
Baraboo, WI 53913-2496
608-355-3287
Sawyer County
10th Judicial District
Courthouse
10610 Main
PO Box 447
Hayward, WI 54843-0447
715-634-4887
Shawano County
9th Judicial District
Courthouse
311 N Main St
Shawano, WI 54166-2198
715-526-9347
Sheboygan County
4th Judicial District
Courthouse
615 N 6th St
Sheboygan, WI 53081-4692
920-459-3068
St. Croix County
10th Judicial District
Government Center
1101 Carmichael St
Hudson, WI 54016-7710
715-386-4630
Taylor County
9th Judicial District
Courthouse
224 S Second St
Medford, WI 54451-1899
715-748-1428
Trempealeau County
7th Judicial District
Courthouse
PO Box 67
Whitehall, WI 54773-0067
715-538-2311
Vernon County
7th Judicial District
Courthouse
PO Box 448
Viroqua, WI 54665-0448
608-367-5340
Vilas Count
9th Judicial District
Courthouse
330 Court St
Eagle River, WI 54521
715-479-3636
Walworth County
2nd Judicial District
Courthouse
1800 County Rd NN
PO Box 1001
Elkhorn, WI 53121-1001
262-741-7012
Washburn County
10th Judicial District
Courthouse
110 W 4th Ave
PO Box 458
Shell Lake, WI 54871-0458
715-468-4677
Washington County
3rd Judicial District
Courthouse
432 E Washington St
PO Box 1986
West Bend, WI 53095-1986
262-335-4341
Waukesha County
3rd Judicial District
Courthouse
515 W Moreland Blvd
Waukesha, WI 53188-2428
262-896-8525
Waupaca County
8th Judicial District
Courthouse
811 Harding St
Waupaca, WI 54981-2087
715-258-6460
Waushara County
6th Judicial District
Courthouse
209 St Marie St
PO Box 508
Wautoma, WI 54982-0508
920-787-0441
Winnebago County
4th Judicial District
Courthouse
415 Jackson Dr
PO Box 2808
Oshkosh, WI 54903-2808
920-236-4848
Wood County
6th Judicial District
Courthouse
400 Market St
PO Box 8095
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495-8095
715-421-8490
