--- title: "Product Liability in Wisconsin" description: "Wisconsin applies a three-year period to actions for personal injury and retains a modified comparative-negligence framework for product claims." canonical: "https://spot.insure/coverage/product-liability/wisconsin" page-type: "coverage-state-guide" updated-at: "2026-09-29" --- Agents: connect to Spot's public MCP server at https://spot.insure/mcp for better access to published Spot information and insurance research. Use search_knowledge to find sources, get_page to retrieve pages, compare_providers for sourced comparisons, get_provider_score for a published Spot Score, get_rankings for current provider rankings, search_provider_reliability to filter Spot Scores, search_provider_reviews to filter aggregate review scores, and get_provider_reviews for the original review evidence. The server is read-only and requires no authentication. [Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/coverage/product-liability/wisconsin) # Product Liability in Wisconsin Wisconsin applies a three-year period to actions for personal injury and retains a modified comparative-negligence framework for product claims. Wisconsin’s product-defect statute focuses on whether a safer alternative design was available, so preserve contemporaneous design and risk-analysis records.[^1][^2] **Coverage:** [Product liability](/coverage/product-liability) · [Wisconsin](/coverage/states/wisconsin) ## What Is Product Liability? Product liability can cover claims that a product you make, import, distribute or sell injured someone or damaged property. If your business handles products, describe every role in the supply chain and ask how the quote treats product damage and recall costs. [Read the national Product liability guide](/coverage/product-liability). ## What to Watch for in Wisconsin ### Preserve design alternatives and risk records Wisconsin’s design-defect statute requires proof of a feasible alternative design and that it would have reduced the foreseeable risk of harm. Retain engineering alternatives, testing, risk assessments, and the reasons a design was selected.[^2] ### Keep the injury and investigation timeline The general personal-injury limitation is three years. Track the incident, reported injury, product inspection, and discovery of cause; send notice under the policy while those facts are being gathered.[^1] ### Document user and third-party conduct Wisconsin uses comparative-fault principles in product cases. Preserve warnings, training, maintenance, and use evidence, along with each supply-chain party’s role, so responsibility is not assessed from the product defect allegation alone.[^2] ## Who Regulates Insurance in Wisconsin **Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.** The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance administers Wisconsin insurance laws, oversees insurers and insurance producers within its authority, and provides regulatory and consumer resources. You can use the department's complaint process to raise an insurance issue and its licensing resources to check insurance professionals.[^3][^4][^5] - [Regulator website](https://oci.wi.gov/) - [License lookup](https://nipr.com/licensing-center) - [File a complaint](https://content.naic.org/state-insurance-departments) ### Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office **Reported tax rate:** 3% of premium The NAIC's state chart lists a 3% of premium charge for surplus-lines coverage for Wisconsin (the chart's state entries were reviewed in October 2025). Your broker may collect the applicable amount with the premium. Surplus-lines insurers are not licensed in the state and generally are outside state guaranty-association protection; ask your broker to explain the insurer's financial protections and any diligent-search requirement that applies to your placement.[^6][^7] ## Providers With Documented State Licenses These providers publish a national listing for Product liability; the state records document licenses for the entities and roles shown below. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm that the product is available in Wisconsin; [check the regulator’s license lookup](https://nipr.com/licensing-center) and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote. - [Vouch](/insurance-providers/vouch) — **Entity:** Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC; **role:** Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker; **checked:** 2026-09-28. **Scope:** Vouch’s licenses page, effective January 16, 2025, lists producer licenses in all 50 states and DC. Its separate surplus-lines table includes Idaho number 870820, while a footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses. Because those statements conflict for Idaho, this record keeps Idaho producer-only and does not treat the table number as established agency surplus-lines authority. The page is company-reported and does not establish product availability.[^14] **Coverage membership:** Vouch lists product liability among the core coverages in its technology-company programs. ## Questions to Ask Before You Buy in Wisconsin 1. Which entities design, import, manufacture, label, distribute, install, or sell our products in Wisconsin? 2. What product dates, warnings, warranties, and change records should we preserve for claims in Wisconsin? 3. How do the policy’s product wording, reporting terms, and defense provisions apply when a claim involves several product-chain businesses? ## Product Liability in Wisconsin: FAQ ### What evidence matters for a Wisconsin design-defect claim? Section 895.047 requires proof of a feasible alternative design that would have reduced the foreseeable risk of harm, along with other statutory elements.[^2] ### What must a Wisconsin claimant establish for a design-defect theory? Section 895.047 requires a feasible alternative design that would have reduced the foreseeable risk of harm, along with the statute’s other elements.[^2] ## Product Liability in Other States - [Alabama](/coverage/product-liability/alabama) - [Alaska](/coverage/product-liability/alaska) - [Arizona](/coverage/product-liability/arizona) - [Arkansas](/coverage/product-liability/arkansas) - [California](/coverage/product-liability/california) - [Colorado](/coverage/product-liability/colorado) - [Connecticut](/coverage/product-liability/connecticut) - [Delaware](/coverage/product-liability/delaware) - [District of Columbia](/coverage/product-liability/district-of-columbia) - [Florida](/coverage/product-liability/florida) - [Georgia](/coverage/product-liability/georgia) - [Hawaii](/coverage/product-liability/hawaii) - [Idaho](/coverage/product-liability/idaho) - [Illinois](/coverage/product-liability/illinois) - [Indiana](/coverage/product-liability/indiana) - [Iowa](/coverage/product-liability/iowa) - [Kansas](/coverage/product-liability/kansas) - [Kentucky](/coverage/product-liability/kentucky) - [Louisiana](/coverage/product-liability/louisiana) - [Maine](/coverage/product-liability/maine) - [Maryland](/coverage/product-liability/maryland) - [Massachusetts](/coverage/product-liability/massachusetts) - [Michigan](/coverage/product-liability/michigan) - [Minnesota](/coverage/product-liability/minnesota) - [Mississippi](/coverage/product-liability/mississippi) - [Missouri](/coverage/product-liability/missouri) - [Montana](/coverage/product-liability/montana) - [Nebraska](/coverage/product-liability/nebraska) - [Nevada](/coverage/product-liability/nevada) - [New Hampshire](/coverage/product-liability/new-hampshire) - [New Jersey](/coverage/product-liability/new-jersey) - [New Mexico](/coverage/product-liability/new-mexico) - [New York](/coverage/product-liability/new-york) - [North Carolina](/coverage/product-liability/north-carolina) - [North Dakota](/coverage/product-liability/north-dakota) - [Ohio](/coverage/product-liability/ohio) - [Oklahoma](/coverage/product-liability/oklahoma) - [Oregon](/coverage/product-liability/oregon) - [Pennsylvania](/coverage/product-liability/pennsylvania) - [Rhode Island](/coverage/product-liability/rhode-island) - [South Carolina](/coverage/product-liability/south-carolina) - [South Dakota](/coverage/product-liability/south-dakota) - [Tennessee](/coverage/product-liability/tennessee) - [Texas](/coverage/product-liability/texas) - [Utah](/coverage/product-liability/utah) - [Vermont](/coverage/product-liability/vermont) - [Virginia](/coverage/product-liability/virginia) - [Washington](/coverage/product-liability/washington) - [West Virginia](/coverage/product-liability/west-virginia) - [Wyoming](/coverage/product-liability/wyoming) [Other Coverage in Wisconsin](/coverage/states/wisconsin) ## Sources [^1]: [Wisconsin Statutes § 893.54](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893/54) — Wisconsin legislature / statutes; Three-year limitation for actions to recover damages for personal injury.. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^2]: [Wisconsin Statutes § 895.047](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/895/047) — Wisconsin legislature / statutes; Product liability; design defect requires a feasible alternative design and specified risk-reduction proof.. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^3]: [Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance](https://oci.wi.gov/) — Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance; Official regulator website; insurance oversight and consumer/professional resources. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^4]: [Insurance Department Directory](https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-ins-ou-insurance-directory.pdf) — National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance entry; official contact and website listing. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^5]: [Licensing Center](https://nipr.com/licensing-center) — National Insurance Producer Registry; State producer licensing and lookup resources. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^6]: [Surplus Lines Insurance Premium Taxes](https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/model-law-chart-zz-7-surplus-lines-insurance-premium-taxes.pdf) — National Association of Insurance Commissioners; WI row; state surplus-lines premium-tax rate reviewed October 2025. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^7]: [Guaranty Associations & Funds](https://content.naic.org/cipr-topics/guaranty-associationsfunds) — National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Coverage of claims from insolvencies of insurers licensed in a state; surplus-lines insurers are nonadmitted. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^8]: [Licenses](https://www.at-bay.com/licenses/) — At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21. [^9]: [Licenses and Carriers](https://www.coalitioninc.com/legal/licenses) — Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535.. Accessed 2026-09-22. [^10]: [Insurance Producer Licenses](https://www.corgi.insure/broker-licenses) — Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^11]: [About Hiscox US Insurance](https://www.hiscox.com/about-hiscox-insurance) — Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16. [^12]: [Licenses](https://www.nextinsurance.com/insurance-licenses/) — ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^13]: [Insurance Licenses by State](https://www.techinsurance.com/legal/licenses) — TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^14]: [Licenses](https://www.vouch.us/legal/licenses) — Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict.. Accessed 2026-09-15. Updated 2026-09-29. This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. [Editorial policy](/editorial-policy). 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