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Mopeds and scooters have many advantages. They may be fun to ride, easy to park, and cost less than other vehicles. However, before you use a scooter or a moped on an Illinois road, you need to understand what laws apply and what happens if you are injured.
Illinois Scooter and Moped Laws
According to the Illinois Rules of the Road issued by the Illinois Secretary of State:
- A motor-operated scooter may be titled and registered in Illinois if it has both a vehicle identification number (VIN) and a federal safety certification label that is displayed.
- Title and registration are necessary to operate a scooter or moped on a public road in Illinois.
- Scooter and moped drivers are subject to all traffic laws. They must obey traffic signs and signals. Additionally, moped and scooter drivers must comply with most rules that typically only apply to bicyclists.
- Moped and scooters that carry more than one person must have a seat and a footrest for the passenger.
- If a moped or scooter is used at night in Illinois, then it must have a headlight that is visible from at least 500 feet away and a tail light that is visible from at least 100-600 feet away.
Additionally, a moped or scooter operator must have an appropriate driver’s license before using the vehicle on a public road. An appropriate license includes:
- A Class L motorcycle license if the scooter has an engine with less than 150cc displacement. Any scooter with an engine with more than 150cc displacement is considered a motorcycle and requires a Class M license to operate.
- A moped may be driven with any type of valid Illinois driver’s license.
Insurance is required to operate either a moped or a scooter on a public road in Illinois.
Scooter and Moped Accidents
Mopeds and scooters allow you to enjoy the open air in the same way motorcycles do. While they don’t go as fast as motorcycles, there is still a risk of significant injury if an accident occurs. If another driver is negligent and collides with you, forces you off the road, or causes an accident in another way, then you may suffer a serious injury such as a:
- Traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries may affect you in different ways depending on the part of the brain that is injured. You may experience cognitive problems, memory loss, speech impairments, gross motor impairments, or other issues.
- Spinal cord injury. A complete spinal cord injury may leave you partially or completely paralyzed.
- Broken bone. Any bone may break in a moped or scooter crash. This includes your skull, neck, ribs, hips, pelvis, arms, legs, and other bones.
- Internal injury. Internal bleeding or damage to your internal organs can occur during a moped or scooter wreck.
In some cases, moped and scooter crash injuries can result in death.
If you’ve been hurt or your loved one has died in an Illinois moped or scooter accident, then you may have the right to recover damages. Damages can include compensation for things such as past and future healthcare costs, lost income, out-of-pocket costs, physical pain, and emotional suffering.
Before you can recover these damages, you will need to convince the insurance company or court that the person you name as the defendant is liable for your injuries and of the value of your injuries. This will require evidence. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, the evidence may include:
- Medical records
- Police report
- Eyewitness testimony
- Expert testimony
- Cell phone records
- Answers to written interrogatories
- Depositions
- Other documents
An experienced Illinois moped and scooter accident lawyer can help you gather this evidence, negotiate with the insurance company, and make compelling arguments in court. The lawyers of Hupy and Abraham are aggressive, compassionate, and experienced. We go above and beyond the call of duty for our clients. Call us or contact us through this website at any time to learn more about your rights or to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
