Illinois Scooter and E-Scooter Accident Lawyers

5-Star Rated Injury Attorneys For Victims of Electric Scooter Crashes in Chicago and Throughout Illinois

Since their introduction, electric scooters, also known as e-scooters, have transformed urban mobility. Whether commuting through downtown Chicago, riding near a train station, traveling across a college campus, or using a rental scooter to get across town, thousands of Illinois residents and visitors now rely on electric scooters for short trips every day.

But when an e-scooter rider is struck by a car, truck, rideshare vehicle, or delivery driver, the injuries can be devastating. A scooter rider has no seatbelt, airbag, steel frame, or meaningful protection from the force of impact. Even a collision at city speeds can cause a traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, facial fracture, broken wrist, broken leg, torn ligament, permanent scarring, or a disability that changes a person’s life.

At John J. Malm & Associates, we understand that an electric scooter accident is not simply a smaller version of a car crash. These cases often involve disputed liability, fast-moving evidence, confusing insurance issues, rental company records, municipal rules, roadway defects, and questions about whether the rider, driver, scooter company, or another party was legally responsible.

For more than 33 years, attorney John J. Malm has represented injured people and families throughout Illinois. Our team of six award-winning personal injury attorneys has more than 100 years of combined litigation experience and has recovered more than $100 million for our clients. We handle serious injury cases involving motor vehicle crashes, pedestrian accidents, bicycle collisions, motorcycle crashes, defective products, premises liability, wrongful death, and emerging transportation cases involving e-scooters and micromobility devices.

When you hire our firm, we do not treat your case like a claim number. We investigate what happened, preserve evidence before it disappears, identify every available insurance policy, document the full extent of your damages, and prepare your case as though it may ultimately be presented to a jury. That trial-ready approach is often what gives an injured person the best chance to recover full and fair compensation.

“Electric scooters represent a new frontier in personal injury law. They’re largely unregulated, riders generally aren’t required to have a driver’s license, and many children are operating devices that may not be covered by any insurance at all. Determining whether coverage exists often requires a careful review of the applicable auto, homeowners, or umbrella policies and their exclusions.” – John J. Malm, Naperville e-scooter accident attorney

Recent Case Result: $823,000 Settlement for an Illinois E-Scooter Rider

Our firm recently secured an $823,000 settlement for a client who suffered serious injuries after being struck by a motor vehicle while riding an electric scooter in Chicago.

Like many e-scooter cases, liability was disputed from the beginning. The insurance company questioned how the collision occurred and attempted to minimize the claim. The case also required careful communication and documentation because English was not our client’s first language.

Rather than accepting the insurance company’s version of events, our attorneys developed the case through investigation. Evidence was gathered, photographs and available scene information were reviewed, witnesses and liability facts were evaluated, and the full extent of the client’s injuries and damages was carefully presented. By building the case from the ground up, we were able to resolve the claim for $823,000 before trial. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. But this settlement demonstrates an important point: e-scooter accidents should not be dismissed as minor injury claims. When a rider is hit by a car or truck, the case deserves the same level of preparation, investigation, and seriousness as any major motor vehicle or pedestrian injury case.

Why Experience Matters in E-Scooter Accident Cases

Electric scooter accident claims are among the most misunderstood personal injury cases because they often involve legal and factual questions that do not arise in ordinary car accidents.

Who had the legal right of way? The answer often depends on traffic laws, municipal scooter rules, witness statements, surveillance footage, roadway markings, and the physical evidence at the scene.

Did the driver violate Illinois traffic laws? Drivers may be responsible when they fail to yield, turn across a rider’s path, open a door into traffic, drift into a bike lane, speed, or drive while distracted.

Was the scooter rider legally allowed to be riding there? The answer may depend on the city or municipality because e-scooter rules can vary by location and may differ for streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, trails, and other public ways.

Was the scooter defective or malfunctioning? Brake failures, steering problems, battery issues, sudden acceleration, loose handlebars, or maintenance failures may support claims against a manufacturer, distributor, repair company, or rental operator.

Did dangerous road conditions contribute to the crash? Potholes, broken pavement, construction plates, gravel, utility covers, and uneven surfaces can be especially dangerous because scooters have small wheels and limited stability.

Is there more than one insurance policy available? Many cases involve multiple possible sources of recovery, including driver liability insurance, commercial policies, umbrella coverage, UM/UIM coverage, product liability coverage, or municipal coverage.

Was important evidence preserved before it disappeared? Surveillance video, scooter data, witness information, damaged equipment, police body camera footage, and roadway conditions can disappear quickly unless action is taken immediately.

Every one of these questions can affect the value and outcome of an e-scooter injury claim. That is why our attorneys begin investigating these cases as quickly as possible. Our goal is to determine exactly how the crash happened, who is responsible, what insurance coverage is available, and how the injuries have affected our client’s life.

Why E-Scooter Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries

An e-scooter may look small, but the injury risk is not small. A rider can be thrown to the pavement, into a parked car, under a moving vehicle, or directly onto the curb. A rider may also be forced to choose between hitting an opening car door, swerving into traffic, or crashing into broken pavement.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that e-scooters were associated with an estimated 380,000 emergency department visits from 2017 through 2024, and CPSC staff was aware of 206 e-scooter-related fatalities during that period. In a 2024 special study of e-scooter injuries, CPSC reported that rental e-scooters accounted for 35 percent of e-scooter-related emergency department visits, 54 percent of injuries occurred on paved roads, 32 percent occurred on paved sidewalks, and only 18 percent of injured riders reported wearing a helmet.

Those national numbers reflect what we see in practice: e-scooter crashes often produce injuries far more serious than insurers initially acknowledge. A rider may be discharged from the emergency room and still require surgery, orthopedic follow-up, neurological care, physical therapy, pain management, psychological counseling, or long-term work restrictions.

Common Causes of Illinois E-Scooter Accidents

Every e-scooter accident is unique, but many serious cases fall into recurring patterns.

Drivers Failing to Yield

Many crashes occur when a driver turns left across the path of an oncoming scooter rider, pulls out of an alley or parking lot, or turns right across a bike lane without checking for an approaching rider. Drivers often claim they did not see the scooter until it was too late. That is not a defense if a reasonably careful driver should have seen the rider and yielded.

Distracted Driving

Texting, GPS use, rideshare app activity, food delivery app activity, and in-vehicle distractions can prevent drivers from seeing scooter riders. A few seconds of inattention can be enough to cause a life-changing collision.

Dooring Accidents

In Chicago and other urban areas, a parked driver or passenger may open a vehicle door directly into a scooter rider’s path. These crashes can throw a rider into moving traffic or onto the pavement, causing fractures, head injuries, and facial trauma.

Unsafe Lane Changes

Drivers who fail to check mirrors and blind spots may sideswipe scooter riders traveling near the curb, in a bike lane, or along the right side of traffic. Commercial vehicles and rideshare vehicles can present particular risks because of frequent stopping, merging, and passenger pickups.

Dangerous Road Conditions

Small scooter wheels are vulnerable to roadway defects that a car might pass over without incident. Potholes, pavement seams, gravel, metal plates, broken curbs, sinkholes, uneven transitions, and construction debris can cause a rider to lose control almost instantly.

Defective or Poorly Maintained Scooters

A scooter may malfunction because of defective design, manufacturing defects, poor maintenance, worn brakes, loose handlebars, battery problems, or software issues. In rental cases, the scooter company’s inspection and maintenance practices may become important evidence.

Poor Visibility and Night Riding

Low light conditions, inadequate scooter lighting, poor street lighting, dark clothing, glare, rain, and obstructed sightlines can all contribute to collisions. Visibility issues do not automatically defeat a claim, but they must be analyzed carefully.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for an Illinois E-Scooter Accident?

One of the most important questions after an e-scooter accident is: who is legally responsible for paying for the injuries? The answer depends on the facts. More than one party may be at fault.

• The driver of a passenger vehicle who failed to yield, drove distracted, opened a door, or violated traffic laws.
• A commercial driver or delivery company if the driver was working at the time of the crash.
• A rideshare driver if the accident involved an Uber, Lyft, taxi, or similar vehicle.
• A scooter manufacturer if a design or manufacturing defect caused or contributed to the crash.
• A rental scooter company if negligent maintenance, unsafe deployment, or defective equipment played a role.
• A construction company or contractor if an unsafe work zone or road hazard contributed to the accident.
• A municipality or public entity if dangerous roadway conditions were caused by negligent maintenance, subject to special notice rules and immunities.
• Another cyclist, scooter rider, or pedestrian if that person’s conduct caused the collision.

Identifying all responsible parties matters because each responsible party may have separate insurance coverage. In serious injury cases, finding the right source of coverage can make a major difference in the recovery available to an injured rider.

Insurance Coverage and Compensation for E-Scooter Injuries

One of the most confusing aspects of e-scooter accidents is insurance coverage. E-scooter companies may have liability waivers that protect them from certain lawsuits, and they often do not provide insurance coverage for riders. Here’s how different types of insurance may apply after an electric scooter accident:

• Auto Insurance: If a car hits a scooter, the driver’s auto liability insurance typically covers the scooter rider’s injuries.
• Health Insurance: If you’re injured and no other insurance applies, your own health insurance may cover your medical treatment.
• Homeowner’s or Renter’s Insurance: These may provide liability coverage if you injure someone while riding a scooter, though coverage is not guaranteed.
• Umbrella Policies: If you have a personal umbrella liability policy, it may provide additional protection, depending on the policy language.

Because of these complications, having an experienced Illinois e-scooter injury lawyer can make a significant difference in identifying all possible sources of compensation.

What to Do If You’ve Been Injured in an E-Scooter Accident

If you are injured in a scooter accident, take the following steps to ensure your health and protect your legal rights:​

1. Seek Medical Attention: Even if injuries seem minor, it’s crucial to get evaluated by a medical professional. Some injuries may not be immediately apparent.​
2. Report the Accident: Contact local law enforcement to file an official accident report. This documentation can be vital for insurance claims and legal proceedings.​
3. Gather Information: Collect contact and insurance information from all parties involved, including witnesses. Take photographs of the accident scene, your injuries, and any property damage.​
4. Preserve Evidence: Keep any damaged equipment or clothing as they may serve as evidence. Avoid repairing or disposing of these items until advised by your attorney.​
5. Consult an Attorney: An experienced Illinois scooter accident attorney can guide you through the legal process, help determine liability after the crash, and work to secure you compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.​
6. Notify Your Insurance Company: Inform your insurance provider about the accident promptly. Provide them with all necessary documentation, but avoid giving recorded statements or accepting any settlements until you’ve spoken with a personal injury attorney. Insurance companies often seek to minimize payouts, and early settlement offers may not fully compensate you for your injuries and long-term losses.

What is the Statute of Limitations for a Scooter Accident?

If you’ve been injured in a scooter accident in Illinois, it’s crucial to understand the statute of limitations. In most personal injury cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If the defendant is a city or government entity, special notice requirements and shorter deadlines may apply.

It’s also critical to preserve all evidence related to your e-scooter accident, including:

• Medical records and bills
• Photographs of the scene and injuries
• Witness statements
• Police reports
• The scooter itself (if possible)
• Communications with insurance companies or scooter companies

How Our Attorneys Investigate E-Scooter Accident Claims

Successful scooter cases are built through evidence, not assumptions. The investigation should begin as quickly as possible because some of the most important evidence can disappear within days.

Depending on the case, our investigation may include:

• Inspecting and photographing the accident scene.
• Obtaining the police crash report and any supplemental reports.
• Locating and interviewing witnesses.
• Preserving nearby surveillance video before it is overwritten.
• Requesting police body camera footage when available.
• Photographing skid marks, debris, roadway defects, vehicle damage, and sightlines.
• Preserving the damaged scooter and rider’s clothing or helmet.
• Requesting electronic ride data when available.
• Analyzing GPS, app, or rental records when relevant.
• Reviewing traffic signal timing, roadway design, or construction records.
• Consulting accident reconstruction experts in serious or disputed cases.
• Gathering complete medical records, imaging, bills, and future treatment opinions.
• Identifying every available insurance policy and preserving claims against each one.

The purpose of this investigation is not simply to prove that a crash occurred. The purpose is to tell the full story: what happened, why it happened, who is responsible, what injuries resulted, and how those injuries changed the client’s life.

Illinois Law, Scooter Rules, and Comparative Negligence

Illinois law governing e-scooters is developing. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-1518, local units of government may authorize and regulate the operation of low-speed electric scooters on highways, sidewalks, trails, or other public rights-of-way where bicycles are permitted. That means the applicable rules may depend heavily on where the crash occurred.

In Chicago:

• E-scooter sharing programs have been introduced through pilot programs.
• Scooters are generally not allowed on sidewalks.
• Riders must follow traffic laws similar to those for bicycles.
• Helmets are recommended but not legally required for adults.
• There is a maximum speed limit of 15 mph.

Illinois also follows a modified comparative negligence rule. In most personal injury cases, an injured person may recover compensation if he or she is not more than 50 percent at fault. However, any recovery may be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to the injured person.

For example, if a jury found that a scooter rider’s damages were $500,000 but also found the rider 20 percent at fault, the recovery could be reduced by 20 percent. If the rider were found more than 50 percent at fault, recovery may be barred. Because insurance companies often try to blame scooter riders for their own injuries, evidence preservation and careful liability analysis are critical.

Lessons From Our $823,000 E-Scooter Settlement

Our recent $823,000 e-scooter settlement reinforced several lessons that apply to many serious scooter cases.

Lesson 1: Do Not Let the Insurance Company Define the Case

Insurance companies often try to frame scooter cases as rider-choice cases: the rider chose to use a scooter, therefore the rider accepted the risk. That is not the law. A negligent driver can still be responsible for failing to yield, driving distracted, making an unsafe turn, or violating traffic laws.

Lesson 2: Evidence Must Be Developed Early

In e-scooter cases, the best evidence may include photographs, video, witness statements, app data, road conditions, and medical documentation. Waiting too long can allow key evidence to disappear.

Lesson 3: Communication Matters

When a client has language barriers, serious injuries, or difficulty navigating medical care, the law firm must work harder to make sure the client’s story is understood and documented correctly.

Lesson 4: Serious Scooter Injuries Deserve Serious Case Preparation

A scooter case involving major injury should be prepared like a serious automobile or pedestrian case, not treated as a minor claim because the vehicle involved was small.

Lesson 5: Insurance Coverage Must Be Investigated Completely

A strong liability case has limited value if the available insurance coverage is not identified. Our attorneys look carefully for all possible policies and coverage sources.

Frequently Asked Questions About Illinois E-Scooter Accidents

Who pays if I was hit by a car while riding an e-scooter?

Usually, the negligent driver’s auto liability insurance is the first source of recovery, but other coverage may also apply depending on the facts.

Can I still recover if I was not wearing a helmet?

Yes, not wearing a helmet does not automatically bar recovery, but the insurance company may try to argue that helmet use would have reduced certain injuries.

What if the driver says he never saw me?

A driver’s failure to see a scooter rider is not a complete defense if a reasonably careful driver should have seen the rider and avoided the crash.

Can I recover if I was partially at fault?

In Illinois, you may generally recover if you are not more than 50 percent at fault, although your recovery may be reduced by your percentage of fault.

What if a pothole or road defect caused my crash?

You may have a claim against a municipality, contractor, property owner, or other responsible party, but public entity cases may involve special notice rules, deadlines, and defenses.

Can I sue the scooter company?

You may have a claim if the scooter was defective, poorly maintained, improperly deployed, or if the company’s conduct contributed to the crash, but rental agreements and waivers must be reviewed carefully.

What if the driver fled the scene?

A hit-and-run scooter crash may involve uninsured motorist coverage, other household policies, surveillance evidence, police investigation, and potential claims against additional responsible parties.

How long do I have to file a scooter accident lawsuit in Illinois?

Most Illinois personal injury claims have a two-year statute of limitations, but shorter deadlines may apply if a municipality or public entity is involved.

Should I speak with the insurance adjuster?

You should report the claim when required, but you should not provide a recorded statement or accept a settlement before speaking with an attorney.

How much is my e-scooter accident case worth?

The value depends on liability, insurance coverage, injury severity, medical treatment, permanency, lost income, pain and suffering, and how the injury affects your life.

Contact the Award-Winning Illinois Scooter Accident Lawyers at John J. Malm & Associates

If you’ve been injured in a scooter accident, you may be dealing with medical bills, time off work, and uncertainty about who will pay. Don’t try to navigate this process alone. At John J. Malm & Associates, we help injury victims throughout Illinois understand their rights, deal with insurers, and pursue fair compensation after an accident.

If you or a loved one was hurt in a scooter accident, contact our top-rated Illinois e-scooter attorneys today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll listen to your story, explain your options, and help you get the compensation you deserve.