Moped & Scooter Accident Attorney Chicago, IL

• Driver impairment causes a number of moped and scooter accidents. Impairment can include Alcohol, Fatigue, Distraction, Medical Conditions, Drugs and other causes.
• Inattention is another common cause of moped accidents. Mopeds and scooters are rather small, quiet vehicles that negligent drivers often overlook. They are also rather quiet.
• Back-out accidents may occur when tortfeasors (negligent drivers) back out of their driveways without noticing a moped.
• Left-turn crashes pose similar issues. If a tortfeasor is stopped waiting to make a left turn against traffic, the tortfeasor may suddenly accelerate to shoot through a gap in traffic. If the tortfeasor did not see the moped, the tortfeasor usually crosses directly into the rider’s path.

Right-of-way crashes, like the ones described above, usually involve the negligence per se doctrine. In most cases, tortfeasors who violate safety laws are liable for car crash damages as a matter of law. The negligence per se shortcut also applies in many of the aforementioned driving impairment cases, particularly alcohol and drugs.

In other situations, the victim/plaintiff must establish a lack of ordinary care to obtain compensation in these cases. Fatigued driving is a good example. Drowsy driving is not illegal—but it is extremely careless, mostly because fatigue and alcohol affect the brain in much the same way. In fact, driving after eighteen consecutive awake hours is like driving with a .05 BAC.

Damages in both negligence and negligence per se claims usually include compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages may be available as well, in some extreme cases.

An experienced moped accident attorney can help you mitigate the claims process. Remember, insurance companies do not have your best interests in mind. A knowledgeable attorney can identify the most advantageous pieces of evidence and help you to better understand the laws surrounding your case.

At Coogan Gallagher, our lawyers are on your side. We are here to help protect your interests, working to get the compensation that you deserve.

Moped and scooter crashes often result in serious injuries, and you have a limited amount of time to file a claim. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Chicago, IL, contact Coogan Gallagher today.