Chicago E-Scooter Law: What Riders Need to Know in 2026

A ton of what you hear about e-scooter collisions in Chicago is flat-out wrong, especially when it comes to who’s responsible for what. If you’re a pedestrian or a rider trying to pick up the pieces after a crash, you have to know the actual law, not just the myths everyone repeats.

Myth 1: E-Scooters are unregulated and operate outside traffic laws.

This is a dangerous myth. People think e-scooters are a new, wild-west addition to Chicago’s streets, but they are regulated. The City of Chicago and Illinois state law have very specific rules for them. For instance, riders often ignore the ordinance prohibiting scooters on sidewalks in the central business district and other busy pedestrian zones. Riders are also supposed to obey all the same traffic laws as bicyclists, like stopping for red lights and yielding to people in crosswalks. The Illinois General Assembly’s Electric Skateboard Act (625 ILCS 30/) classifies them as “low-speed electric bicycles” or “electric skateboards,” meaning they’re subject to real operational rules. The expectation is that riders will operate them safely and predictably, following traffic laws instead of treating the streets like their personal playground.

Myth 2: Pedestrians always have the right-of-way, so they’re never at fault in an e-scooter collision.

While pedestrians get priority in marked crosswalks, that doesn’t mean they can’t be found at fault. Illinois law (specifically 625 ILCS 5/11-1002) requires pedestrians to exercise due care for their own safety. If a pedestrian suddenly leaps off a curb into a bike lane without looking, or walks into traffic against the signal because they’re buried in their phone, a court can assign them some of the blame. This is called comparative negligence. For example, if someone jaywalks across a busy street and gets hit by a scooter that was being ridden legally, a jury could easily find that the pedestrian was partly responsible for their own injuries, which would reduce the amount of money they could recover. Fault is often shared. You can see how other states handle similar situations by reading about Georgia pedestrian claims.

Myth 3: E-scooter riders are uninsured, so you can’t recover damages after an accident.

This myth discourages a lot of injured people from even trying to get compensation. It’s just not true that there’s no money available. While a rider might not have a special “e-scooter insurance” policy, there are other places to look for coverage. First, we often find that the rider’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy provides personal liability coverage that can pay for the damages. Second, the big rental companies like Lime and Bird have their own commercial liability insurance policies, which are meant to cover claims from their scooters being used (though their terms can be tricky). Third, if the rider was working at the time of the crash, like for a delivery service, their employer’s insurance could be on the hook. You have to investigate every possible source of coverage. Assuming a rider is “uninsured” is a good way to leave money on the table. Our own investigations often turn up unexpected policies that can pay a claim, especially with the complex rules around gig worker rights.

Myth 4: If you’re hit by an e-scooter, you don’t need to call the police or seek medical attention immediately.

This is probably the worst misconception out there. After any collision, you need to do two things immediately: call the police and get a medical evaluation. A police report creates an official record of the incident, identifies who was there, and often contains an officer’s first impression of who was at fault, that’s invaluable evidence. More importantly, injuries from these crashes (concussions, fractures, soft tissue damage) sometimes don’t show up for hours or days. Putting off a doctor’s visit is bad for your health, and it gives the insurance company a perfect excuse to argue that your injuries weren’t that serious or that something else must have caused them after the crash. Going to the ER at Northwestern Memorial Hospital or a nearby urgent care right away creates a direct, undeniable medical record linking your injuries to the collision. This is vital for cases involving post-concussion claims.

Myth 5: E-scooter collisions are minor incidents, so you don’t need a lawyer.

Don’t make the costly mistake of treating an e-scooter crash like a simple fender-bender. These collisions cause real, significant injuries like broken bones and head trauma that can lead to a mountain of medical bills and lost pay. Handling the insurance claim, applying Illinois traffic law, and proving the other person was negligent takes specialized legal skill. What does a good lawyer do? They investigate the accident scene, hunt down evidence like security camera footage from businesses along the Magnificent Mile or in River North, negotiate with the insurance adjusters, and take your case to court if they don’t offer a fair settlement. People who try to handle these claims on their own often get taken advantage of, either by accepting a lowball offer or having their claim denied entirely. We’ve seen it happen too many times.

Myth 6: E-scooter riders are always reckless. Pedestrians are never the cause of the collision.

Sure, rider negligence is a frequent cause of e-scooter crashes, but pedestrians also have a responsibility to be careful. Just as riders have to follow traffic laws, pedestrians need to exercise reasonable care for their own safety. That means looking both ways, using crosswalks, and not making sudden moves into the path of traffic. Think about a tourist near Millennium Park, staring at their phone and stepping off the curb right into the Michigan Avenue bike lane. If an e-scooter rider who was operating perfectly legally hits them, that pedestrian’s own actions are a huge factor in the collision. Illinois uses a modified comparative negligence standard. In plain English, if you (the plaintiff) are found to be more than 50% at fault for your own accident, you are barred from recovering any money at all. You have to look at every single factor that led to the crash. After an e-scooter collision in Chicago, getting a lawyer involved fast is the best way to make sure evidence is collected and your right to compensation is protected.