Moped accidents on Cape Cod happen more and more often in recent years as economical vehicles continue to grow in popularity.
The Massachusetts state legal documentation calls them “motorized bicycles,” defined as lightweight, smaller vehicles powered either by a gas engine, electrical battery, or pedaling. Cape Cod moped owners say they are a fun way to get around town, easy to park, and inexpensive to maintain.
The unpleasant flip side is that they can also be truly dangerous. Moped crashes often result in serious injuries and even fatalities. When a moped driver has a collision, there is minimal protection between them and the concrete, other vehicles, and/or fixed objects.
In everyday language, “moped” and “scooter” are used to mean the same thing. It’s important to understand that they are looked at differently under Massachusetts law. Each has separate rules for registering, licensing, and even minimum insurance requirements.
A 6-year research study conducted by the National Institute of Health examined 5,660 moped accidents. Some of the key findings were:
It’s helpful to know from these findings that exercising certain precautions can prevent many moped accidents.
Here at Snow Law Firm, we’ve seen firsthand how severely Cape Cod moped drivers can be injured in an accident. We’ve listened to them share their experience, and in return, we share their legal options with them. If they choose to pursue legal action, we know how to help.
On Cape Cod, uninsured moped operators, and their passengers can usually still collect damages from other negligent drivers. This is true even if the moped isn’t licensed or registered.
Our advice to moped drivers, however, is to do all three; register, maintain the license, and pay for adequate insurance. This isn’t just to avoid a traffic ticket; it makes a big difference in the event of an accident where the moped driver is found to be at fault.
There are two ways moped operators can operate their vehicles differently than other cars, trucks, and motorcycles.
Another difference between mopeds and other motor vehicles is how much it costs to settle a citation. Moped fines cost a lot less:
Accidents are where it can get costly.
On Cape Cod, mopeds are not required to have the same insurance as other vehicles. However, it’s wise to secure coverage, so you’re not liable for potentially massive financial responsibility in the event of a crash. We recommend insurance that pays if you are at fault. And we advise additional coverage in case the other person is not insured.
Moped insurance usually costs less than motorcycle insurance and provides about the same amount of protection. There are many insurance providers to choose from in Massachusetts.
Usually, moped insurance includes:
When talking about who is at fault in a moped accident in Massachusetts, the law has something called a modified comparative fault law with a 51 percent bar.
This means you are entitled to a recovery for a moped injury as long as you aren’t more to blame for causing the crash than the other person.
If you are one of the many moped drivers on Cape Cod, we hope you never have an accident. However, should you ever need experienced legal representation for a moped crash, contact us right away.
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