Your Rights As A Cyclist When Hit By A Car Door

Getting hit by a suddenly opened car door is one of the most common and dangerous accidents urban cyclists face. One moment you’re riding safely in the bike lane, the next you’re colliding with a door that appeared without warning. These incidents, known as dooring accidents, cause serious injuries and raise important legal questions about fault and compensation.

Our friends at Antezana & Antezana LLC handle these cases regularly and know the unique challenges they present. A wrongful death lawyer experienced with cycling accidents understands that dooring victims often face unfair blame for crashes that weren’t their fault.

The Legal Duty Of Motor Vehicle Occupants

In most jurisdictions, drivers and passengers have a legal obligation to check for approaching traffic before opening their doors. This duty extends to checking for bicycles, not just cars. The law recognizes that opening a door into the path of a cyclist constitutes negligence.

Many states have specific statutes addressing this issue. According to traffic laws in numerous cities, no person shall open a vehicle door on the side available to moving traffic unless it’s reasonably safe to do so. Violating this duty makes the door opener liable for resulting injuries and damages.

Who Is Actually Responsible

Liability in dooring accidents typically falls on the person who opened the door. This could be the driver, a passenger, or even someone exiting a rideshare vehicle. The vehicle owner may also bear responsibility depending on the circumstances.

We often see finger-pointing after these crashes. The door opener claims they looked and didn’t see the cyclist. They argue the bike was going too fast or came out of nowhere. These defenses rarely hold up when evidence shows the cyclist was lawfully using the bike lane.

Common Injuries From Dooring Accidents

The sudden impact of a car door can throw a cyclist into traffic or onto the pavement. Injuries we see in these cases include:

• Broken bones, particularly wrists, arms, and collarbones
• Head injuries and concussions
• Shoulder and rotator cuff damage
• Road rash and soft tissue injuries
• Dental and facial trauma
• Hip and leg fractures

Some cyclists swerve to avoid the door and get struck by moving vehicles. These secondary impacts often cause the most severe injuries or fatalities.

What To Do Immediately After Being Doored

Your actions right after the accident can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation. If you’re physically able, document everything. Take photos of the vehicle, the open door, your bike damage, and the scene layout.

Get the door opener’s information. This includes their name, contact details, insurance information, and license plate number. If they were a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, note the company and driver information.

Report the incident to police. A police report creates an official record of what happened and may include citations against the door opener. Even if the person seems apologetic and promises to pay for damages, you need this documentation.

Seek medical attention promptly. Adrenaline can mask pain initially, and some injuries don’t show symptoms immediately. Medical records linking your injuries to the dooring incident strengthen your claim.

The Bike Lane Defense Doesn’t Work

Some door openers and their insurance companies argue that cyclists shouldn’t ride so close to parked cars. This argument ignores the purpose of bike lanes. Cyclists have every right to use designated bike infrastructure without expecting doors to fly open in their path.

The existence of a bike lane actually strengthens your case. It shows you were exactly where you were supposed to be, riding lawfully and predictably. The person opening the door into that space violated your right of way.

Insurance Company Tactics In Dooring Cases

Insurance adjusters often try to minimize dooring claims by questioning the cyclist’s speed or awareness. They’ll suggest you should have seen the person in the car and anticipated the door opening. They may claim you were riding recklessly or weren’t paying attention.

These arguments shift responsibility away from the negligent party. The law doesn’t require cyclists to predict every possible hazard. Door openers have the duty to look before opening, not the other way around.

Recoverable Damages Beyond Medical Bills

Dooring accidents often cause damage beyond your immediate injuries. Your bicycle may be totaled or need expensive repairs. You might miss work during recovery. Some cyclists develop anxiety about riding near parked cars, affecting their transportation and quality of life.

Compensation in these cases can include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and future medical needs. Serious injuries may justify substantial settlements that account for long-term impacts on your life.

State And Local Laws That Protect Cyclists

Many cities have enacted specific ordinances protecting cyclists from dooring incidents. Some impose fines on door openers. Others create presumptions of fault that shift the burden of proof away from injured cyclists.

Understanding how local laws apply to your situation helps build a stronger case. Traffic statutes, bike lane regulations, and vehicle codes all play a role in establishing liability and damages.

If you’ve been injured in a dooring accident, don’t let insurance companies convince you that riding near parked cars makes you partially at fault. The law protects your right to use bike lanes safely. Getting legal guidance helps you understand the full value of your claim and holds negligent parties accountable for injuries that could have been prevented with a simple mirror check.