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Car door bike accidents are relatively common. This type of accident is often referred to as “dooring”, and often occurs when a car door is suddenly opened on the driver’s side of a parked car. A cyclist riding in close proximity to a suddenly opened car door may collide with the car door or window or may fall while swerving to get out of the way, incurring injuries and damage to the bike.
If you have been injured in this type of accident, our bicycle accident attorneys at Bike Legal can help you receive the compensation you deserve. Our legal team has extensive experience in dealing with cycling accidents and many are cyclists themselves. We understand the unique concerns and challenges you are facing, as well as how to effectively navigate the legal process, take on liable insurance companies, and obtain fair compensation for your losses.
Contact Bike Legal at 1-877-BIKE LEGAL. Your initial consultation is free.
Proper procedure requires a driver to check their side mirror and look over their shoulder before opening their door. When a careless motorist opens the door of his or her car into the path of an oncoming cyclist, even the most skilled cyclist may not have time to stop or avoid the obstacle. This can lead to serious, even life-altering injuries for the cyclist. Even low-speed dooring accidents can have devastating results, as it can cause cyclists to be thrown from their bicycles and into the path of oncoming vehicles.
Cyclists who are not riding as fast as motor vehicle traffic generally must ride as far to the right side of the road as possible, with the exception of one-way streets which allow cyclists to ride to the far left. If a bike lane is provided, cyclists are required by law use it. While these laws are meant to protect cyclists, riding close to parked cars exposes bicycle riders to the possibility of dooring accidents.
State laws prohibits drivers from opening a car door unless it is reasonably safe to do so and does not interfere with the movement of traffic. Dooring accidents are usually the fault of the driver. Some jurisdictions even consider it a traffic violation to leave a vehicle door open if it unnecessarily blocks a travel lane. Despite this, there are still certain defenses that drivers may use to attempt to place blame for a dooring accident on a cyclist.
Drivers may be able to argue that a dooring accident was at least partially the fault of a cyclist if:
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