Dooring Accidents – Who is at Fault?
When a bicyclist gets hit by an opening car door, this is known as “dooring.” Dooring can result in serious injuries, including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and severe knee injuries. The door zone is so dangerous for bicyclists that it is far more likely for one to get doored by a parked car than to get hit by a moving vehicle. Continue reading to learn more about dooring.
What You Should Know About Dooring
Bicyclists can take certain precautions to avoid dooring accidents. When riding next to parked cars, it is crucial to look ahead and scan the occupants in the vehicles. It is also important to ride far enough from these parked cars that an opening door will not result in an accident. Unfortunately, many bike lanes are in door zones, which creates a false sense of safety for bicyclists who believe they are safe in their lane.
In California, the individual who is usually responsible for a dooring accident is almost always the occupant of the vehicle, according to Vehicle Code Section 22517. However, that does not stop insurance adjusters from attempting to place some or all of the blame on the bicyclist. Adjusters often contend that bicyclists should be able to avoid opening car doors and that such accidents are the result of their inattentiveness.
There are some questions you can answer, which may refute the possibility of comparative negligence in a dooring accident case:
- Where did the car strike your body?
- About how fast were you riding when you hit the car door?
- Was the door open as you began approaching it, or did it open later?
- How often do you ride?
- Were you wearing any safety gear, such as a helmet or a reflective vest?
- Were you able to notice an occupant in the vehicle?
- Did the motorist admit fault after the accident?
Discuss the Details of Your Dooring Accident with One of Our Experienced Attorneys Today!
If you were injured in a dooring accident, the knowledgeable legal team at Frish Law Group, APLC will fight on your behalf to obtain the fair and just compensation you deserve. Our team has been assisting the wrongfully injured since 2008 and is backed by a history of proven results. You can rely on us to obtain the best possible outcome for your dooring accident case.
Reach out to our law office today at (818) 686-5527 to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys to get started.
