Cyclist riding in a bike lane in the city
When a cyclist is riding next to a row of parked cars, they may have no time to react when a driver or passenger suddenly opens their door. This type of bicycle accident, which is known as “dooring,” is one of the most common ways bicycle riders are injured in areas where vehicles park on the side of the road. Understanding how these crashes happen, who may be responsible, and what options are available can potentially help bicycle riders who have been injured determine how to proceed.
What Is Dooring?
Dooring happens when someone opens a car door into the path of a bicycle rider. The person who opens their door is often a driver getting out of a parked car, but passengers can cause dooring crashes too. In addition to parked vehicles, people who are getting out of taxis and rideshare vehicles may also put nearby bicyclists at risk.
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A bicyclist may collide with an open car door directly, or they might be forced to swerve to avoid it. In either situation, a person may be sent into moving traffic and struck by another vehicle, or they may lose control and fall.
Why Is Dooring So Dangerous?
Dooring crashes leave riders with almost no time to react. A car door can open in less than a second, and a cyclist may have no opportunity to stop, even when they notice an open door in their path.
Several factors can make these crashes especially risky:
- Bike lanes are often placed right next to parked cars, so bicyclists who are traveling within designated lanes that are meant to be safe may be put at risk.
- A car door is a hard, solid object that does not give way on impact. A collision can send a cyclist flying forward over their handlebars, leading to injuries when they land on the pavement.
- A rider who swerves to avoid a car door may end up in the path of passing cars, trucks, or buses. They might also be pushed into moving lanes of traffic by an open door.
- Cyclists have little physical protection beyond a helmet. They can potentially be injured when they land on the ground or are struck by other vehicles.
What Injuries Can Dooring Cause?
The injuries a bicyclist may suffer when they collide with a car door might depend on how fast they were traveling, how they landed, and whether another vehicle was involved. Some injuries may be minor, while others could have an impact on a person for the rest of their life.
Many dooring victims are thrown over their handlebars, or they may fall sideways onto the pavement. This can lead to broken bones in the wrists, arms, collarbones, and ribs. Cuts, deep scrapes known as road rash, and bruising are also very common.
Some bicyclists may experience serious or long-term injuries. Head injuries might also occur, even when a person is wearing a helmet. They may experience symptoms such as headaches, memory problems, mood changes, difficulties with coordination, seizures, speech and language issues, and more.
Other serious injuries can potentially include spinal cord damage, facial injuries, dental injuries, and internal bleeding. If a rider is pushed into traffic and struck by another vehicle, the injuries may be life-threatening.
What Traffic Laws Apply to Dooring?
Many states have laws that make it illegal to open a car door when doing so would interfere with traffic. These laws apply to drivers and passengers alike. They generally require people to check to make sure the road is clear before opening a door on the side of a vehicle facing traffic. They will also be required to avoid leaving a door open longer than needed.
Most of the time, dooring law is treated as a traffic violation, which is a minor offense similar to a speeding ticket. The penalty is typically a fine. In some areas, a violation may also add points to a person’s driver's license. If dooring results in a serious injury or wrongful death, a person could face more serious charges depending on the circumstances and the state’s laws.
Options for Bicycle Riders Injured by Dooring
A cyclist who has been hurt in a bicycle accident because of dooring may be eligible for financial compensation. They may be able to file an insurance claim or take steps to recover compensation from a negligent driver in a personal injury case.
Who May Be Responsible for a Dooring Accident?
The person who opened their door and injured a cyclist is often the one who may be held responsible. Opening a door without looking for bicycles nearby is a form of negligence. In some cases, a rideshare company, taxi company, or employer might also share responsibility.
What Losses Can a Victim of a Dooring Accident Recover?
Compensation in a personal injury case involving dooring may cover medical bills, future medical care, lost income, damage to a bicycle and other property, and pain and suffering. The amount a person might receive will depend on the details of the case and the laws where the crash happened.
How Long Does a Victim of Dooring Have to Act?
Every state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases. This is a deadline detailing when a person can file a claim. In many states, this deadline will be two to three years. If a person misses the deadline, they may not be able to recover compensation.
How Can an Attorney Help After a Dooring Crash?
When a person has been injured by dooring while riding a bicycle, they may face painful injuries, large medical bills and other expenses, and other problems. A personal injury attorney can typically explain how the laws in a specific state address dooring, and they can potentially gather evidence showing that a driver or passenger in a vehicle was responsible for an accident. They may also be able to determine the full value of a person’s losses and make sure important deadlines are met during their case as they take steps to recover financial compensation.
