What to do if You are Doored While Riding a Bicycle

Jul 30,2018

Bicycles are an increasingly popular mode of transportation, especially in urban areas. Unfortunately, the roads aren’t always safe for bicyclists. In 2015, there were 1,000 bicyclist fatalities and 467,000 bicycle-related injuries, according to the CDC.

Bicycle accidents are often a result of drivers not seeing the bikes or sharing the road appropriately with bicyclists. One common problem for bicyclists is getting “doored”—this happens when someone in a vehicle opens a car door as the bicyclist is riding by, hitting the bicyclist. The League of American Bicyclists estimates that 8% of all bicycle accidents are a result of a rider getting doored.

Liability for Getting Doored

For the most part, someone who doors a bicyclist will be considered at fault for the resulting injuries. The person in the vehicle has a responsibility to make sure no one is coming before opening their door. If they fail to do so and hit an oncoming bicyclist with their car door, they will likely be found at fault for the accident.

Of course, that does not mean that bicyclists do not bear any responsibility in these cases. For instance, if a bicyclist clearly saw the car pull over to stop and rode right past the door anyway, or if the bicyclist was riding unreasonably close to the car, the bicyclist might be considered at fault or partly at fault. Because California is a comparative fault state, a bicyclist could be found partly at fault for an accident, and their compensation in the personal injury claim could be reduced by their percentage of fault.

“Getting doored is a real danger for bicyclists. If you have been hurt in a bicycle accident, contact a personal injury attorney to find out what your options are,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in an auto accident and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, El Centro, and Yucca Valley, and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.