What is Dooring? 3 Big Ways it May Impact Bicycle and Motorcycle Riders

Dooring is extremely dangerous for both drivers and bike riders.

Car dooring, usually referred to as simply dooring, occurs when someone driving a car opens their door in the path of someone riding a bicycle or motorcycle. 

California Vehicle Code 22517 states that “nobody shall open the door of a vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of traffic.”

To sum this up, you cannot open the door of your car if it will interrupt oncoming traffic. Doing so can harm or injure anyone moving forward, especially bicycle and motorcycle riders.

Someone dooring in a bicycle or motorcycle riders path can injure them in different ways:

• A rider may collide with the door.
• A rider may hit another vehicle trying to avoid the door.
• A rider may fall off their bike trying to avoid the door.

Remember that bicycle and motorcycle riders may not have as much protection to help them in the event of a collision. Even further, riders have no control over any other traffic if they were to swerve trying to dodge the door.

Bike and motorcycle riders can suffer from a number of injuries, including:

• Neck injuries like whiplash, damaged vertebrae, etc.
• Broken bones
• Head injuries like traumatic brain injuries
• Cuts and lacerations that lead to nerve damage
• Back injuries like bulging or herniated disc
• Lower body injuries to the legs, abdomen,  etc.
• Upper body injuries to the arms, chest, etc.
• Paralysis 
• Internal injuries like damaged organs
• Internal hemorrhaging 
• Wrongful death

In a dooring accident, the victim must prove that the other driver was liable. Liability is defined as the “fact that someone is legally responsible for something”.

Proving someone liable involves showing that the person exiting the car was negligent.

Negligence requires four important steps:

First, the driver has a duty to operate his or her vehicle in a safe manner. This step is pretty much a given.

Next, you would have to show that the other driver breached this duty. In this case, it would be opening the door in your path. 

Furthermore, you must prove the actions of the driver caused the accident. 

Finally, it must be shown that the accident directly caused injuries or monetary losses to you.

Proving liability would also benefit by supplying evidence of the accident. A few potential forms of evidence could include:

• Security or surveillance footage
• Medical records
• Witness statements
• Photos or videos taken by you following the accident

Dooring is a serious offense, but it’s not uncommon for the guilty party or their insurance company to deny any wrongdoing. They may try to claim that it wasn’t the driver’s fault, but rather your own fault.

You know the truth, and if you were injured in a dooring accident that was no fault of your own, you deserve fair and proper compensation. 

Afterall, an injury following a dooring accident can lead to a number of ramifications such as:

• Medical bills and expenses
• Lost wages after time off from work
• Losing out on time with loved ones, or just overall enjoyment of life

At C&B Law Group, our LA accident attorneys are prepared to help you following an injury caused by dooring. 

You should have to suffer following a dooring crash. The pain and loss of time from family or friends may seem irreparable.

At C&B Law Group, our team of Los Angeles area lawyers are dedicated to assisting you with the best possible service we can by providing you:

• Professional, prompt, and compassionate staff
• Clear and concise communication
• Honesty and transparency regarding the progress of your case

Most importantly, we will do whatever we must do within our legal power to ensure you are properly compensated following a personal injury.

Let our Southern California personal injury attorneys assist you with an accident claim due to dooring. 

We have offices in Burbank and Downtown Los Angeles. Additionally, we service clients all over Southern California, including areas such as:

• Orange County cities like Santa Ana, Anaheim, and Huntington Beach
• The Inland Empire, with cities like Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ontario
• Bakersfield and the rest of Kern County

Contact us today to learn more about receiving a free consultation.