When a motorist opens their car door when a bicyclist is coming their way, this creates a sudden obstacle for the cyclist. Dooring occurs when a person opens a car door into a rider’s path, especially near a parked car or bike lane. Often this causes an accident that seriously harms the bicyclist. By checking their surroundings before opening the doors of a car, drivers and their passengers can avoid dooring accidents.
Introduction to Dooring
Dooring accidents occur when a driver or passenger opens a car door directly into the path of an oncoming cyclist, creating a sudden and dangerous obstacle. These incidents are especially common near parked cars along busy streets or in bike lanes where vehicles are stopped.
Because bikes often travel at a high speed, cyclists may not have enough time to react to open doors, leading to serious injuries or even fatal collisions. The dangers of dooring are a significant concern for bicyclists, as the door zone—the area next to parked vehicles where car doors may swing open—poses a constant threat. Understanding how and why dooring accidents occur is essential for both cyclists and motorists.
By staying alert to the risks, avoiding the door zone when possible, and being cautious around parked vehicles and opening car doors, cyclists can better protect themselves from the dangers of dooring and reduce the likelihood of accidents and injuries.
Understanding the Risks
Dooring accidents are a leading cause of bicycle accidents, often resulting in severe injuries such as head injuries, broken bones, and spinal cord damage. The door zone, which is the space between parked cars and the lane of moving traffic, is a particularly high-risk area for cyclists. When riding in this zone, cyclists are vulnerable to car doors suddenly opening in their path, which can cause them to be thrown from their bikes or into traffic.
Motorists and passengers have a duty to check for oncoming cyclists before opening car doors, as failing to do so can lead to liability for any resulting injuries. Cyclists should exercise caution when riding near parked cars, always being mindful of the potential for open doors. By understanding these risks and the importance of protecting vulnerable road users, both cyclists and motorists can work together to prevent dooring accidents and reduce the number of serious injuries on our roads.
Injuries Caused by Dooring Accidents
Though you may safely ride your bicycle, you cannot predict what other drivers and their passengers will do. Cyclists are more vulnerable to accidents since they are not wrapped in their vehicles and do not have seatbelts or airbags. Dooring accidents are fairly common and can cause severe physical injuries to the biker. A collision with a car door often injures the cyclist, sometimes resulting in road rash.
Listed below are some of the more common injuries caused when dooring accidents:
- Back and neck injuries like whiplash
- Severe cuts, lacerations, scrapes, and bruising
- Road rash and abrasions
- Broken bones
- Dislocations
- Internal damage to organs and internal bleeding
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord damage
Dooring Accidents Steadily Increasing
Bicycling is great for our health and the environment. As more and more people incorporate bicycling into their lifestyle, there are increased numbers of cyclists on the road. Most dooring accidents happen in urban areas, especially where cars are parked along the side of the street. While bicycle enthusiasts are avoiding the annoying parts of driving and parking in a city, they are exposing themselves to the potential for accidents like being doored.
To avoid being doored by the parked cars parallel to the street, a bicyclist may have to ride in the middle lane. This may cause other obstacles as it slows the traffic flow. Many cyclists are forced to swerve to avoid being doored, which causes them to get in the way of other motorists, resulting in accidents. Riding recklessly or failing to maintain a safe distance—typically at least 3 feet—from parked cars can increase the risk of dooring accidents.
Causes and Consequences of Dooring
Most dooring accidents occur when a vehicle occupant—whether a driver or passenger—opens a car door into the path of an oncoming cyclist without first checking for approaching traffic. This simple act of negligence can have devastating consequences, including serious injuries, financial compensation claims, and, in some cases, fatalities.
Common causes of dooring accidents include failing to look for cyclists, being distracted, or not realizing the dangers of interfering with the movement of other vehicles. The aftermath of a dooring accident can be life-changing for the injured cyclist, leading to medical bills, lost wages, and long-term recovery.
Preventing dooring accidents requires a commitment from both motorists and cyclists to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings. Education, awareness campaigns, and improvements to road infrastructure can all play a role in reducing these accidents and protecting cyclists from the dangers of dooring.
Avoiding Dooring Accidents if You are Traveling by Automobile
There is a maneuver referred to as the “Dutch Reach” that may help those traveling in a motor vehicle to avoid causing a dooring accident. This technique is advised for drivers and passengers. They are advised to get into the habit of opening the car’s door with the hand that is furthest away from the door handle. By doing this, the individual in the car will be forced to turn their heads, so they are reminded to check for cyclists before opening the door.
When opening a door using the “Dutch Reach,” you will only open it a small amount at first since you cannot sling it all the way open. This will clue the cyclist that someone might be about to open the door wider, and it causes the passenger or driver to check before they do. This causes a safer situation for everyone.
Reducing the Risk: Infrastructure and Education
Reducing the risk of dooring accidents requires a combination of better infrastructure and public education. Cities can help protect cyclists by installing protected bike lanes and buffer zones that separate bicycles from parked cars, minimizing the chance of a car door opening into a rider’s path. Clear signage and road markings can also alert both drivers and cyclists to the presence of bike lanes and the dangers of the door zone.
Education is equally important—teaching drivers and passengers about the Dutch Reach technique encourages them to check for oncoming cyclists before opening car doors. Community awareness campaigns, driver education programs, and outreach to vulnerable road users can all help prevent dooring accidents. By investing in safer streets and promoting responsible behavior, we can create an environment where cyclists and motorists share the road safely and reduce the number of dooring incidents.
Dooring Law in California
According to California law (state law), the onus is on those in the vehicle to avoid dooring accidents. No person on the side of moving traffic can open the door unless they can do so reasonably safely. Car doors should only be opened long enough to safely unload passengers.
Dooring Accident Lawsuits
Those operating motor vehicles have the responsibility to open their car doors safely. If a dooring accident occurred, they likely failed to meet this obligation. If you or a loved one has been injured in a dooring accident, you may be entitled to compensation.
Dealing with the insurance company after a collision can be complex, and providing witness statements can help establish fault and support your claim.
To recover damages, the driver must prove the following:
- Negligence of the driver or passenger who opened the door
- Proof that your injuries were sustained in the dooring accident
- You must demonstrate that the dooring accident resulted in you suffering damages
Dooring accidents are a preventable but all-too-common danger for cyclists, especially in urban areas with heavy traffic and parked vehicles. By understanding the risks, causes, and consequences of dooring, and by taking proactive steps to prevent these accidents, we can protect vulnerable road users and make our streets safer for everyone.
Whether you are a cyclist, driver, or passenger, always pay attention to your surroundings, use safe practices like the Dutch Reach, and respect the space of others on the road. If you or a loved one has been injured in a dooring accident, seek medical attention and consult a bicycle accident attorney to understand your legal rights and options for financial compensation.
Together, we can reduce the dangers of dooring and ensure that everyone arrives at their destination safely.
Injured Cyclists Should Contact Us Today
If a dooring accident caused you harm, you could be eligible for financial compensation. Reach out to the Orange County bicycle attorneys at Callahan & Blaine for assistance. Our impressive roster of more than 28 skilled attorneys has over 700 years of combined experience. To secure the maximum settlement available, you need the diligent representation you will find at Callahan & Blaine. Call (714) 241-4444 or fill out our contact form.
