What are Dooring Accidents and How Do I Avoid Them?

San Diego Bicycle Accident Lawyer Offers Bike Safety Tips

One of the biggest dangers for cyclists, particularly in urban areas, is the risk of a motorist opening a car door into the bike’s path. When this happens, a cyclist may not be able to brake in time to avoid colliding with the open door. As a result, the cyclist may be thrown from the bike or topple head-first over the handlebars and/or car door. These dooring accidents not only destroy the bike, but they also often cause severe cycling injuries, including brain and spinal cord damage, which can have lifelong effects. While liability for these accidents rests on the motorist, cyclists can take steps to avoid being doored when riding downtown or anywhere where cars park alongside the road.

Bicycle accident attorney Joshua Bonnici frequently rides through downtown San Diego, so he understands the difficulties navigating bike lanes and roads that allow parallel parking. Below, he offers bike safety tips to help you avoid dooring accidents and serious cycling injuries.

How Can I Avoid Dooring Accidents When Cycling?

Cyclists may not always be able to avoid injuries caused by negligent motorists. However, you can take some steps to minimize the chances of a dooring accident when cycling alongside a line of parked cars, including:

• Avoid the Door Zone. The best way to steer clear of door accidents is riding far enough to the left that an open door will not hit you. Bike lanes are usually far to the right, next to the parallel parking areas, which sometimes means the entire lane is in the door zone. If this is the case, then you may have to ride in the roadway to avoid dooring. While San Diego bike laws typically require cyclists to stay to the far right, this is only true as long as it is reasonably safe for you to do so. Therefore, if you are riding alongside parked cars, then you can legally ride into the roadway to avoid the risk of an accident.
• Slow Down. The more slowly you ride, the easier it will be for you to stop in an emergency. If you cannot move out of the door zone, then moving at a slower pace can help you avoid dooring.
• Look for Movement. If you see someone moving inside a parked car, then proceed with caution as they may be about to open the door.
• Wear Bright Colors. When dooring accidents happen, it is usually because motorists did not see the oncoming cyclists and assumed it was safe to open the door. Wearing bright colors and reflective materials increases your chances of being seen.
• Follow Bike Light Laws. If you cycle at night, then you should ensure you have all necessary bike lights and reflectors so that others can see you:

Who is Legally Responsible for a Dooring Accident: Me or the Driver?

In most cases, motorists are liable for dooring accidents. California law states that no one may open a vehicle door alongside road traffic “unless it is reasonably safe to do so”. Thus, motorists must, by law, check for oncoming traffic, which includes both cars and bikes. The law creates a “presumption of negligence,” so the burden is on the motorist to demonstrate that he or she was not at fault. This means that, if you sustain serious cycling injuries from being doored, then you should be able to recover compensation for your damages through a claim with the driver’s insurance company.

However, the insurance company may try to minimize your settlement by claiming that you are partially responsible for your injuries. They may say that you had time to brake or avoid the crash, especially if the right traffic lane was empty at the time. While these defenses may sound intimidating, they are usually not true. An experienced bicycle accident attorney can help you fight for your right to full and fair compensation.

Questions About Bike Safety? Contact a San Diego Bicycle Accident Attorney

If you sustained cycling injuries in a dooring accident in or around San Diego, then bicycle accident lawyer Joshua Bonnici may be able to help. He can investigate the circumstances of your crash and work to get you the full compensation you deserve. Contact him today to schedule your free initial consultation.