Bicycle Dooring Accidents

When a bicyclist is involved in a traffic accident, the possibility of injury is always significant. Even if you take reasonable safety precautions, such as wearing protective clothing and a helmet, you can still suffer injuries such as broken bones and concussions due to the potential for a catastrophic impact.

In fact, a car doesn’t have to be moving very fast to do serious damage to someone riding a bike — or even moving at all. Accidents caused by motorists or passengers opening car doors directly in the path of a bicycle rider are not uncommon, and the results can be disastrous. The lawyers at the Greenville personal injury law firm of Parham Smith & Archenhold LLC work with bicyclists injured in dooring accidents to help them seek compensation for their injuries.

Looking Out For Your Well-Being

People who ride their bikes on city streets have a lot to worry about: potholes and uneven pavement, keeping up with the speed of traffic, and drivers who don’t give bicyclists enough room to pedal safely. This makes it all the more dangerous when a car door flings open toward the street without warning.

A bike rider moving at a brisk pace might have almost no time to react to a heavy car door obstructing their path. A collision could throw a bicyclist off their bike, knocking them into traffic or even headfirst into the car’s door or window.

In many bicycle dooring accidents, the motorist or passenger who opened the door — often without first checking to see what might be coming — can be held liable for the cyclist’s financial costs, such as medical bills. Let our attorneys help you navigate your personal injury case.

Reach us online today via our secure online contact form to schedule a complimentary case evaluation with our firm. You can also reach us by telephone at 864-242-9008. We understand the needs of accident victims, so please contact us to learn more about our firm and the services we provide.

Is The Driver Always Liable For A Car-Dooring Accident?

If you suffer a serious injury from an open car door, the driver or other vehicle occupant could be liable. However, you must provide evidence that the person’s negligence or distraction led to your injuries. That is why hiring a car accident attorney to help you prove your case is beneficial.

What Damage Can I Receive In A Car-Dooring Accident Claim?

You can sue for damages in personal injury claims in South Carolina if you can prove that another party’s negligence or wrongful action caused your injuries. You could be entitled to several types of damages, including medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.

How Can I Avoid A Car-Dooring Accident?

If you can prove the driver was negligent, you can always demand compensation in a South Carolina personal injury lawsuit. But it is best to prevent a car-dooring accident, if possible. To avoid these painful accidents, try to maintain a reasonable distance from cars on the side of the road. You also can put a red flashing light on the front of your bicycle or wear a bright-colored riding vest to be as visible as possible.

How Will A Personal Injury Attorney Help My Car-Dooring Claim?

If it seems clear that the motorist opened a door into you on your bike, you might feel comfortable settling the claim on your own. After all, isn’t it just a matter of talking to the driver’s insurance provider and getting a settlement check? Not necessarily.

Even if liability seems obvious on the surface, insurance companies are known for disputing fault to avoid paying claims. According to comparative negligence rules, they could argue that you were partially at fault, thereby reducing your potential compensation. They also may say that you were not as injured as you claim and attempt to pay you less.

Your personal injury attorney is familiar with insurance company games and will fight for the most compensation for you in settlement negotiations. They also can threaten an expensive lawsuit to encourage the insurance company to pay.

How Are People Injured In Car-Dooring Accidents?

You may think that bikers are simply injured in these accidents by slamming into the door at high speed. But there are other ways they could be injured. For example, the biker may swerve into traffic to avoid the car door and be hit by another vehicle. Or, the biker could fall from their ride to avoid the door and suffer road rash and broken bones. Whatever the scenario, you could be entitled to compensation in a bike accident lawsuit if a driver opened a car door into your path.

What Are The Most Common Car-Dooring Injuries?

As you may expect, car-dooring injuries can be serious and involve skull and brain injuries, friction burns, road rash, internal bleeding, broken bones, and cuts and scrapes.

How Can I Get The Most For My Car-Dooring Injuries?

First, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible after a car-dooring injury. The longer you wait for treatment, the more likely the insurance company will question your injuries. Second, retain an experienced biking accident injury attorney immediately to demand the most compensation from the defendant’s insurance company.