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Common Causes and Injuries From a Car Door Bike Accident

car door bike accident

Although biking is a great alternative to operating a motor vehicle, it can be highly dangerous depending on where you ride. Even if you ride your bike with extreme caution, drivers may fail to see you and cause a devastating accident as a result. Unlike other methods of transportation, bikers do not have much bodily protection in the event that they experience a collision. One type of bike collision that can leave cyclists with severe or fatal injuries is a car door bike accident, meaning accidents caused by an open car door. If a driver or passenger leaves their door ajar, a biker could collide with it, resulting in injuries or death.

Whether you’re a cyclist or a motorist, you need to be aware of what causes dooring accidents and common injuries that occur as a result. These accidents can have devastating consequences, so you need to know how to avoid them and how to seek compensation after a dooring accident.  

What Is a Dooring Accident?

Dooring accidents occur when bikers hit open car doors. Motorists may leave their car door open on a busy road or exit their vehicles without being fully aware of their surroundings. Although biking is becoming an increasingly common form of transportation, drivers and passengers still often fail to anticipate bikers. When opening their car door, a driver or passenger may watch for cars to pass by, but they may fail to spot a cyclist coming their way. 

A cyclist that hits an open car door may fall or be flung from their bike, leading to serious or fatal injuries. 

Causes of Dooring Accidents in Kentucky

Several factors can contribute to a dooring accident. The most common scenario that results in a dooring accident is a driver or passenger opening their car door in the way of an oncoming biker. This situation is especially common in urban areas because many people parallel park. As they exit their vehicle, they may fail to notice a fast-approaching cyclist. 

Another situation that can cause a dooring accident is a driver or passenger opening their car door in a loading zone. Additionally, some vehicle occupants may open their car door suddenly while in traffic. 

An additional type of dooring accident occurs when a bike rider reacts to an open vehicle door. A biker may quickly maneuver their bike away from an open car door which then results in them colliding with a car, pedestrian, or another cyclist. 

Kentucky Dooring Injuries

When a cyclist hits a car door, they may suffer severe injuries from the impact, and they may also experience injuries if the door causes them to fall or be flung from their bike. Additionally, cyclists can become seriously or fatally injured if they suffer from a collision when swerving away from a vehicle door. 

Any number of injuries can cause a bicyclist to suffer from chronic pains as well as disabilities. Some common dooring accident injuries in Kentucky include:

  • Concussions
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Hand, wrist, and arm fractures
  • Leg fractures
  • Pelvis fractures
  • Serious bruising and lacerations
  • Whiplash
  • Internal bleeding
  • Internal organ damage
  • Broken ribs
  • Nerve damage

Seeking Compensation After a Car Door Accident

Kentucky does not have specific laws preventing car door bike accidents, but both drivers and cyclists are required to practice caution to ensure the safety of others on the road. If a cyclist becomes injured in an open car door accident, the driver or passenger who left their door ajar likely didn’t practice reasonable caution to protect others on the road. 

If you’re a cyclist injured in a car door bike accident, you can seek compensation from the driver or passenger who caused the collision. If the driver left their door open, you may be able to recover damages from their auto insurance company. If a passenger was at fault, their auto insurance company will not cover the expenses associated with the cyclist’s injuries and property damage, but their homeowner’s insurance policy may cover part of the expenses.

Contact a Central Kentucky Car Door Accident Attorney

If you’re injured after a car door accident, you need to contact a seasoned attorney to help you recover the compensation you deserve for damages. You may be able to recover compensation for property damage, medical bills, lost wages, loss of future earnings, pain and suffering, and more. 
For expert legal support in Central Kentucky, contact the personal injury lawyers at McCoy & Sparks Attorneys at Law. We’ll help you prove that a driver or passenger was partially or wholly liable for your injuries, and we’ll work to maximize the amount you’ll receive in damages.