Cyclists face an increased risk of getting “doored”

As a Los Angeles bicycle and car accident attorney, I handle cases with unique facts. From your run-of-the-mill rear-ender case to a trip-and-fall on a dangerous Los Angeles driveway with serious injuries, I’ve seen it all.

I also have experience with bicyclists getting “doored” here in Los Angeles. Getting doored is when a driver who is parked adjacent to the bike lane opens his or her car door into a passing bicyclist. Getting doored is every bicyclist’s nightmare, and it can cause serious injuries. In my most recent “doored” case, the offending driver gave my bicyclist client false information at the scene. My office tracked her down anyways, and that case resulted in a policy limits settlement. The driver’s insurance company was not too thrilled at the way she handled herself in giving my client incorrect personal information in the aftermath of the collision.

This week, the Los Angeles Times ran a very informative article about the dangers of bicyclists getting doored in Los Angeles. It’s an increasing risk, and the subject of the article, Yasmine Diaz, sadly lost her bicyclist husband Robert to a door collision.

There are ways to avoid dooring a passing bicyclist. First and foremost, if you’re parked near a bike lane and in the driver seat, check your mirrors before opening the car door. This is the most important tip. Awareness of your surroundings is important to protecting and preventing a Los Angeles bicyclist from getting doored.

Some people suggest opening the driver side door with the opposite hand. So, if the bike lane is to your immediate left, opening your car door with your right hand by reaching over will force you to look over your left shoulder. This will, in turn, cause you to be able to see if a bicyclist is approaching in the bike lane.

Getting doored is a serious risk facing bicyclists in Los Angeles. The streets here are among the busiest in the nation. All it takes is one wrong move by a driver opening his or her car door, and this can cause a lifetime of consequences for the passing bicyclist.

You can read the important Los Angeles Times article here.

Be safe out there, and if you’re a bicyclist who was doored, or you have general questions about a Los Angeles bicycle, car, or motorcycle accident, my office is ready to assist, 24/6.