Bicyclists in Texas have the right to expect a certain level of care and caution by motor vehicle drivers to prevent accidents. Motorists have the power to inflict devastating and fatal injuries on vulnerable cyclists. For this reason, they must exercise due care to prevent foreseeable accidents. One type of cycling accident that can typically be prevented is a dooring accident. If you were injured in one, make sure to speak with an experienced San Antonio motorcycle accident lawyer today for legal guidance.
What Is a Dooring Accident?
A dooring accident refers to a bicyclist crashing into the open door of a parked car – often resulting in collision-related injuries or the cyclist being ejected from the bike. These collisions are most common in areas of Texas where bicycle lanes coincide with downtown traffic, resulting in roadside parking spots that are adjacent to bike-only lanes.
The Dangers of Dooring Accidents
Collisions between bicyclists and car doors can inflict severe injuries. When a dooring accident happens, the biker can be thrown from the saddle, potentially suffering impact injuries from contact with the road or a motor vehicle.
These injuries can include:
- Broken bones (fractures)
- Head and brain injuries
- Facial trauma
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Road rash
If the biker hits an open car door with any significant amount of speed, the metal of the vehicle can act like a sword, slicing into the bicyclist and potentially causing serious lacerations or internal injuries. A cyclist can suffer additional serious injuries if he or she is thrown into oncoming traffic or underneath a vehicle.
What Laws in Texas Are in Place to Prevent Dooring Accidents?
Texas Transportation Code § 545.418 states that a person may not “open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic, unless the door may be opened in reasonable safety without interfering with the movement of other traffic; or leave a door on the side of a vehicle next to moving traffic open for longer than is necessary to load or unload a passenger.”
This law gives specific directions for when a person may or may not open the door of a motor vehicle. If a driver or vehicle passenger breaks this law, he or she is guilty of not making a reasonable effort to prevent dooring accidents. This can be enough to provide evidence against the individual for a bicycle accident claim in Texas.
How to Avoid Dooring Accidents in Texas
As a bicyclist, you can reduce your risk of being involved in a dooring accident by keeping a wide berth from parked cars. As a vehicle occupant, you can prevent dooring accidents by practicing a technique known as the Dutch Reach, where you use the hand furthest away from the door to open the door by reaching across your body. This turns the head and shoulders to allow you to check for oncoming cyclists.
Your Rights as an Injured Bicyclist After a Dooring Accident in Texas
If you get injured in a dooring accident in Texas, you may be eligible for financial compensation from a driver. Under Texas’s fault law, you have the right to file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance provider in pursuit of financial benefits to cover your bills and losses.
An individual could be held liable (financially responsible) for your accident and be required to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage and other losses you suffered in the crash. It will be up to you or your bicycle accident attorney to prove that the person who opened the car door was in violation of Texas law.
Hiring the right San Antonio injury lawyer can make it easier to prove your case and achieve the outcome you deserve. A bicycle accident lawyer with experience with dooring accidents will know how to handle your claim for the best possible results. Contact us today.