When a person sitting in a car opens their door without looking, they could hit a bike rider or a motorcycle operator. This act is called dooring, and it is a common and serious cause of injuries in motorcycle accidents. It may seem like a simple situation, but it can lead to complexity in recovering fair damages if you cannot prove the driver was at fault. A Phoenix motorcycle accident attorney from Sargon Law Group can assist with your case.
Why Dooring Motorcycle Accidents Happen
Many people are distracted today, meaning they have no real way to pay attention to everything that is happening around them. Perhaps they pull up to the curb to park, get out of their vehicle, and think nothing of checking the street first. In that moment of opening the door, the motorcycle driving past is instantly struck, causing serious injury in the blink of an eye. Various factors can contribute to this:
- Distracted drivers
- Poor visibility
- Road hazards that block the visuals of the roadway
- Impairment
When a dooring accident happens, the motorcycle rider has virtually no control over their bike and no way to prevent falling. The driver or passenger door on a vehicle can become a deadly weapon to that rider, causing them to fly off their bike.
Common Injuries in Dooring Motorcycle Accidents
Dooring motorcycle accidents cause a variety of potential injuries depending on the angle as well as the overall rate of speed of the rider. Some of the most common injuries we see include:
- Head trauma, especially if the rider is thrown from the bike
- Spinal trauma, including paralysis due to spinal cord damage
- Broken bones and, in some cases, disastrous crushing accidents
- Burns and road rash
- Lacerations and open wounds, some of which can lead to amputations
- Disfigurement
- Emotional trauma
These are very real and often life-threatening injuries. It is not uncommon for victims to find themselves unable to get back to their lives.
Who Is Responsible for a Dooring Accident with a Motorcycle Rider?
It can be challenging to prove liability in a door accident. If the driver said they checked before opening their door, there is no easy way to prove that they did or did not do that. However, it is expected that drivers will check both behind and in front of them before they open their doors, especially when they are parked near a street where there is traffic.
Your Phoenix accident attorney will gather details from area traffic cameras or witness statements to help determine what the underlying cause of your accident is. Proving negligence is a critical step in protecting your rights to fair compensation.
What Your Motorcycle Accident Claim May Be Worth
Dooring accidents can cause a rider to fall off their bike or be thrown far from them. This can create serious injuries. When you can prove who is at fault, you can recover fair damages such as:
- Medical bills associated with the accident, as well as ongoing medical costs you may have
- Emotional trauma and mental anguish related to the accident
- Property damage and losses from the accident, including repairs to your bike
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
To learn more about your rights in a dooring motorcycle accident, contact Sargon Law Group. We would be happy to provide you with a free consultation to hear what took place in your case.