San Francisco Dooring Accidents Attorney

There are plenty of bicyclists in San Francisco who enjoy going out and riding each day. However, cyclists also face risks in and around the roadway, often due to the negligent actions of others. Bicycle accidents can cause severe injuries, and the team at Choulos, Choulos & Wyle is here to help if you or a loved one had been harmed. We know that dooring accidents can be devastating, and we want to help injured cyclists secure the compensation they deserve.

What Is A Dooring Accident?

During the latest reporting year in the state, there were more than 11,000 total bicyclist injuries and 124 bicyclist fatalities, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. While many of these incidents were caused by “traditional” accidents, there are also times when a bicyclist is injured due to a “dooring” incident.

As the name suggests, a dooring incident happens when a cyclist is injured by the door of a car. There are various ways that dooring incidents can occur, including:

• A vehicle driver or passenger opening a door to the vehicle (while the vehicle is stopped or moving) in the roadway, causing a passing bicyclist to slam into the door. These incidents can occur to cyclists riding against oncoming traffic or to those moving in the same direction as the vehicle.
• A dooring incident can also occur when a driver or passenger in a parked vehicle opens a door into the path of an oncoming bicyclist.

Most bicyclists are able to avoid hazards that they see on the roadway, but dooring incidents can happen quickly and are generally unpredictable. Even if a bicyclist is able to successfully avoid a door that opens suddenly, the avoidance tactics could result in the cyclist swerving into traffic. In other words, the bicyclist may be left with two bad options – running into the door or entering into traffic, both of which could lead to severe injuries.

What Are The Common Dooring Accident Injuries?

Even when a bicyclist is wearing a helmet, a dooring incident could lead to severe injuries. It is not uncommon for the San Francisco bicycle accident lawyers at Choulos, Choulos & Wyle to help dooring victims who have sustained the following:

• Broken and dislocated bones
• Open head wounds
• Severe lacerations
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Spinal cord injuries
• Whiplash injuries
• Concussions
• Traumatic brain injuries

What Kind Of Compensation Is Available?

If you or a loved one has been injured in a dooring accident while riding a bicycle, you should seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At Choulos, Choulos & Wyle, we know that there may be various types of compensation available to victims of these incidents, including the following:

• Coverage of all medical bills related to the dooring accident
• Lost wages if you are unable to work
• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of personal enjoyment damages
• Possible damages cases of intentional actions or gross negligence

While it is vital to report these incidents as soon as they occur in order to get an insurance settlement going, victims need to be aware that there is an overall statute of limitations for these cases. For bicycle accident injuries, victims will have two years from the date the injury occurs to file a lawsuit against an alleged negligent party to recover compensation.

Contact Our Law Firm For Legal Guidance

When you need a San Francisco dooring accidence attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling us at (415) 432-7290 or (877) 702-7800.