The Dangers of Dooring
Any collision between a car and bike can catastrophically injure a rider. Dooring accidents are no different, but they are unique because they involve collisions with fixed objects. In bike accidents like these, the bikers’ bones, muscles, and organs can become compressed when they hit a door and result in internal damage.
In addition, the riders can suffer further harm when they collide with the ground. Dooring can cause them to fall back against the ground, slide underneath the door, or be thrown over it onto the street. In some cases, they may even be hit from the side and be thrown into oncoming traffic. All of these events can cause catastrophic injuries, including:
- Spinal cord injuries and slipped discs
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Multiple broken bones
- Severe lacerations and scars from colliding with the windshield
These injuries are not limited to bicyclists. Dooring accidents can also involve electric scooters like Lyme and Bird, whose riders are legally required to use the bike lanes, and motorcyclists. All of these vehicles can strike an open door at high speeds, resulting in severe trauma for the riders. If you are involved in a dooring accident, you should remember that you do have a right to file a personal injury claim against the vehicle’s occupants for compensation.
Over $50M Recovered in the Past Seven Years
At the Tenge Law Firm LLC, our goal is to achieve the best possible result for our clients as soon as possible. Each case and each client is different, so we work directly with clients to meet their needs for medical care and personal situations. We have enjoyed great success, with exceedingly high client satisfaction, using this approach.
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$3,250,000 Rollover auto accident involving defective roof and serious injuries
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$1,475,000 Auto accident with head, neck and back injuries
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$950,000 Car accident with brain injury and orthopedic injuries
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$750,000 Policy Limits – Low speed auto accident leading to minor stroke
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$533,000 Trial Verdict - Client hit by airborne patio umbrella with facial scar and concussion.
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$450,000 Pedestrian hit by car
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$300,000 Four-car accident resulting in vertebral fracture and facial injuries
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$200,000 Auto accident with facial injuries
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$120,000 Slip-and-fall at fast food restaurant
Hundreds of 5-star Reviews. Exceptional Results
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"Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient"
I highly recommend this law firm! They take care of everything in a timely manner & alleviate any harassment while you recover from injuries. Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient...if you need an attorney, Tenge Law is the place to go!
- Betty C. -
"Would highly recommend to anyone!!"
Tenge Law Firm helped me out when I was in a accident that involved my whole family. They were great and fast with the entire process, and were awesome at keeping me updated throughout the entire process. Would highly recommend to anyone!!
- Zack K. -
"They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well."
Paige and Nina were a delight to work with. They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well. They made me feel like I was in good hands and could trust them!
- Rachel V. -
"Definitely made it a stress-free experience"
Brenda was my attorney. She was amazing, helped me through the whole process. Definitely made it a stress-free experience, especially after going through something so traumatic! Was extremely attentive and always kept me updated on how my case was going! I would 1000% recommend them to everyone and anyone!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
- Zitlaly O. -
"They treated me like family"
Todd, Liz and Nina were amazing. They handled my case very professionally. I recommend this law firm to anyone looking for a great firm. They treated me like family
- Jenn K.
Dooring and Rideshare Vehicles
While most drivers around Boulder may only park on the side of the road every now and then, rideshare drivers are well known for double parking and blindly opening their doors into bike lanes. Many of these drivers are rushing to pick up and drop off passengers at breakneck speeds, meaning they rarely pay attention to bicyclists around them. They may even block bike lanes and make it difficult for bicyclists to maneuver. In addition, passengers may forget to check the bike lane before opening their doors and be the primary cause of an accident.
If you are involved in a dooring accident with a rideshare driver, you are likely covered under the rideshare company’s liability policy. But these policies only apply during certain scenarios, such as when a driver has accepted an order or when he has a passenger in the vehicle, which can be difficult to determine on your own. You should contact an attorney to discuss what compensation is available.
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Reviews
When our clients are happy, they say so. Whether we’re being described for how well we communicate, our responsiveness, or the quality of our service, we’re consistently rated 5.0 out of 5.0 by those we represent.
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Ratings
As an industry leader in the field of personal injury, we're proud to maintain a superb 10.0 out of 10.0 rating on AVVO.com, have a preeminent AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and have recently been awarded Client Champion Platinum status from Lawyers.com.
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Results
In the last ten years, we've recovered $50 million on behalf of our clients. Our motto is simple - You do what you need to do physically recover, and we'll handle the rest.
Colorado’s Comparative Negligence Laws
Dooring is a Class B Traffic Infraction under Colorado Revised Statutes Title 42: Vehicles and Traffic § 42-4-1207. Under this statute, it is illegal for any driver or passenger to open the left doors of a vehicle into oncoming traffic “unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic” and for occupants to leave the door open for longer than is “necessary to load or unload passengers.” As a Class B Traffic Infraction, drivers can be fined between $15 to $100 for dooring.
Violating any Colorado traffic law, however minor the punishment, can make the vehicle’s occupants liable for injuries a bicyclist suffers in a dooring accident. However, it is important to remember that Colorado is a comparative negligence state, which means multiple parties can be found liable for an accident. With regard to dooring accidents, a jury may find that a bicyclist should have had enough time to brake or swerve out of the way of the car’s door and avoid the accident altogether. In these cases, you may be limited in the amount of compensation you can receive based on the amount of fault assigned to you. If you are assigned 50% or more of the fault for the accident, you would be barred from receiving compensation.
That being said, if you work with a skilled attorney at the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, we may be able to protect your right to compensation by showing that there was no way for you to avoid the collision. Also, comparative negligence only applies to jury trials. If we can get you a fair deal during insurance negotiations, these laws will not apply, and you may be able to receive full compensation for your injuries.
Speak to an Attorney Today
Filing a successful dooring accident claim requires an in-depth look at the circumstances of your accident. At the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, our Boulder auto accident attorney has over 25 years of experience representing injured cyclists throughout Colorado. If we take you on as a client, we can launch a thorough investigation into your accident, review the police report, collect witness statements, and represent you in insurance negotiations or a jury trial. We offer every potential client a free consultation and work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning there is no cost to reaching out to us.
To get started on your claim, call the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, at (303) 219-7377.
