Dooring is a significant danger for bicycle and e bike riders in urban and suburban areas of Pennsylvania. It refers to crashes triggered when the driver or passenger of a parked vehicle suddenly opens a door into the path of a cyclist or e bike rider. The rider might collide with the door or might swerve to avoid the door and fall to the ground or be struck by another vehicle. With congested streets, narrow lanes and a surge in bicycle and e-bike use, the risk of a dooring accident is high in Pennsylvania cities and suburbs. What’s more, in injuries suffered can be extensive or even fatal.

While the dooring is not prohibited per se in Pennsylvania, drivers and occupants of vehicles have a duty to ensure it is safe before opening a door into a traffic lane. A Pennsylvania statute permits cyclists to ride in the rightmost lane or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. Narrow urban streets may force cyclists into the “door zone” — the dangerous area adjacent to parked cars. Bike lanes placed directly next to parking lanes can exacerbate the problem, creating predictable points of contact. E bikes, with their higher speeds, give riders less time to react to open doors. 

Injuries from dooring incidents can be severe. Riders may suffer head and body trauma from striking the door or being hit by another vehicle. Being thrown to the pavement or onto a vehicle can cause spinal trauma. Impact with a door often causes lower body fractures, particularly to the legs. For e bike riders, the greater weight and speed can lead to more significant injuries.

Establishing fault after a dooring crash requires proving negligence by the car’s driver or occupant, which means showing they violated their duty of care. If another vehicle was involved, that driver’s negligence in failing to yield may also be a factor. Video evidence from doorbell cameras, storefront security, rideshare dashcams or traffic cameras can be invaluable. Statements from witnesses — such as other cyclists, pedestrians or drivers — can help support a claim. 

For bicycle and e bike riders, a bicycle and e-bike injury lawyer can make a critical difference. An attorney will investigate fault using all available evidence, manage negotiations with insurance carriers or rideshare companies. Lawyers can counter attempted blame shifting by showing that the cyclist or e-book rider was exercising reasonable care on the road and in trying to avoid the hazard. A lawyer can make a strong case for damages for medical costs, lost wages and pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a bicycle or e-bike accident in Somerset or anywhere in Pennsylvania, Matthew R. Zatko, Attorney at Law will stand up for you against insurance companies and their counsel. Call me at 814-443-1631 or contact me online to schedule a free initial consultation.