Open Door Accidents | Open Door Accidents Attorney Birmingham, AL

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Open Door Accidents

Open Door Accidents Attorney in Birmingham, Alabama

Most of the time, the individual who opened their car door before an accident will be held accountable for damages. However, it can be challenging to identify fault as each party’s version of events must be thoroughly reviewed. You may be liable for the damages if the moving vehicle has the right-of-way.

Before opening their doors near approaching traffic, all drivers must take the time to inspect their mirrors adequately. At Petro Accident and Injury Attorney, we have years of experience with Alabama auto accident claims. Our Alabama legal office has a comprehensive grasp of traffic law and is well-equipped to assist you. Our dedicated open-door accident attorney in Birmingham is here to take your call and answer any of your questions.

Why Do You Need an Open Door Accidents Attorney in Alabama?

To evaluate liability for your claim and obtain the total and fair compensation, our professional Birmingham open-door accidents attorney will:

  • Consult with reputable specialists to investigate your collision.
  • Conduct an examination of the accident location and the vehicles involved to collect evidence supporting your version of the story
  • Present a compelling legal argument to win a favorable settlement or verdict

Contact us immediately for more information on how our firm can help you. Allow our skilled open-door accident attorney to handle your legal concerns so you can focus on your recovery.

How Do Open Car Door Accidents Happen?

When opening car doors, drivers who park on the roadway must exercise caution. Bicyclists are especially in danger of smashing into a door that abruptly opens as “dooring” can occur. When a car door swings open in front of a biker, it can cause them to flip over the door, smash into it, or swerve and strike another object.

Even the most competent and experienced biker can crash with an unexpectedly opening door. Pedestrians strolling beside the car on the sidewalk might be struck, too. Although a pedestrian cannot move as quickly as a bike, getting banged by a car door can still result in injuries.

Accidents can also occur when a reckless driver or passenger opens a door into oncoming traffic. While vehicles offer better protection than bicycles, colliding with a fixed item, such as a car door, might result in injuries. Other vehicles may swerve to avoid the door, causing an accident.

What Are the Common Injuries in Open Door Accidents?

Statistics indicate that dooring crashes are marginally safer than bike or car incidents. Unfortunately, this only means an 80% likelihood of injury instead of 94%. There is no obvious distinction between these figures.

Common injuries include:

  • Whiplash
  • Severe Lacerations With Road Rash
  • Broken Bones and Dislocations
  • Internal Damage and Bleeding
  • Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Injury to the Neck and Spinal Cord

What to Do Following an Open Door Accident?

Dial 911

If you are hurt, you should be examined by medical experts to ensure that your injuries are not more severe than you assume. During their investigation, the police would interview the drivers and witnesses and produce a report. It is possible to request a copy of the police report.

The police will investigate and file a report on any accident that results in bodily harm. Before filing a police report, you, the other passengers, and any witnesses will be interviewed. In addition, they gather all parties’ identifying information and details regarding their vehicle’s liability insurance.

Create a List of Possible Witnesses

You can collect the names and contact information of any witnesses. Even if the witness did not personally see the collision, they might have overheard somebody admitting blame. This will be crucial if other drivers later alter their accounts of the incident.

Collect the Other Driver’s Identification and Insurance Information

Make a note of all the drivers’ names, phone numbers, addresses, a copy of each driver’s license (if possible, picture it), and proof of auto insurance. If you cannot collect this information due to the accident, have a friend or family member assist you.

Take Photographs of the Damage and Accident Scene

Take photographs of all cars on the scene, including your own, to demonstrate the degree of the damage and the location of the vehicles. Photos of the damage may usually help reconstruct how the accident occurred in the case. Make arrangements for a friend or family member to help you if you cannot do so.

Do Not Communicate With the Insurance Company

If you are injured, the insurance adjuster to settle your injury claim for as little as possible. They will deny the claim if they can. Our Birmingham open-door accidents attorney knows all of these tactics and will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.

Retain Our Services to Handle Your Claim

Hire our experienced open-door accident attorney in Birmingham who focuses on vehicle accidents. The Petro Accident and Injury Attorney are always here to answer all your questions and fight for your rights and the compensation you deserve.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Your Open Door Accidents?

There are a variety of factors that might lead to an open-door car collision. In this situation, you will require our competent Birmingham open-door accident attorney to investigate all the contributing elements to the crash.

The following parties might be held accountable for incidents caused by open car doors:

The Motorist Who Opens the Car Door

Many states in the United States have enacted legislation that immediately assigns fault to the individual who opened their car door. It makes sense since the person opening the car door is stationary, and so has the chance to inspect the road before opening the door. The law specifies the responsibilities of the person who opened the car door:

    • The driver is not permitted to open the vehicle door unless it is deemed safe and the action will not impede traffic flow.
    • The driver may not keep the car door open on the side accessible to moving traffic for any time beyond what is required to load or unload people.

The Motorist Who Hit the Open Car Door

The driver’s actions may have contributed to triggering the vehicle collision. For instance, the motorist was texting while driving a few seconds before the crash occurred, and they had adequate time to respond to the open car door. In this case, the driver can also be found partially accountable because there was a chance to avoid creating an accident, regardless of the motor vehicle the victim was operating.

Collision With an Open Car Door While Driving Too Fast

Every driver is responsible for maintaining a safe speed for the road conditions when operating a motor vehicle. The obligation exists regardless of the speed limit. If the road conditions require driving slower than the speed limit, you must adjust appropriately.

Hitting an Open Door After Failing to Take Necessary Steps

Every motorist is responsible for taking the required precautions to avoid causing a car accident. If they fail to take the appropriate precautions, they will have some responsibility for the accident.

Who Can Be Held Liable When an Open Car Door hits a Bicycle?

While the above still applies to bike-related dooring accidents, there are few unique considerations that must be kept in mind:

The Door Zone is Death

The door zone is the width of a completely open vehicle door. If a bicycle rides within the door zone, there is a risk of being “doored” by an opened car door. Numerous experienced cyclists agree that cyclists should stay at least five feet away from parallel-parked vehicles.

With the Absence of a Bike Lane

When there is no bike lane, the biker is expected to ride as closely as possible to the curb. This will place a bicycle close to parallel-parked vehicles, increasing the likelihood of a door opening. It may put cyclists in the unsafe door zone since automobiles may seek to ride next to them, leaving them no room to move away to dodge a quickly opening car door.

With the Presence of a Bike Lane

In urban places, there is significant demand for building bike lanes. The government is attempting to make riding a safer alternative in densely populated areas. However, the effort has also led to a rise in “dooring accidents.” The bike lane is always between the inner traffic and the parallel parking spot. Because the bike lane is too narrow, the biker is generally compelled to ride in the door zone. When a car door opens in a bike lane, it indicates that the lane is too narrow for the bicycle to maneuver. In this instance, the biker cannot stop in time to avoid colliding with the open vehicle door.

What Are the Recoverable Damages Following an Open Door Accident?

The following are damages that you may be compensated for:

  • Medical bills
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost income and decreased earning capacity
  • Disfigurement
  • Physical impairments

Do not take less compensation than you deserve. We have worked diligently to establish a network of injury specialists across Alabama. These specialists can supply crucial information and insight into the more intricate issues of your case. With their guidance, we can better understand your injuries and how they may influence you in the future. This will help our open door accidents attorney in Birmingham assess your case’s worth.

Let Our Law Firm Handle Your Open Door Accident Injury Claim

Our trained Birmingham open-door accidents attorney has handled various situations involving open car doors. In addition to mastering personal injury law in Alabama, we also know how to assess our clients’ cases. In the aftermath of a severe dooring accident, you will undoubtedly incur further losses in the future.

It is vital to assign a real financial value to your case. If you settle your lawsuit or the court grants your damages, you will not be able to seek more compensation in the future. Therefore, if you fail to account for a future expense, you will be accountable for them.

For this reason, the Petro Accident and Injury Attorney have cultivated a vast network of expert witnesses. These professionals can predict future damages, which assists in establishing a fair amount of compensation for your case.

We manage all discussions with the insurance provider. Insurance adjusters are adept at posing questions that lead victims to inadvertently “admit” liability. Do not jeopardize your case. Consult with our skilled open-door accident attorney before contacting the insurance company.

Helping Injured Alabamians