Struck by a Car Door in Long Beach, CA?
Attorney Representing "Car-Doored" Bicyclists in Long Beach
Are you a bicyclist who has been hit by an opening car door in Long Beach? "Car-dooring" is one of the top causes of bike accidents. Long Beach bike accident lawyers Daniel McGee and Catherine Lerer, a husband and wife attorney team, have seen a significant rise in the occurrence of car-dooring accidents.
The sudden increase in dooring accidents can be attributed to the dramatic surge in bike ridership in Long Beach. There are more bicyclists on the road than ever before, requiring a renegotiation of space as drivers and bicyclists try to figure out how to share the roadway. Until motorists increase their bicycle-awareness and are able to peacefully co-exist with bicyclists, bike riders are at significant risk of danger from inattentive drivers.
Car-dooring injuries can be devastating and may include:
- Brain injuries
- Annular tears
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Injuries to the shoulders, hands, and knees
Bicyclists Need to Avoid the Door Zone
Bicyclists should avoid the "door zone" to reduce the risk of getting doored. The door zone is the space that an open car door extends into. To avoid the door zone, bicyclists should ride far enough to the left of parked cars that they won't be struck by a car door that is unexpectedly thrown open.
When riding beside parked cars, bicyclists should continually scan to see if the cars are occupied. If you cannot see through the glass because of sun glare or some other obstruction, assume the car is occupied and the car door may suddenly open.
If you are riding in a bike lane, do not assume that you are safe. Many bike lanes are in the door zone. In such a case, cyclists should ride on the left side of the bike lane, out of reach of the door zone.
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