Dooring—when a driver or passenger opens a car door into a rider’s path—keeps sending cyclists to the ER across Downtown LA. Dense curbside parking, rideshare drop-offs, and delivery stops create a tight corridor where a split second choice turns into broken bones and totaled bikes. If a sudden door forces you into a collision or traffic, you have options. Experienced bike accident lawyers can help you recover medical costs, lost income, and the real impact of the crash on your life.
Dooring is predictable and preventable street harm
Most dooring crashes follow the same script: a parked or recently stopped car, a distracted hand on the handle, and a cyclist moving with the green. California law (CVC §22517) says no one may open a door unless it’s reasonably safe and won’t interfere with traffic. That duty falls on drivers and passengers, not bicyclists. In practice, the “Dutch Reach” (opening with the far hand so the body turns and the eyes check the mirror) and curbside caution prevent nearly all doorings. When that care is missing, liability usually points away from the rider.
Downtown LA’s curbside chaos amplifies risk
Rideshare pick-ups, food delivery double-parks, and freight drop-offs squeeze the bikeable space. Metro bus islands, construction scaffolding, and poorly placed scooters create last-second lane shifts. Cyclists get trapped between a moving lane and a row of doors, exactly where a careless swing puts them on the pavement—or forces them to swerve into traffic. A Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer will map that curbspace environment with video, business cameras, and 311 permit records to show how predictable hazards and a single careless action combined to cause the crash.
Injuries are more than bruises and bent wheels
Dooring injuries cluster around shoulder and head trauma: AC joint sprains, clavicle and rib fractures, wrist/hand fractures (FOOSH), dental injuries, concussion/MTBI, and road rash that risks infection. Lower-body injuries often include meniscus tears and ankle sprains from the twist during an evasive swerve. Treatment plans commonly involve imaging, immobilization or surgical fixation, dental repair, concussion protocol, and weeks of PT—costs insurers chronically undervalue. Bike accident attorneys document not just ER bills but the downstream expenses: follow-up scans, therapy, time off work, rides to care, and the loss of fitness or racing goals that matter to riders.
Evidence wins dooring cases when it is captured early
Strong proof closes arguments about “visibility” and “sudden appearance.” After a crash (or as soon as you’re able), do the following:
- Photograph the door position, vehicle plate, curb markings, ride lane, and lighting.
- Save helmet-cam or dashcam footage; ask nearby businesses for exterior video before it’s overwritten.
- Note rideshare or delivery app screens, decals, or hot-spot signage that explain why the car was stopped.
- Seek same-day medical care and describe every symptom—especially head, shoulder, and wrist pain.
- Keep damaged gear (helmet, jersey, bars) as physical evidence.
Your lawyer will send preservation letters to rideshare companies, building managers, and the City to secure camera footage and curb permits. They’ll also retrieve 911 audio, CAD logs, and any officer body-cam that captured admissions like “I didn’t look.”
Comparative fault arguments are beatable with facts
Insurers love two defenses: “The cyclist was too close to the doors” and “The rider should have gone around.” California’s vehicle code and the practical realities of Downtown corridors rebut both. Riders are not required to take a lane jump into moving traffic when a protected or shared lane exists. If construction or double-parking pinched the lane, that context supports the rider’s decision. A seasoned Los Angeles bike crash lawyer pairs lane geometry, speed estimates, and visibility lines to keep fault where it belongs—on the person who opened the door without checking.
Damages must reflect the real cost of recovery
A fair valuation includes:
- Past and future medical care (orthopedics, concussion clinics, dental, PT)
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity for manual or desk work affected by shoulder/wrist limitations
- Replacement of the bike, components, and kit, plus diminished value for carbon frames
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment—especially for riders who lose commuting independence, training blocks, or event entries
For racers and couriers, expert opinions can tie the injury to season losses or income hits. For commuters, testimony and transit receipts show the daily burden of losing a bike route.
Bojat Law Group builds leverage in dooring claims
Downtown dooring cases move fast. Bojat Law Group acts immediately to:
- Secure curbside video, identify rideshare trips, and capture witness statements while memories are fresh
- Coordinate medical documentation that links impact mechanics to specific injuries
- Calculate full replacement and diminished-value numbers for bikes and gear
- Anticipate and dismantle comparative-fault narratives with mapping, sight-line analysis, and code compliance
Negotiation starts with proof and ends with results. When carriers stall, the firm is prepared to file and litigate to protect your recovery.
Contact Bike Accident Lawyers at Bojat Law Group Today
Get medical care, gather what evidence you can, and avoid recorded statements until you have counsel. Then speak with bike accident lawyers who know LA’s curbside realities. Bojat Law Group offers free consultations and contingency-fee representation—no fee unless there’s a recovery. Call (818) 877-4878 or send a message through the contact form to connect with a Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer who will treat your case like it matters—because it does.
