Dooring Accident Lawyers in Georgia & South Carolina
A “dooring” accident occurs when a driver or passenger opens a vehicle door into the path of an oncoming cyclist, giving the rider no time to stop or swerve. Dooring crashes are among the most dangerous types of bicycle accidents — the cyclist may be thrown over the door, into the door’s edge, or swerve into traffic to avoid the door and be struck by a passing vehicle. The NHTSA identifies dooring as a significant cause of urban cyclist injuries and fatalities, particularly in areas with on-street parking adjacent to bike lanes.
At Roden Law, our dooring accident attorneys represent cyclists throughout Georgia and South Carolina who have been injured by negligent drivers and passengers who open doors without looking. We pursue full compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance and, when necessary, through litigation.
How Dooring Accidents Happen
Dooring crashes typically occur in predictable patterns:
- Parallel parking zones: Drivers parked along the street open their door directly into the bike lane or travel lane without checking their side mirror or looking behind them
- Passenger exits: Passengers on the traffic side of the vehicle open doors without checking for approaching cyclists — ride-share (Uber/Lyft) pickups and drop-offs are a growing cause
- Double-parked vehicles: Drivers or passengers exiting illegally double-parked vehicles in bike lanes
- Commercial vehicles: Delivery drivers opening doors into bike lanes while making stops
The cyclist’s reaction to a suddenly opened door creates additional danger. Swerving left to avoid the door puts the cyclist directly into the path of overtaking traffic, potentially causing a secondary collision that may be even more serious than the dooring itself.
Dooring Laws in Georgia and South Carolina
Both states impose a duty on vehicle occupants to check for traffic before opening doors:
- Georgia: O.C.G.A. § 40-6-243 prohibits opening a vehicle door on the traffic side unless it is “reasonably safe to do so” and can be done without interfering with traffic. Violation of this statute is negligence per se — meaning the door-opener is presumed negligent if they caused a collision.
- South Carolina: While South Carolina does not have a specific dooring statute, general negligence principles apply. Opening a car door into the path of a cyclist without looking constitutes a failure to exercise reasonable care, and the door-opener is liable for resulting injuries.
Additionally, Georgia’s bicycle-specific protections under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-294 grant cyclists the same rights and duties as vehicle drivers, meaning they have a right to use the roadway without being endangered by negligently opened doors.
Injuries in Dooring Accidents
The sudden, unexpected nature of dooring crashes leaves cyclists no time to brace for impact. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries (even with helmets), facial fractures and dental injuries, broken collarbones, wrists, and arms, shoulder dislocations, spinal injuries, and road rash and lacerations. When the cyclist is thrown into traffic, the resulting secondary collision can cause catastrophic or fatal injuries.
Compensation for Dooring Accident Victims
Cyclists injured in dooring accidents may recover compensation for all medical expenses, lost wages and earning capacity, bicycle replacement and repair costs, pain and suffering, permanent scarring or disability, and emotional distress. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. Title 51) and South Carolina law provide full compensatory damages. Our attorneys identify every applicable insurance policy — the door-opener’s auto insurance, our client’s uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and any other available sources of recovery.