No one knows how many times Illinois cyclists have crashed into parked cars because careless drivers opened their car doors without first checking for bicycle traffic. However, thanks to a new law, the state will start counting these incidents, as the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) starts tracking these "dooring" accidents as it does other motor vehicle accidents.
Historically, IDOT did not count dooring accidents as car crashes because the car was not moving at the time of impact. Authorities knew that these accidents happened because of anecdotal evidence among cyclists, but negligent drivers were not held accountable for them. With the new law in place, state law enforcement officers are required to record "dooring" as the cause of an accident on state accident reporting forms.
Fatal Connection
The tragic death of a cyclist in 2008 due to dooring put a face on what some believe may be the most common cause of automobile-bicycle accidents. In the 2008 accident, the driver of an SUV opened a door into the cyclist's path, forcing him into oncoming traffic where he was struck and killed. Bicycle safety activists erected a white bicycle as a temporary memorial at the site of the crash.
The City of Chicago, where the fatality occurred, has tracked dooring accidents for more than three years. It recorded 72 dooring crashes in 2010, but city officials believe many more incidents go unreported. Chicago's law carries of fine of up to $500 for opening the door of a vehicle in the path of a cyclist. It also prohibits drivers from driving or parking in a bicycle lane and prohibits left and right turns in front of cyclists.
Dooring Injuries
Cyclists can suffer serious injuries as a result of dooring accidents. Victims of dooring report bruises, broken bones and chronic back pain when these accidents occur.Bicyclists involved in an accident should consult a personal injury lawyer to determine what legal recourse they may have against the careless driver. A cyclist should file a traffic accident report to document the incident, and he or she may wish to prepare a diagram of the scene of the accident and note significant details, such as how little time he had to react when the driver's door opened. An experienced personal injury can further explain how you may be able to recover costs for medical expenses, lost wages and other costs.
