St. Louis Bike Dooring Accident Lawyer

Bicycle Dooring Accident

Biking around St. Louis is a popular activity. The city boasts hundreds of miles of biking trails crisscrossing the downtown area and the scenic outskirts. Cyclists have every right to share the roads with drivers in the city. Unfortunately, out on the road, cyclists and pedestrians are extremely vulnerable, and far more likely to be injured or killed than motor vehicle drivers.

One careless driver opening a car door into the bike lane is all it takes to send a cyclist to the hospital. This negligent action is called “dooring,” and it is illegal in Missouri. No person may open the door of a vehicle on the side available to moving traffic until it is safe to do so. Motorists are also prohibited from leaving a door open on the traffic side longer than is necessary.

The Consequences of Dooring Accidents

It’s clear why dooring is illegal. Designated bike lanes are often adjacent to parked cars, or between cars and the curb. If a door suddenly swings open, even a careful cyclist may not have time to react and avoid the impact. Even worse, a cyclist is likely to be riding alongside traffic so swerving to avoid an open door could cause the cyclist to be hit by a moving car. Either way, the results can be devastating.

Cyclists may end up with broken bones, a brain injury, spinal cord injury, internal injuries or other serious conditions. Recovery from serious injuries often takes months or even years. The inability to work often causes bills to pile up on the injured cyclist.

The damages pursued in a dooring accident case may include:

• Medical bills
• Future medical costs
• Rehabilitation costs
• Transportation costs
• Past lost wages
• Future lost wages
• Diminished earning potential
• Diminished quality of life
• Pain and suffering

Dooring accidents are typically the fault of the person committing the act, and he or she should be held accountable for the injuries and damages they cause. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a dooring accident, get legal help immediately. At Page Law, our personal injury legal team is committed to seeking justice for injured cyclists. It’s important for your case to be handled by a Missouri bicycle accident lawyer that is dedicated to pursuing the maximum possible recovery on your behalf. Call us today to get the settlement you deserve.

We Advocate for Injured Bicyclists in Missouri

Insurance companies work hard to keep the value of settlements low. They employ various strategies to achieve that goal and any person injured in a dooring accident can make serious errors when dealing directly with the insurance company. At Page Law, we deal with insurance companies on a daily basis. We know what full and fair compensation is for injured cyclists and we demand it. If the insurance company is not fair, we will pursue your case in court.

Our St. Louis personal injury attorneys take a personalized, compassionate approach in handling injury cases. Contact us now for a free case evaluation today. We can be reached at 1-800-CAR-CRASH (800-227-2727).