Atlanta Dooring Accident Attorneys

Representing Those Injured by Negligent Drivers and Passengers in Atlanta

Popping a car door open onto a street may seem like a common thing to do, but the truth is that drivers and passengers can easily cause a serious accident when they do this. Dooring is incredibly dangerous for motorcyclists and cyclists who suddenly find themselves colliding with a heavy car door. Such a collision could easily result in broken bones, brain damage, or even paralysis. If you have been injured from a dooring accident in Atlanta, you may be wondering what your options are in terms of recovering damages. Thankfully, we may have an answer for you.

At Grant Law Office, our legal professionals are dedicated to helping those injured in crashes caused by negligence. We understand just how debilitating dooring accidents can be and are staunch advocates for accident victims and their right to compensation. If you have been injured in a dooring accident, don’t hesitate to call our firm at (404) 995-3955. We offer free consultations and are always ready to hear from those in need.

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What is Dooring?

For those who don’t commonly ride bikes or motorcycles, you may have never heard of the term “dooring.” This kind of accident happens when someone in a parked or idling car opens their door, causing someone in another vehicle, whether that be a car, motorcycle, or bike, to collide with the door. Colliding with a fixed object, like car doors, which are often reinforced against accidents, can be devastating and cause serious injuries and property damage.

Many states, Georgia included, have enacted laws around when it is and is not legal to open a car door into a street. There is an expected degree of care when a door is opened, and the person opening it is supposed to make sure the coast is clear before doing so. If they do not do this, or, even worse, purposefully open the door during heavy traffic, then they are breaking the law.

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Dooring Accidents and Common Injuries

Dooring accidents most often impact cyclists and motorcycle riders. Because bikes and motorcycles are smaller and quieter than passenger vehicles, a person opening their car door may not notice a bike or motorcycle rapidly approaching. On top of that, cyclists and motorcycle riders don’t have as much protection as a car’s passenger, making collisions incredibly dangerous. However, if a passenger vehicle accident is involved in a dooring collision, they may end up swearing into other vehicles, causing further devastation.

Common injuries from such accidents include:

• Broken and fractured bones
• Brain injuries
• Spinal injuries
• Road rash
• Severe lacerations
• Paralysis
• Fractured skull

While dooring accidents are not often fatal, they are still debilitating. A broken femur, the larger of the bones in your leg, for example, can take up to 6 months to fully heal. That could mean a half year of not being able to perform your normal work duties, not being able to enjoy your day-to-day life, and several check-ups with your doctor as well as physical therapist, which could result in mounting medical debt. Recovering financially from a dooring accident is no easy task and may require filing a personal injury claim, especially if your injuries left you unable to work.

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Finding Liability After a Dooring Accident

Filing a personal injury claim requires a little work. First, you must determine who is liable for your damages. When it comes to dooring accidents, the most commonly liable party is the person who opened the door. That could be the driver of the car or a passenger. You may be worried, however, about whether you may actually be found to be the one responsible, as you didn’t swerve to avoid the door.

Duty of care is placed on the person opening the door, as they should always check to make sure it is safe to do so. However, it may be found that you should have had enough time to stop or swerve to avoid the door, but could not do so because you were over the legal speed limit Thankfully, Georgia is a comparative negligence state. This means that so long as you are found to be less than 50% responsible for the accident, you can still recover damages. The amount of damages you receive will be limited by the percentage that you are found liable. For example, if it is decided that you had enough time to stop being hitting the door, you may be found to be 20% responsible for the accident. If you are then awarded $100,000 in damages, you would actually receive $80,000, as 20% of your compensation is removed.

Comparative negligence is an excellent reason why you should never assume that you are actually the one at fault when it comes to dooring accidents. The person who opened the door also shares the burden of avoiding such accidents and should be held accountable for your injuries. The best way to do that is to hire a skilled legal team with years of experience.

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Get the Best Legal Help in Atlanta

We understand that following a serious collision you are likely feeling trapped. How are you supposed to pay your medical bills? How much longer can you afford to take time away from work? How will your family function without your financial support? Thankfully, the Grant Law Office is here to offer a helping hand. If you were involved in a dooring accident, then you need the excellent legal help of an Atlanta bike accident attorney so that you can receive the compensation you deserve. For strong legal representation, call us at (404) 995-3955. We look forward to speaking with you.

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