A bicyclist was hit by an SUV after he crashed into a car door that swung open as he rode down a Queens street on May 22. According to a PIX11 report, the 48-year-old victim was critically injured when he was struck by an SUV near Beach 43rd Street and Beach Channel Drive in Edgemere, Queens. Police said a passenger opened a rear driver’s side door of a car and the bicyclist ricocheted off that and into oncoming traffic where he was struck by the SUV.
The bicyclist was rushed to the hospital with severe head and bodily trauma, NYPD officials said. Surveillance video showed the parked car door swing open and knocked the bicyclist to the ground. The drivers involved in this bicycle accident remained at the scene. No arrests have been reported pending an official investigation.
Bicycle Dooring Accidents in NYC
“Dooring” accidents occur when a driver or passenger opens a vehicle door directly into the path of a bicyclist, causing a collision. These accidents are common on crowded NYC streets and can result in serious injuries including broken bones, head trauma, spinal injuries and severe road rash. New York law specifically addresses this dangerous behavior.
Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1214, no person may open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with traffic, including bicyclists. The law also prohibits leaving a vehicle door open longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.
Drivers, rideshare passengers, taxi occupants and anyone exiting a parked vehicle have a legal duty to check for approaching cyclists before opening a door. Because dooring accidents often happen quickly, evidence such as witness statements, surveillance footage, police reports and bicycle damage can be critical. An experienced personal injury attorney can help injured bicyclists protect their rights and pursue fair compensation.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
In cases where a bicyclist is hit by a large truck, there are a number of parties that can be held responsible, including a truck driver, trucking company, truck owner, corporation, etc. Insurance issues as well as gathering and preserving evidence can become complex and challenging in such cases. You need an experienced New York personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled bicycle and truck accidents on your side immediately.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident or pedestrian accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. It is in the best interest of injured victims and their families in such cases to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer before contacting the people responsible for the injuries, and definitely before contacting or communicating with any insurance company, or their lawyers, investigators, or adjusters.
For over 54 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. We also recovered $1,500,000 for a lady who was hurt by a bus, although there was only a 1 million dollar insurance policy and we got $500,000 above that insurance policy.
We also obtained $295,000 out of a $300,000 insurance policy in compensation for the victim of a bicycle dooring accident (where a car door opens into the path of a bicyclist). One of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases. Also, we got a $1,400,000 verdict in a motorcycle accident.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases, motor vehicle accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, lead poisoning, paraplegia cases, quadriplegia cases and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source:https://pix11.com/news/local-news/queens/queens-cyclist-struck-by-suv-after-crashing-into-open-car-door-nypd/