A Citi Bike rider was killed after being doored by a Queens motorist. According to a report on Streetsblog.org, Cristian Vazquez, 26, was riding northbound on 108th Street near 38th Avenue in Corona the evening of Oct. 27 when the driver of a vehicle opened the door to exit the vehicle and ended up striking Vazquez who was ejected from his electric Citi Bike and onto the pavement. The bicycle accident left Vazquez with severe head trauma, police said. He was transported to Elmhurst Hospital where he died. No charges have been filed pending an official investigation. We offer our deepest condolences to the family of Cristian Vazquez for their tragic loss.
Bicycle Dooring Accidents in NYC
Dooring accidents occur when a driver or passenger opens a vehicle door into the path of a bicyclist. Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law §1214, it is illegal to open a car door on the side of moving traffic unless it is safe to do so without interfering with the movement of other vehicles or bicycles. This law applies to both drivers and passengers. If a person opens a door carelessly and causes a collision with a cyclist, they can be held legally responsible for the resulting injuries and damages.
In New York City, the Department of Transportation (DOT) actively promotes awareness of dooring dangers through its “LOOK!” safety campaign, encouraging motorists to check for bicyclists before exiting vehicles. To reduce dooring accidents, the city also promotes the “Dutch Reach” method — using the far hand to open the door — forcing a driver to look over their shoulder for approaching bicyclists before exiting the vehicle.
Dangers of Dooring Accidents
Streetsblog reports that the eight-block stretch of 108th Street between Roosevelt Avenue and Northern Boulevard in Queens is a noticeably dangerous roadway. Just last year, there were 45 reported crashes injuring 28 people — a number that includes four pedestrians and five bicyclists, according to city statistics. Streetsblog also reports that NYPD statistics show 19 bicyclists (including riders of e-bikes and stand-up scooters) have been killed, and 5,378 of them have been injured. Each year, several bicyclists are killed in dooring accidents. The City Council passed a bill last year requiring warning stickers to be placed inside cabs to alert passengers to not open their doors into traffic. That rule went into effect on Oct. 25.
Bicycle dooring accidents can lead to a number of different types of injuries including fractures, lacerations and traumatic brain injuries, especially if the bicyclist is thrown onto the pavement or into traffic. Common injuries include broken collarbones, wrist and arm fractures from attempting to break the fall and head injuries when helmets fail to absorb the full impact. Soft tissue injuries such as bruises, muscle strains and deep cuts are also frequent. In more serious cases, cyclists may suffer spinal injuries or internal bleeding, which can have long-term or even life-threatening consequences.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
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.
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.
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, lead poisoning 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://nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/10/28/driver-fatally-doors-cyclist-in-queens-yet-is-not-charged