Azizbek Soliev, 20, was killed in a bicycle accident in Queens on July 14 after the driver of a parked car opened his car door and sent the e-bike into the path of an oncoming vehicle. According to a report in Streetsblog.org, the fatal accident occurred at the intersection of 164 Street and Chapin Parkway. Soliev suffered severe injuries to his head and torso, officials said, adding that both drivers remained at the scene.
The incident is being examined by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad. Unfortunately in New York, dooring (where a vehicle’s door opens into the path of a motorist) is a common and fatal problem for two-wheelers and users of other micro-mobility devices such as e-bikes. Streetsblog has reported on several dooring accidents in recent years including one that killed 66-year-old Kwok Kwon on 11th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in early 2022. In that case, the cab driver responsible for the fatal accident lost his driver’s license for a year, but did not face any other charges. We offer our deepest condolences to Soliev’s family for their tragic loss.
Injuries and Liability Issues
Carelessly opening a door in the path of traffic is an offense under New York’s Vehicle & Traffic Law Section 1214, which states: “No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.”
Bicycle dooring accidents can result in major injuries for the bicyclist including head injuries, spinal injuries, broken bones, internal organ damage, etc. These accidents may also result in fatalities, particularly in situations where the bicyclist, on impact, is thrown on to the street and struck by an oncoming vehicle.
When a motorist fails to look before opening a vehicle door on the traffic side, that amounts to negligence (carelessness). In personal injury lawsuits, plaintiffs (victims) must prove through a preponderance (bulk) of the evidence that the defendant was negligent (careless) and that this carelessness caused the plaintiff’s (victim’s) injuries, damages and losses.
The value or worth of your case will depend on the nature and extent of the injuries you have sustained as well as the extent of negligence (carelessness) on the part of the driver, or person who opened the door. In such cases, negligent (careless) motorists or passengers can be held responsible for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitative treatment, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families of deceased victims can also seek compensation for their losses by filing a wrongful death claim.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you are a bicyclist who has been involved in a dooring accident, it is important to call 911, file a police report and obtain a copy for your records. Try to secure crucial information such as the driver’s name, date of birth, his or her license number, insurance information, license plate, and the make/model of the car. Your New York bicycle accident lawyer can also help you get this report. If you have been injured — even if you are not feeling its effects right away — it is important that you see a doctor and get evaluated.
The sooner you retain the services of an experienced New York personal injury attorney, the better your chances to maximize your compensation. For over 51 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 obtained $295,000 out of a $300,000 insurance policy for the victim of a bicycle dooring accident. Also, 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.
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/2023/07/17/mondays-headlines-another-dooring-death-edition