Cyclist Hit By Car Door Claims

When a cyclist is struck by a suddenly opened car door, the consequences can be severe, often resulting in significant injuries and damage. These accidents are also referred to as dooring incidents. These types of accidents occur when a driver or passenger opens a vehicle door into the path of an oncoming cyclist without proper caution.

The impact from these injuries can cause significant injuries, including broken bones, head injuries, and other serious physical harm. Beyond the immediate physical and emotional distress, victims of cycling accidents face medical expenses, loss of income, and long-term rehabilitation costs.

If you have been injured by a car door whilst cycling and it was not your fault, you may be able to make a cyclist hit by car door claim for compensation.

I have been hit by a car door whilst cycling – What should I do?

If you have been struck by a car door while cycling, we would recommend that you take the following steps. These include:

• Report the accident to the police urgently, particularly if the driver responsible drives away.
• Seek medical attention for your injuries straight away. Make an appointment with your G.P to have your injuries assessed or go to a hospital for treatment if your injuries are serious.
• Take note of the details of the offending vehicle car registration, driver name, address and telephone number and, if possible, details of any witnesses to your accident.
• Take photographs of any damage to your bike and clothing and keep the damaged items for assessment.
• Contact Beacon Law for legal advice and find out if you are entitled to make a cycling accident claim.

Cyclist accident legislation

Road users have a duty of care to navigate the roads safely, preventing injury and damage to themselves and others. This obligation is established by the Road Traffic Act 1988. To fulfil this duty of care, road users must adhere to the rules and regulations of the Highway Code. Negligence occurs when injuries result from a driver’s failure to follow these rules.

Rule 239 of the Highway Code mandates that drivers must ensure they do not hit anyone when opening their door and must check for cyclists and other traffic. This requirement is enforced by Regulation 105 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, which states that “no person shall open, or cause or permit to be opened, any door of a vehicle on a road so as to injure or endanger any person.”

Cyclist hit by car door claim process

During your initial consultation, our specialist solicitors will provide you with legal advice about cyclist injury claims and will inform you about the relevant limitation rules.

Our personal injury lawyers will then ask you for details about your accident and the initial injuries that were suffered as a result. This will help our injury lawyers to assess the likelihood of your claim being successful.

During these initial stages of your claim for compensation, it is vital that you gather the relevant evidence to support your claim. Relevant evidence may include CCTV footage of the incident, medical records, photographs of your injuries, and witness statements.

Your personal injury solicitor may also ask that you undergo an official medical examination in order to receive medical reports about the injuries that you have sustained. These medical reports will provide vital medical evidence of the nature and extent of your injuries. Even if you have received other medical care prior to starting your accident claim, a more thorough medical assessment may still be needed to produce detailed, accurate, and reliable medical reports.

If we think that your injury claim would be likely to succeed, we will offer a no win, no fee basis; if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be required to pay any legal fees.

How much compensation will you receive?

The amount of compensation awarded will aim to put the claimant in the position they were in before the accident that resulted in their injuries took place. The amount of compensation awarded will depend on the pain and suffering caused by the injury, as well as the severity.

General damages that could be awarded will also depend on the impact that the injuries have had on the claimant’s daily life, whether any long term care is needed, and whether any structural adaptations need to be made to the claimant’s home in order to assist their new way of living.

Special damages will also be awarded to compensate for any further financial loss that the claimant has suffered as a result of their original injury. This could include compensation for a loss of earnings due to the time spent off work, loss of future earnings if the claimant has been forced to take time off work, the cost of medical treatment, travel costs, and the cost of ongoing care if this is needed.

We advise that you keep evidence of all financial losses suffered as a result of your injuries. This could include receipts and invoices from medical treatment and evidence of any loss of earnings. You will also be entitled to statutory sick pay, which this evidence will help to prove.

Why choose Beacon Law?

If you have suffered a cyclist accident, a compensation claim may help you to get your life back on track. Beacon Law is a leading law firm of injury solicitors, offering expert legal advice and a range of personal injury claim services to our clients. We provide a high level of service to all our clients and work hard to ensure they receive the appropriate treatment and highest level of compensation for their injuries.

We provide all personal injury claims on a no win no fee basis. This means that we can help you get the compensation you deserve without you having to worry about the costs of making a claim.

If you require advice for a cyclist hit by car door claim, please contact us on 0330 1332 857. Alternatively, please complete our online form, and one of our solicitors will contact you to help you start your claim.

Beacon Law are a Solicitors registered in England and Wales with our registered office based in Manchester. We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.