The biggest threat that bicyclists face while riding in Virginia is vehicles. Cars, trucks, and SUVs, not to mention buses and semi-trucks, all pose serious risks to bicyclists. Even low-speed collisions can seriously injure and potentially kill bicyclists, as they may be wearing little to no protection at the time of their crashes.
But vehicles don’t have to be in motion to put bicyclists at risk. They can also cause serious injuries when they’re parked and drivers or passengers open their doors into the paths of bicyclists. This extremely dangerous scenario occurs all the time in urban areas and where street parking is near bike lanes.
This type of injury can be easily avoided when drivers and their passengers take just a few moments to check their mirrors or turn around and see if any vehicles or cyclists are approaching before opening their doors. But vehicle occupants don’t always do this, and when they don’t, they can open their doors directly in the paths of cyclist, putting them at risk of serious injuries.
“Dooring” is a common term for this type of accident, and it’s known to cause cyclists to suffer broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, and even death. At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we work hard to help injured cyclists get compensation after accidents caused by negligent drivers and vehicle occupants, including those that occur while their vehicles are stationary.
Contact us today for a free consultation if you or someone you love was injured in a dooring accident. Our Virginia bicycle accident lawyers want to help you get maximum compensation.
