Bruceville Road Scene of Dooring Accident with Bicyclist
A bicycle rider injury occurred near Elk Grove on March 27 when the bicyclist collided with a car door. The accident happened around 12:10 in the afternoon along northbound Bruceville Road just north of Lambert Road. According to the police report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), two bicyclists were going down the road when the reporting person said someone in a vehicle opened their car door intentionally and struck a 43-year-old cyclist.
Bicycle Rider Injury Accident Being Investigated
Medics with the Sacramento Fire Department were called to the scene to check for injuries. They determined that the bicycle rider who was struck suffered minor injuries. No report was issued on whether that patient was taken to a hospital or received treatment at the accident scene. The incident is being investigated to determine exactly how the accident happened and to assign fault.
Dooring Accidents
Dooring accidents pose a significant danger to bicyclists. These occur when a driver or passenger in a vehicle that is parallel parked along the thoroughfare opens their door suddenly without warning. This usually occurs because the vehicle occupants fail to look for passing bicyclists, motorcyclists, or pedestrians.
The Effects of a Dooring Accident
When a door is unexpectedly opened by someone in a motor vehicle, the bicyclist impacts the car or truck with such force that they are often ejected onto the pavement or into traffic. Injuries can range from:
- Head and brain injuries: These are the most serious and life-threatening to the bicyclist.
- Facial injuries: Loss of dentition, lacerations, and fractured facial bones are disfiguring and may require cosmetic surgery to correct, something that is not often covered by the insurance carrier.
- Fractures: Multiple fractures, some of which require surgery to repair, are often the result of a dooring injury.
- Fatalities: A bicyclist who incurs serious injuries or is run over by another vehicle following a dooring accident often dies due to their trauma.
How Can a Dooring Accident Be Prevented?
Some measures can be taken to prevent dooring accidents, such as:
- The driver and passengers in a motor vehicle can exert caution when opening the door that no one is approaching the vehicle.
- Bicyclists can look for tell-tale signs that a motorist might be exiting their vehicle. Anytime there are people inside a vehicle, a dooring accident can occur.
- Pedestrians: Pedestrians should use sidewalks whenever possible. This is the best way to avoid being involved in a dooring accident. If the pedestrian must walk in the street, they should approach parked vehicles with caution when people are inside them.
Investigating a Bicycle Rider Injury
It is important to investigate all accidents, including those involving a bicycle rider injury. Our law firm uses the following measures:
- We send our investigators to the scene of the accident to determine how and why it happened using accident reconstruction techniques and others.
- The investigators interview witnesses to get their take on the accident.
- They also review police reports for mistakes or inaccuracy.
- Our investigators obtain video footage from surveillance cameras on traffic lights and nearby businesses, which is instrumental in understanding the cause of the bicycle rider injury.
Elk Grove Personal Injury Lawyer
My name is Ed Smith, and I am an Elk Grove personal injury lawyer. Accidents with motor vehicles can cause serious injuries, especially with pedestrians and bicyclists. When the negligence of a motorist causes your injuries, you may benefit from my free, friendly advice. Please phone me at (916) 694-0002 or (800) 404-5400. If you prefer not to call, you can message me online at your convenience.
I’m honored to belong to the following groups: Million Dollar Advocates and Top 1 Percent
Since 1982, my law firm has assisted many Elk Grove residents in getting the compensation they deserve for bicycle accidents, traffic collisions, wrongful death cases, and more.
You can discover more about my law firm at the following links:
Attributed photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/bicycle-bike-biking-sport-cycle-384566/
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