Rideshare Pedestrian Dooring Accidents: Asserting Liability for Injuries Caused by Opening Car Doors

Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have become ubiquitous in cities across America. And while ridesharing offers convenient transportation, it also introduces risks – specifically, rideshare dooring accidents. These accidents occur when a rideshare passenger opens a vehicle door into the path of a passing cyclist or pedestrian, knocking them over and often causing severe injuries.

If you have suffered injuries in a rideshare dooring accident as a pedestrian, you may have a legal right to pursue compensation from the at-fault parties. This article will examine liability issues in rideshare pedestrian dooring crashes and how an attorney can help you recover damages.

Establishing Liability

In any personal injury case involving a rideshare vehicle, multiple parties could potentially share liability:

• The rideshare passenger – Passengers have a duty to avoid opening doors when unsafe to do so and to first check for oncoming pedestrians and cyclists. Failure to do so that results in a dooring crash leaves them liable for injuries caused.
• The rideshare driver – While less directly involved, rideshare drivers must legally unload passengers in safe locations away from traffic and active bike lanes. Parking in an unsuitable spot which leads to a dooring accident can implicate the driver.
• The rideshare company – Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft must ensure drivers understand and follow traffic laws and safety protocols. Lack of driver oversight and training around passenger loading/unloading may point to corporate negligence.
• Other liable third parties – In some situations, a faulty door mechanism that opens too widely or unexpectedly could also introduce product liability. The city itself might share liability if poor infrastructure like insufficient sidewalks or bike lanes helps cause the crash.

Documenting the Accident Scene

Crucial evidence gets secured in the moments after a rideshare dooring incident. Try to act quickly to capture critical details if you’ve suffered injuries:

• Take photos of the scene from multiple angles, getting wide shots of the whole area and closer pictures showing your injuries, the vehicle and its position, any bike/scooter involved, and all points of impact between you and the door.
• Get contact details and insurance information from the rideshare driver and passenger if possible.
• Note the license plate number, rideshare company, car make/model, passenger count, and any witness names or statements.
• Check for nearby security cameras on buildings that may have captured footage of the accident.
• Call 911 to report the incident and request medical assistance. Even if you don’t feel hurt at first, rideshare dooring crashes can cause hidden injuries that don’t manifest until later, so always get checked out.

By thoroughly documenting the accident early on, you’ll have what’s needed to verify how the crash occurred and identify all at-fault parties.

Retaining Legal Counsel

Rideshare companies and their insurers typically try denying or downplaying legal responsibility after dooring crashes. To level the playing field, consider hiring an experienced personal injury attorney to handle your injury claim. A lawyer can investigate all your options, manage demand letters and file a lawsuit if needed.

Don’t struggle alone – get experienced legal help seeking accountability and compensation after a preventable rideshare dooring accident. Contact our office for a free consultation about protecting your rights. You can find us at:

• Orlando – 315 Park Lake Cir., Orlando, FL 32803
• Tampa – 11700 N. 58th St., Ste. A, Temple Terrace, FL 33617
• Kissimmee – 1052 E. Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34744
• Poinciana – 4663 Old Pleasant Hill Road, Poinciana, FL 34759
• Davenport – 40230 US Highway 27, Suite 140, Davenport, FL 33837
• Bradenton – 409 6th Avenue East, Bradenton, FL 34208

Call now for a free consultation on (888) 522-0222.