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Motorcycle Dooring Accidents

Motorcycle Dooring Accidents

When a person exits their car, they are often distracted and not thinking of the traffic traveling down the street. However, making sure you enter and exit your car responsibly is part of being a good driver. Drivers who are not careful about opening their doors when they get out of their car can cause accidents. The people most often hurt in these accidents are motorcyclists and bicyclists

Motorcyclists will often ride in the slower lane. The slower lane is right next to the parking lane, so a driver exiting a car may well end up opening their door into a speeding motorbike. 

Statistics

There have not been a lot of dooring accident studies done in the United States. The only state that has compiled statistics on dooring accidents is New York City in 2012, where there were about 132 dooring accidents a day.

New York City has very narrow streets and hundreds of bikers, so the chances of a dooring accident are much greater than they would be in any city in Arizona. However, dooring accidents do happen here, and people get hurt. If you are a motorcyclist who has been injured in a dooring accident, the law firm of Wattel and York can help you recover compensation for your injuries. 

Almost Dooring accident vehicle with a bycicle

Common Injuries After a Dooring Accident 

When a motorcycle rider is hit by a car door, they will often be thrown from their bike. They may experience road rash, which can be very serious. If a motorcycle is traveling 30 miles an hour down a city street and the rider is suddenly thrown off the bike, it can take off many layers of skin. They can also suffer head trauma such as a concussion or serious long-term brain injury. 

Arizona is a Fault State 

There are two different types of auto insurance in the United States, fault and no fault. In a no-fault state, a person’s insurance company is responsible for paying the bills related to an accident, no matter who caused the collision. In a fault state, the person who caused the accident is responsible for paying the related bills. Hence, it is very important to collect evidence proving that the person exiting the car was at fault.

Proving Fault

It can be difficult to prove fault in a dooring accident. There are many variables involved, and there are a few things that you must establish before an insurance company will pay up in a dooring accident. 

Dorring accident in the parking lot

The Driver Neglected Their Duty of Care

When a person gets their driver’s license, they assume a “duty of care.” This means they have a responsibility to take care of the well-being of other people on the road.

In order to get a settlement from the insurance company, you will need to prove the other driver was not looking out for you. Is there a witness who will state the driver was looking at their phone when they got out of the car? Are their security cameras in the area? If so, they can help your case.

In the case of a bike accident, an insurance company will want to know what you were wearing at the time of the crash. If you were not dressed safely, they might try to lower the amount of your settlement.

Witnesses are very important to establish fault in a dooring case. If we can establish a biker was following the rules of the road, obeying the speed limit, and wearing protective clothing, it can help us to win an injury case.

Financial Loss

You should also collect evidence of any lost wages you have incurred due to your accident. Ask your employer to write you a letter stating the number of hours you have missed from work. Remember to save all of your medical bills.

It can be very difficult, if not impossible, for a bike or motorcycle to avoid the dooring zone completely. Bike and motorcycle injuries are often very severe, so if you have suffered a dooring injury, give Wattel & York a call for a free consultation. 

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Online Reviews

“Amazing people, they had my claim for about a week before they were able to get my truck totaled out. Otherwise I would have been stuck with a truck that had heavy front end damage if they hadn’t stepped in to help me. I tried to deal with my insurance company myself for over a month and that got me nowhere, all I got was a massive headache and a messed up truck. They are very professional and act quickly on your claim. I highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for help.”

Candy J.

2/9/2020

“I was in an accident and decided to call Wattel and York. After months of going to a Chiropractor, I finally felt better. When it came time for settlement, the insurance company was making an offer I wanted to accept, Mr. Wattel advised against it and felt the insurance company was shortchanging me. He recommended I file a lawsuit and that will get them to cave. Well, Dave filed suit, and sure enough, the insurance company increased their offer by $4,000! I am very satisfied with how my case was handled.”

Nardeasha S.

20/20/2020

“Wattel & York were flat out outstanding with my personal injury case. They made the process painless and kept in constant communication throughout the entire time. Any questions I might’ve had were promptly answered and detail oriented. They gave me crucial advice that I would’ve otherwise not been aware of. I couldn’t have asked for more from them. Put your trust in these guys, you won’t be disappointed. Thanks Wattel & York.”

Mattew P.

13/9/2020

“Thank you so much for all your hard work on our behalf! Thinking I could handle it on my own, I was originally reluctant to take my accident claim to an attorney. But I am SO glad I called you instead. Your people were always helpful, pleasant and responsive at every step along the way. You represented us with honesty and integrity and made a traumatic experience as painless as it could be. And best of all, you helped us get a settlement that was fair and far more than I could ever have negotiated on my own! I highly recommend Wattel &York to anyone who has suffered a personal injury.”

Cathy M.

“I was the passenger in a vehicle that was 'T- Boned' at an intersection in 2014. The issues of responsibility and recovery became a difficult and convoluted confusion. I really needed help. This Team at Wattel and York walked me patiently and encouragingly through difficult months, sorting through issues and finally arriving at a satisfactory conclusion. I especially want to name two great and encouraging "warriors" of Wattel and York who directed me along the way..Brian Torba and Melissa Patterson..to them and the whole team I say "Thank You" with heart felt gratitude. Sincerely, God Bless You.”

Robert G.

“Honesty. Integrity. Transparency. Partnership. Wattel & York brought all of these qualities and more to my accident case. I'd love to thank all of the team members who helped me with the process: David Guzman, who conducted the initial interview in my home, Aly Shomar-Esparza, who seamlessly guided me through paperwork and filings, Debbie Harrach, who conducted final review, paperwork revisions and scheduling, and Thomas Grisoni, who counseled me before and attended my deposition. I never felt alone during the arduous process and always knew there was a professional team looking out for my best interest. I highly recommend Wattel & York if you are unfortunately involved in an accident that was not your fault.”

Russ W.

“I was a passenger in a car that got t-boned a few years ago and got a huge gash. I didn't know a lot about lawyers, so I basically just picked one on the flip of a coin. I called Wattel and York and they explained everything, I went into the office and filled out paperwork. Got treatment on my gash over the time I worked with them, glad I did as it opened back up a couple times and bled. They did really good, got me the maximum amount of money, and made sure I was well taken care of. I was updated from time to time so that was good. The only thing I might change is I never got to thank or talk to my lawyer. I think it was because I was already used to dealing with the lady at their Glendale office so they just kept her as my point of contact. So it's okay, I'll thank them with a good review. The last thing I could say about them is months after I thought my case was over they called me and said they had another check for me for a few hundred dollars. Apparently, they negotiated with the hospital I went to after the accident. It was a nice surprise and shows they really had my interests in mind.”

Trent B.

“Wattel & York has been great for me in the past few years. I was involved in a really bad accident while I was on Active Duty in Yuma, Arizona and they have been patient with me every step of the way through a very long process. I would recommend them to anyone thank you for all your help.”

Levy G.

“Appreciate David taking the time to speak with me. He was most kind. From the front line with the receptionist, to him, the firm was a class act all the way around.”

Claire B.

“Dave Wattel represented me and my son on a Personal Injury case from a motor vehicle accident back in 2009. Jake P. handled my deposition and Dave did the Quarterbacking. The insurance company hired NFL referee Ed Hochuli's firm to try and deny our claim. But Wattel & York made it look as easy as Tom Brady on the football field. The result was more than acceptable and my son and I were compensated for our injuries and rehabilitation. Dave Wattel cares about his clients. If I ever find myself in a situation like this again, Wattel & York will be on speed dial!!”

Vince C.

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