Dooring Accidents and Motorcycle Accidents

A Laredo motorcycle accident lawyer who defends your rights

Were you or a loved one injured in a dooring accident on your motorcycle in Texas? Is the insurance company giving you a hard time about your motorcycle accident? Don't let them push you around. You have rights and we can demand them.

John R. Solis, Attorney at Law in Laredo has more than 25 years of experience handling such serious motorcycle accident claims. We know how to investigate such accidents and demand the financial compensation you deserve for your crash.

Having an experienced motorcycle accident attorney after your dooring accident can often make a dramatic difference in the outcome of your case. That's why we want to meet with you as soon as possible and explain all the legal options available to you.

Why do motorcycle dooring accidents happen?

Dooring crashes happen when someone inside a parked vehicle opens their door directly into the path of an oncoming motorcycle. Riders usually don’t have time to stop or swerve, especially in city traffic or along narrow streets. And if riders do swerve to avoid an open car door, they might sustain serious injuries due to being hit by another car.

Sadly, these accidents are common in downtown areas, parking lanes and near bus stops in Laredo. Common causes include:

Drivers and passengers fail to check for motorcycles before opening a door, especially when parked along a busy street.
Riders are often forced to ride near parked vehicles due to traffic congestion or lack of a separate motorcycle lane.
Drivers suddenly swing doors open, giving riders no time to react, leading to direct impact or dangerous swerving into another lane.
High-speed traffic near parked cars increases the risk and severity of a crash if a rider is hit by or strikes a car door.

Most dooring accidents happen because someone in a car wasn’t paying attention. In Texas, drivers and passengers are supposed to check their surroundings before opening a door into traffic. When they fail to do that, the injured motorcyclist has the right to seek compensation for medical bills, lost income and pain and suffering.

What are common motorcycle dooring injuries?

Motorcycle dooring injuries can be serious, even at low speeds. Because riders have little protection, hitting a door or being thrown into traffic often causes severe injuries. Many riders are thrown from their bikes or pinned under the vehicle that struck them. Here are some common motorcycle dooring injuries:

Broken bones, especially in the arms, legs or ribs, are common when a rider is knocked off the bike.
Head injuries can result in concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
Back and neck injuries, including herniated discs or spinal cord damage, which can affect a rider’s ability to work or move comfortably.
Road rash and lacerations from hitting the pavement or sliding across the road can lead to infection or scarring.
Internal injuries may not be obvious at first but can be life-threatening without immediate medical care.

Even a quick door swing can cause injuries that take weeks or months to recover from. If the crash was fatal, surviving family members may have the right to file a fatal motorcycle accident lawsuit seeking damages, the legal term for compensation. A Laredo motorcycle accident lawyer can help document your injuries, investigate your crash and demand the compensation you deserve.

What are Texas’ motorcycle dooring laws?

Texas’ laws are clear – drivers and passengers must check for approaching traffic before opening a door into the street. Opening a car door without first making sure it’s safe is considered negligent behavior. That means the person who opened the door can be held legally responsible (or “liable”) for the dooring crash.

Texas Transportation Code Section 545.418 says no one may open a vehicle door on the side available to moving traffic unless it is safe to do so.
The door must not stay open longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.
This Texas law applies to drivers and passengers in all types of vehicles, including rideshares, delivery trucks, and parked cars.

If someone in Laredo opens a car door and causes a motorcycle crash, they may be liable for your injuries and responsible for paying for your accident. A motorcycle dooring accident might seem simple, but proving fault and securing a fair settlement often requires a lot of legal help. That’s where a Laredo motorcycle accident attorney at our firm can step in to protect your rights and help you demand justice.

Common legal obstacles injured motorcyclists face

A driver opened a door and your motorcycle hit it – you might think you don’t need a lawyer for such an open-and-shut case. Don’t be so sure. In many cases, motorcycle accident claims turn out to be far more complicated. Common legal issues that can come up include:

The driver denies doing anything wrong.
The driver blames you for causing the dooring accident.
The insurance company denies your accident claim.
The insurance company downplays the severity of the accident and makes you a lowball settlement offer.

Whatever legal issues you're dealing with, no matter how complicated or straightforward they might seem, we can help you every step of the way.

What to do after a motorcycle dooring accident

A dooring crash can leave you stunned, injured and unsure of what to do next. But the steps you take right after your Laredo motorcycle accident can often make a big difference in your recovery and any future lawsuit. Here’s what you can do to protect yourself legally and medically.

Call 911 right away. Even if your injuries seem minor, it’s important to get checked out and file a police report. That report becomes key evidence later.
Take photos and video of the scene, including the car, the door, your motorcycle, your injuries and where the crash happened.
Get the driver or passenger’s contact and insurance information. Ask for their name, phone number and driver’s license details.
Speak with witnesses. Ask for their names and phone numbers in case they need to give a statement later.
Avoid saying anything that sounds like an apology. Statements like “I didn’t see you” can be used to shift blame.
Seek medical attention. Even if you weren’t taken to the ER, follow up with your doctor. Some injuries don’t show symptoms right away.
Save your gear. Don’t throw away your helmet, jacket or gloves. They may serve as evidence of how serious the crash was.
Talk to a motorcycle accident lawyer. A Laredo attorney can deal with the insurance company and help you pursue full compensation.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed after a motorcycle crash, especially if you’re facing mounting medical bills, missed work, lost income and pain that just won’t go away. You don’t have to handle it alone. A motorcycle dooring accident lawyer in Laredo can take the pressure off and help you fight for the justice and support you need and deserve.

How our law firm can help you

Insurance companies often put pressure on motorcyclists to accept a settlement offer that doesn't even come close to covering all their accident-related expenses. Often, they'll claim that's the most they can offer and not a penny more.

Don't believe them. In most cases, insurance companies are perfectly able to pay accident victims a fair amount to cover all their accident-related expenses. But in order to get that money, you need an experienced motorcycle accident attorney fighting for your rights.

We can be there for you, advocating for your right to full compensation. And if the insurance companies refuse to cooperate, we're prepared to take them to court. Find out what an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can do for you. Contact us today and schedule your free case evaluation.