Dooring Bicycle Accident in Arizona: What to Do, Who's Liable, and How to Protect Your Claim
A dooring bicycle accident in Arizona can happen in an instant — you're riding in a bike lane or along a parked car, and suddenly a door swings open directly into your path. The collision can launch you over the handlebars, throw you into traffic, or leave you with serious injuries before you even have a chance to react. If this has happened to you, you're probably wondering what to do next and whether you have a legal claim. This post breaks it all down.
What Is a Dooring Accident?
"Dooring" refers to the moment a driver or passenger opens a car door into the path of an oncoming cyclist. These accidents are especially dangerous because cyclists have almost no time to stop or swerve safely — and if they swerve, they may be hit by moving traffic. Dooring accidents are distressingly common in urban areas like Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe, where on-street parking sits adjacent to bike lanes.
Common injuries from dooring accidents include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, facial lacerations, shoulder injuries, and spinal trauma. Even at relatively low speeds, the impact of a car door can be severe.
Is Dooring Illegal in Arizona?
Yes. Under A.R.S. § 28-857, no person shall open a vehicle door on the side of moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of traffic. This statute directly applies to dooring accidents and establishes a clear legal duty for drivers and passengers to check before opening their door. Violating this statute is a traffic infraction — and in a civil injury claim, it is strong evidence of negligence.
Arizona also follows a pure comparative fault system under A.R.S. § 12-2505. This means that even if you are found partially at fault — say, for riding too close to parked cars — you can still recover compensation, reduced by your percentage of fault. Our Arizona Comparative Negligence Law Explained post goes into this in more detail if you want to understand how shared fault could affect your case.
Dooring Bicycle Accident Arizona: What to Do Immediately After the Crash
What you do in the minutes and hours after a dooring accident can significantly affect the strength of your injury claim. Here is what we recommend:
- Call 911. Even if your injuries seem minor, a police report creates an official record of the accident. Officers will document the scene, identify the at-fault party, and note any traffic violations.
- Stay at the scene. Do not leave before police arrive, and do not let the driver or passenger who opened the door leave without exchanging information.
- Get the other party's information. Collect the name, contact information, driver's license number, license plate, and insurance information of the vehicle's driver — and the passenger who opened the door, if it was a passenger.
- Document everything. Photograph your injuries, your bike, the vehicle's door, skid marks, the surrounding area, and any nearby signage or bike lane markings. Take wide shots and close-ups.
- Get witness information. Bystanders or other drivers may have seen exactly what happened. Their accounts could be invaluable later.
- Seek medical attention promptly. Some injuries — particularly head injuries and internal trauma — are not immediately obvious. A same-day or next-day medical evaluation creates a documented link between the accident and your injuries.
- Avoid giving recorded statements. If the other driver's insurance company calls you, be cautious. You are not required to give a recorded statement, and doing so without legal guidance can hurt your claim.
Who Is Liable in an Arizona Dooring Accident?
Liability in a dooring accident typically falls on the person who opened the door — whether that's the driver or a passenger. Under A.R.S. § 28-857, that person had a legal duty to check for oncoming cyclists before opening the door. If they failed to do so, they breached that duty and can be held liable for your injuries.
In some cases, additional parties may also share liability:
- The vehicle owner, if they are different from the person who opened the door
- An employer, if the vehicle was being used for business purposes at the time
- The City or municipality, in rare cases where a poorly designed bike lane placed cyclists in an unreasonably dangerous position near parked cars
Our Bicycle Accidents practice area page explains how we approach liability investigations in cycling cases, including gathering surveillance footage, accident reconstruction, and working with medical experts.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
If you were injured in a dooring accident caused by someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses — past and future, including emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, and therapy
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work
- Pain and suffering and emotional distress
- Property damage to your bicycle and gear
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In cases involving particularly reckless conduct, Arizona courts may also award punitive damages, though these are less common in standard dooring cases.
Arizona's Statute of Limitations — Don't Wait Too Long
In Arizona, you generally have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, under A.R.S. § 12-542. Missing this deadline almost certainly means losing your right to recover compensation entirely. There are some limited exceptions — for example, if a government entity is involved, the notice requirements and deadlines may be shorter. Our post on the Arizona Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury explains these deadlines in detail.
That said, waiting is never a good idea even within that two-year window. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget details. Insurance companies use delay against you. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the better protected your claim will be.
How Sher Law Group Can Help
At Sher Law Group PLLC, our attorneys have helped injured cyclists across the Phoenix and Scottsdale area navigate complex accident claims — from dooring cases to collisions at intersections. We understand how vulnerable cyclists are on Arizona roads, and we fight to make sure at-fault drivers and their insurers are held accountable.
We work with our car accident attorneys and broader personal injury lawyers team to build thorough, evidence-backed claims for our clients. And because we work on a contingency fee basis, you pay nothing unless we win your case.
If you've been hurt in a dooring bicycle accident in Arizona and aren't sure what to do next, call us at 480-418-7437 for a free, no-obligation consultation. We're here to help you understand your options and protect your rights.