During the afternoon rush on August 23, 2011, M.P. (now a personal injury client of Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers) was riding his bicycle in the curb lane of a busy Toronto thoroughfare when the passenger in the car to the front and left of him suddenly opened his door. The cyclist stood no chance. He struck the door, flew through the air and suffered major injuries, including a fractured collarbone.
Flash forward almost two years later. The local media, including CP24 and The Toronto Star, have now gone public with the fact that the police and public author_idities have been ignoring the serious impact of "dooring" on cyclists. Now, the Toronto police have commenced a campaign to ensure cyclists can ride safely through the city streets - without the fear of having car doors opened in front of them.
It's clear that with the high volume of traffic - which includes both automobiles and bicycles - that increased awareness, education and enforcement is necessary to keep cyclists safe. Drivers and passengers must be made aware of the impact of dooring and grant cyclists the right of way. Drivers should check their mirrors and ensure that their passengers check before opening their doors.
It is also important that cyclists who are the victims of "dooring" know their rights and ennamements. A claim for accident benefits can be made in this situation, which can provide the victim with access to income replacement benefits and medical and rehabilitation benefits.
Photo Credit: Cycling Weekly
