Motorcycle accidents can occur without notice. Most incidents involve head-to-head collisions with another vehicle, but others happen due to dooring. This action refers to a vehicle driver or passenger opening the door into the path of an oncoming motorcyclist.
A dooring accident can result in severe injuries that could prevent you from working. Understanding more about this can help in finding solutions to recover compensation.
Defining the dooring injuries
Opening a car door can be harmless, but it can be dangerous when an individual looks but fails to see you approaching. Common injuries of dooring accidents include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Internal bleeding
- Severe burns
- Road rash
- Fractured bones
- Organ damage
Aside from these severe injuries, your motorcycle can lose its operability, depending on its damage.
Proving your case
The person who opened the door has breached their duty of care, especially when there are signals or warning signs that inform drivers to move carefully. They failed to uphold the legal obligation to ensure their exit was safe and did not interfere with moving traffic. This negligence directly caused your injuries, establishing your right to file an injury claim.
Taking the next steps
Motorcycle accident claims can be a complex process in Indiana, especially since the state follows modified comparative negligence. If the court finds you are 51 percent or more at fault, the judge can bar you from recovering damages.
Gathering evidence of your accident, medical records and surveillance footage can help you demonstrate that you were following traffic rules. However, if you are unsure how to proceed, consulting a personal injury attorney can offer valuable insights into the matter.