Bike Laws Series Part 6 Dooring Law

Continuing our focus on National Bike Month and our series on Illinois Bike Laws is the issue of “Dooring Law.” Certainly, the worst nightmare of every urban cyclist is being “doored,” which refers to a door opening into the path of a bicycle that is riding near a line of parked cars. The cyclist can do nothing to avoid the collision, and often the results are catastrophic.

Dooring Law – Illinois requires that no person open the door of a vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic. In addition, no person shall leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.

However, attorney Grant Dixon notes that even though the statute makes dooring illegal, in his experience, few police officers are willing to enforce dooring violations. Still, motorists have the responsibility to look and see bicyclists before they open their doors. If they don’t, they are responsible for the injuries they cause, regardless of whether a ticket is issued.

At Dixon Law Office, we have handled numerous cases involving bicycle accidents and injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bike accident, you need an experienced personal injury attorney to review your case and help you get the compensation you deserve. Call Dixon Law Office today toll-free at (888)354-9880 or click here for a free consultation.