Who is responsible for my injuries in an open-door motorcycle accident?

Occupants of vehicles in Dallas or Fort Worth open their vehicle doors all the time without looking for a motorcyclist who could be near them. When a motorcyclist crashes into a door of a vehicle that opens suddenly, he can suffer life-altering injuries—like traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, paralysis, and amputation of a limb—or die. Fortunately, there may be more than one party responsible for compensating the victim for his injuries.

Potentially Responsible Parties in an Open-Door Accident

Motorcyclists get injured by other motorists opening their vehicle doors for a variety of reasons. Depending on the cause of the accident, there may be more than one party potentially responsible for the injured victim’s injuries, including:

Driver of the vehicle who hit the rider.

This person could be liable if he or one of his passengers hit the motorcycle.

Passenger of the vehicle.

If a passenger of a vehicle opened his door and caused the accident, he could be responsible for the motorcyclist’s injuries.

The employer of the driver.

If the driver was driving a taxicab, business vehicle, or a truck, the employer of the driver could be liable for compensating the motorcycle rider.

The driver of the illegally-parked vehicle.

A driver of a vehicle who parked illegally could be responsible for the victim’s injuries if his illegal parking contributed to the crash by shielding the motorcyclist from seeing an oncoming hazard.

Manufacturer of the vehicle.

The manufacturer of the vehicle who hit the rider could be liable if a defect in the vehicle contributed to the crash.

Manufacturer of the motorcycle.

The manufacturer of the motorcycle could be responsible if a defect in the motorcycle at least partially caused the crash.

Have You Been Injured In A Texas Motorcycle Accident?

If you've been injured in a motorcycle accident you need to speak with an experienced motorcycle attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Colleyville office directly at 817.485.8888 to schedule your free consultation.