Originally Posted by thechamp
I wonder who would be liable for damages if a car took out the door of a parked car opening it's door. I know that generally in an accident the car approaching from behind is liable for any accidents. Is this the case when someone opens his door into traffic? I don't know.
Way I figure is that hitting a car door means you were riding too close to the car, maybe not paying enough attention. Maybe I don't ride enough to have become cavalier about it but I really pay close attention to brakelights and people in driver seats of parked cars. If anything looks funky I stop or get into the middle of the lane. In oregon anyway, you're allowed one full lane (if there's no bike lane) and I'll take it and slow down the cars behind me in a second if it means not getting doored.
I'm not suggesting that the driver is without blame, that guy is clearly the worst sort of human scum, but in the end you need to not run into things. What if a kid had run out from in front of the car? Not your fault but would you have been able to stop in time?
ride safe.
Most places I know consider it the fault of the person opeing the door. Similar to pulling out into traffic from a parking spce or side street. There's a term for it, something like "interference with a travel lane."
The bike laws of all of our local jurisdictions require bikes to ride as far to the ride as is safe and practical. Leaves it a judgement call on how safe the door zone is.
It is NOT the fault of the bicyclist, but that doesn't fix your bike or make you heal any faster. We have to take steps to protect ourselves when riding, and if that means taking the lane, then do it!