Originally Posted by
Korina
[MENTION=493878]Lemond1985[/MENTION], me too. I always assume they're occupied, even when you can't see a driver. A few years ago a cyclist was doored when the driver leaned over to the passenger side to get something, then kicked his door open before sitting up. It didn't go well for the cyclist; major head trauma. Always assume.
A similar thing happened to a work colleague of mine a few years ago. The driver "explosively" opened the door (with a kick) leaving much less time for reaction than the usual opening speed, where you maybe have a second to see the door opening and adjust.
She had 11 broken bones, a punctured lung (from a broken rib) and needed 5 or 6 steel pins to join the bones. It was a close run thing to her dying on the road, and she was off work for 6 months. Unfortunately, but understandably, she gave up cycling after this.