Ever doored a cyclist? Don't think it's your fault? This man will help!

[freewheelwilly]

So what if he is a lawyer. For all we know he only specializes in Employment law or some other non related matter. Hes a lawyer with the gift of the gab who clearly does not care much for cyclists regardless of whether they are in the right or wrong.

 

[Drago]

*if* he were a lawyer I'd be reporting him to the law society for a) his interfering and unsolicited behaviour, and b) the faulty advice he is giving to the parties.

He ain't no lawyer - they know that they can be held personally accountable for faulty advice, and this is why they charge a fortune. No solicitor will give advice for free spontaneously like that because of this.

Look up his practice on the phone book under "Walter Mitty and imaginary partners legal services"

 

[Brains]

I was doored by a late night 'minicab' driver, well it was actually his passenger that did it, he was not at all apologetic, and threatened to get the damage back off my insurance,
I suggested he had a go, I told him that any contact from my insurance company I would mention that he running Hire & Reward and he better ensure his insurance covered this aspect of his job.

End result was I heard no more about it.

(Oh yes, as aside I was not on my bike, but driving 2.5t of Landrover Defender, it nearly chipped some paint on my bumper, his door was folded back the wrong way )

 

[Cyclopathic]

I was doored by a late night 'minicab' driver, well it was actually his passenger that did it, he was not at all apologetic, and threatened to get the damage back off my insurance,
I suggested he had a go, I told him that any contact from my insurance company I would mention that he running Hire & Reward and he better ensure his insurance covered this aspect of his job.

End result was I heard no more about it.

(Oh yes, as aside I was not on my bike, but driving 2.5t of Landrover Defender, it nearly chipped some paint on my bumper, his door was folded back the wrong way )

About 15 years ago when I was a mini cab driver I doored a bus and I am in no doubt whatsoever that it was entirely my own stupid fault. I was engrossed in conversation with the passenger and just opened my door into the traffic. Fortunately it was a bus and not a cyclist or a motorcyclist and the only damage was to my car as it took the door clean off. It may have slightly scuffed the bus on its way but the driver saw no need to report it and I was left trying to find a door for a Mk2 Sierra, preferably in blue at a scrap yard which as you will know if you have ever had cause to find such an item is extremely difficult as they were surprisingly rare due to being made of rubbish and rotting like pears.
If you door some one it's your fault for not looking.

 

[Hip Priest]

If you door someone, it's your own fault. However, I always take care to cycle clear of the doorzone, as people make mistakes.

 

[BrianEvesham]

I drove a bus into a bus station at night and a merc passenger door opened giving me no chance, funny thing is I was going slowly to squeeze past the illegally parked car so surprised they didnt see me.
No damage to the bus.

 

[BlackPanther]

I always give parked cars the width of an open door. It's extremely unusual, but on occasion the (idiot) driver behind may beep his horn.

 

[doug]

Absolute rubbish.

Care to elaborate ?

Although I cannot find case law showing that such a claim of contributory negligence has successfully stood up in court, such claims have been made against doored cyclist, and cyclists may feel badgered into accepting reduced compensation rather than take it to court. Insurance companies will often try to either wriggle out of paying compensation or at least reducing their payment.

Although overtaking a parked car closely is not against the law as such, it is advised against in the Highway Code (see rule 67) and the Highway Code does state:

Failure to comply with the other rules of the Code will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted. The Highway Code may be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts (see 'The road user and the law') to establish liability. This includes rules which use advisory wording such as ‘should/should not’ or ‘do/do not’.

 

[doug]

Thanks for the clarification. Such claims have been made, the fact that none have (yet) stood up in court does not mean that none ever will and my claim that it "may be contributory negligence" is still valid - not "Absolute Rubbish" as you said.