Knocked off by Opening Taxi Door

[586]

The Driver did get the passengers details,,
Driver must of said she was ok to get out where she did as she was going to a cash machine to pay him..
He also tried to drive off before I got his details! He came back when he seen me take picture of his number/licence plate.
I dont think think his lights will be indicating doors are secure as it wouldn't shut properly after I crashed into it.

 

[stowie]

Hi all! I'm a cyclist and a taxi driver.
If I was injured by an exiting taxi passenger I would ask the police to attend the RTA and attempt to obtain the passenger's and driver's details. The company may have the passengers mobile number.
The driver of a car is not responsible for the actions of passengers.
The driver is only liable if any negligence on his/her part can be proved.
If it was a cab with driver controlled door locks then the driver may be liable.

I am not so sure about that. I believe that, since it is the driver's car, that civil liability (ie insurance claims) will be against his/her insurance. However, I believe that the driver couldn't be charged with opening the car door carelessly (fine is around £1k max I think) although the passenger could.

Frankly, from the fact that the taxi driver tried to drive away until he realised that his number was on photo and that the passenger seemed completely dismissive I would be very tempted to turn it over to solicitors who specialise in cycle compensation (LCC/CTC). Their attitudes might not stink quite so much after paying out for their stupidity.

 

[stephenb]

I was cycling to work few weeks ago approaching some traffic lights, the traffic on my right was coming to a stop there was about a 5' gap between me and the traffic to stop at the front. I carried on in the gap when a passenger exited a taxi knocking me off my bike with the door,
I injured my knee pretty bad but nothing broken.
I have been in touch with solictors who say I have case,but Im not sure as I was passing the taxi on his inside.
Has anyone had any experience like this?

yep. see this. it's pretty unpleasant so do follow it up. You are in CTC aren't you?

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/what-else-could-i-have-done.141066/

in my case the cops have admitted liability, i had surgery on 11 December and will be in a splint for a while yet, probaby no cycling till Easter. C'est la vie [and GWS]

 

[586]

I have followed it up but Im not in CTC,, I Should know more in a week or so..
Im still in alot of pain with my knee from the collision and Im getting it checked out next week..
good luck with your recovery Ste I will let you know how I get on with my case/recovery..

 

[ianrauk]

I have followed it up but Im not in CTC,, I Should know more in a week or so..
Im still in alot of pain with my knee from the collision and Im getting it checked out next week..
good luck with your recovery Ste I will let you know how I get on with my case/recovery..

You can join CTC for retrospective cover.

 

[CopperBrompton]

You can, but you don't need to: you can go direct to the same solicitors and get the same service without being a member.

 

[David Parry]

Dooring scares the crap out of me. I was once riding between a row of parked vehicles and stopped vehicles lined up in the curb-side traffic lane (approaching a red light). I was keeping a healthy safety space with the parked vehicles, but a passenger door of a vehicle stopped in the traffic lane suddenly opened and the gal bolted for the sidewalk! Man it was close.