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   146 reviews

Door Zone Crashes And NY Driver Liability

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Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C.

10b9db026d89119e951a851045ac17eee7784f79

Written/Reviewed By:

Barry S. Kantrowitz, Esq.

Last Updated: Apr 9, 2026

Read Time: 3 mins

You’re riding your bike down a New York street when suddenly a parked car’s door swings open right in front of you. There’s no time to stop. You hit the door, get thrown from your bike, and land hard on the pavement. This happens all the time. These “dooring” accidents are one of the most common ways cyclists get hurt in New York. The injuries can be devastating, resulting in broken bones, severe head trauma, road rash, or worse.

New York Law Is Clear About Who’s At Fault

New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1214 doesn’t leave much room for interpretation. No person can open a car door unless it’s reasonably safe to do so and won’t interfere with moving traffic. That includes bicyclists. The law puts the responsibility squarely on drivers and passengers. Before you open your door, you’ve got to check. Look for cyclists. Look for pedestrians. Make sure the path is clear.

Proving Liability In Door Zone Cases

When these accidents happen, figuring out who’s liable is usually straightforward. Someone opened a door without looking first. That’s a violation of their legal duty. The violation caused the crash. The crash caused injuries. Courts will look at several things:

Did the person opening the door check for cyclists before acting
Where was the parked car positioned relative to the bike lane
Could the cyclist have reasonably avoided the door
What were the traffic and visibility conditions like

Most dooring cases show obvious fault. The law doesn’t expect cyclists to predict that every parked car might suddenly fling a door into their path. That’s just not reasonable.

Building Your Case After A Dooring Accident

A Rockland County bicycle accident lawyer can help you gather the evidence you’ll need. Witness statements matter. Photos of the scene matter. Damage to your bike tells part of the story. A bent front wheel, mangled handlebars, scratched frame. Damage to the car door confirms what happened.

You need to show that the person opening that door didn’t exercise reasonable care. Usually, that’s not hard to prove. The physical evidence speaks for itself.

Dealing With Insurance Companies

Vehicle insurance policies typically cover these accidents under the driver’s liability coverage. New York is a no-fault state, which means you can file claims through insurance regardless of who caused the accident. But if your injuries are serious enough, you can step outside the no-fault system and pursue full compensation for everything you’ve lost. Insurance adjusters sometimes try to blame cyclists. They’ll claim you had room to avoid the door or were going too fast. These arguments rarely hold up when the facts show someone violated a clear traffic law by not checking before opening their door. Beyond the economic losses, you’re dealing with pain, suffering, and possibly permanent injuries or disabilities. A Rockland County bicycle accident lawyer knows how to properly value these claims and won’t let insurance companies shortchange you.

What You Can Recover

Medical bills add up fast after a dooring accident. You’ve got emergency room costs, follow-up appointments, physical therapy, and maybe surgery. Then there’s the time you can’t work while you’re recovering. Your bike probably needs repairs or replacement. If someone opened a car door into your path and you got hurt, Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. can review what happened and explain your options. We’ve represented injured cyclists throughout New York, and we know how to hold negligent drivers accountable.

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   LWelsh 
 30 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Clever and efficient.
  
 
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   Kenny Perlow 
 51 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. KGG Law, and Barry Kantrowitz in particular, set the bar high for what a thorough, practical, strategic, compassionate and smart lawyer can be. Everything about Barry's advice and representation was exemplary and the stress mitigation that resulted was invaluable. On top of that, the ultimate result Barry achieved was beyond what was reasonable to expect and we are forever grateful. Often, people say that you hire a lawyer to prevent a problem. Sometimes, unfortunately, you need an attorney to solve a problem and I could not recommend Barry and his firm any more highly in that regard.
  
 
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   Aliza Ali 
 115 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My dad had a great experience with this law firm. From the very beginning, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and always willing to answer our questions. They kept us informed throughout the entire process and made what could have been a very stressful situation much easier to handle. We truly appreciated their dedication, honesty, and hard work. Thanks to their support, my dad felt confident every step of the way. We are very grateful for everything they did and would highly recommend this firm to anyone looking for reliable legal representation.
  
 
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   Jana Montero 
 118 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a wonderful experience working with Sam Smith. He was very responsive, thorough, and easy to work with from start to finish. He walked me through everything clearly and made what started as a very stressful situation for me into something completely manageable. I would not hesitate to recommend him and the firm!
  
 
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   Mike Sakmann 
 124 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I sought legal advice regarding an employment matter and had an excellent experience working with Sam Smith, Esq. at KGG Law. Sam was thorough, attentive, and took the time to listen carefully to my concerns before providing clear, thoughtful guidance. I appreciated the professionalism and care shown throughout the process, and I would confidently recommend KGG Law to anyone in need of legal assistance.
  
 
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   Liz Hecker 
 130 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can't say enough about this firm. They manage to comfort you during the whole legal process while staying professional and doing what is right. I would recommend them to anyone and also hire them again if I need legal help.
  
 
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   Brandy Miller 
 153 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kate is the best. She helped me very quickly, and was very attentive with all of my needs. So thankful for her
  
 
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   Mike Greenspan 
 166 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kate Carballo is a dedicated, passionate, and creative attorney whom I had the pleasure to lecture with at a state trial lawyer's conference. Kate's lecture demonstrated how she uses her innovative and "out-of-the-box thinking" to achieve outstanding results for her injured clients. That Kate is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a civil trial attorney is a testament to her skills, experience and commitment to excellence.
  
 
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   Jonathan Sampson 
 173 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Was referred to KGG law by a friend and could not have asked for better legal representation. They walked me through every step of the process after my accident and began every call with “ how are you feeling” which was just one example of how much they care about their clients. They handled my case very efficiently, professionally and courteously. My attorney Kate Carballo was a rock star! So clearly experienced, she consistently made me feel at ease with the process. Highly recommend
  
 
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   Vinnie Kung 
 176 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great experience with the team at KGG Law. While it was a traumatic time for our family, they made it very easy for us and explained all of our options. They even performed due diligence to make sure that after our settlement, there would be no further issues which I think is even more important than the settlement itself. Thank you!

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