cyclist doored, need help

[Allen J. Muchnick]

Meghan,

The motorist was clearly at fault for negligently opening his door into
oncoming vehicular traffic and should have been ticketed by the police.  I
would contact 1) the police officer and his/her supervisor if necessary
and ask that the motorist be issued a traffic citation, 2) my insurance
company/agent (auto, household, medical), 3) the motorist's insurance
company/agent, and, if necessary, 4) an attorney familiar with bicycling
laws and/or personal injury claims in traffic crashes.  The WABA office
(waba at waba.org) may be able to refer you to a local attorney.

In the future, ALWAYS ride with your wheel at least four feet away from
parked vehicles.

Best wishes,

Allen Muchnick, President
Virginia Bicycling Federation
PO Box 5621, Arlington VA 22205
muchnick at capaccess.org
703-271-0895
http://vabike.org

me <admin at yearwithoutlight.net> writes:
>Hi,
>
>I searched through the site and couldn't find links to any groups that 
>could help me, I'm wondering if you might be able to point me in the 
>right direction.   I was doored this afternoon in Alexandria and 
>sustained significant injury to my bike, a bump on my head, and some 
>scrapes.  The police were called, who then called the medics to make 
>sure I was ok, and then I was let go.  It was only after I got home and 
>stopped feeling so lightheaded that I realized the officer didn't file 
>any sort of report.  I was riding in the road with the flow of traffic 
>when a man opened his car door, presumably without looking behind him 
>first as I should've been very easy to spot.  I received the man's 
>contact and insurance information, but he asserted that this was not his 
>fault, just a matter of 'bad timing', a matter of opinion that was not 
>corrected at all by the officer on the scene.  I'm now faced with the 
>cost of bike repairs that I don't feel are my fault and am not sure how 
>to proceed as it would seem that appealing to this man's sense of 
>responsibility might get me nowhere.
>
>Is there anyone I can call?
>
>Thanks,
>Meghan
>