Dooring accidents are sudden, violent, and almost always preventable. One moment you’re riding down the street maybe commuting, running errands, or just enjoying the road and the next, a car door swings open in your path, giving you no time to react. For motorcyclists, these crashes can be catastrophic, often resulting in broken bones, brain injuries, or worse.
Many drivers don’t realize that opening a car door into traffic is illegal under Michigan law. Worse, some insurers try to blame the rider, even when the facts clearly point to driver or passenger negligence.
If you were injured when someone opened a car door into your lane, you have rights. This page explains how motorcycle dooring accidents happen, who may be held liable, and what steps you can take to recover compensation under Michigan law. The motorcycle accident claim process can be confusing without legal help on your side.
What Is a Motorcycle Dooring Accident?
A motorcycle dooring accident happens when a driver or passenger opens a car door directly into the path of an oncoming motorcycle. Unlike bicycles where dooring is more widely discussed, motorcyclists often travel at higher speeds and are less able to swerve or stop in time, making the impact far more severe. These crashes usually occur when:
Michigan law Rule 498 (R 28.1498) prohibits opening a car door unless it is safe to do so, yet many drivers overlook this responsibility—especially when exiting into bike lanes or narrow roads where motorcycles are likely to be traveling close to parked vehicles. What makes dooring so dangerous is that the rider has no warning and no time to avoid impact. Whether it’s a low-speed street or a busy road in downtown Lansing or Detroit, the results can be life-altering.
Why Dooring Is So Dangerous for Motorcyclists
For motorcyclists, dooring accidents are especially dangerous because there’s often no time to swerve, brake, or react. At even moderate speeds, hitting an open car door can eject the rider into traffic, a curb, or the pavement leading to devastating injuries. Unlike bicycles, which typically travel slower and have some chance of maneuvering, motorcycles are heavier, faster, and harder to control in tight situations. This is especially true in urban traffic where tight-space riding hazards like lane splitting and close passes make dooring even more dangerous. In cities like Lansing, Grand Rapids, or Detroit where parking is tight and space is limited, riders often have no choice but to ride close to parked cars, putting them directly in harm’s way. Here’s a breakdown of the most common dooring scenarios and why they pose such a serious risk to motorcycle riders:
Even though these accidents seem straightforward, insurance companies often try to minimize them or shift blame. That’s why it’s so important to understand your rights—and gather the evidence necessary to prove fault before moving forward with a claim.
Injuries Common in Motorcycle Dooring Accidents
When a motorcycle hits a suddenly opened car door, the rider usually takes the full force of the impact. In many cases, the rider is thrown over the handlebars or into another vehicle, resulting in serious sometimes life-threatening injuries. Because the crash involves both a direct impact and a secondary fall, dooring accidents often lead to a combination of blunt force trauma, broken bones, and long-term physical damage. Here’s a breakdown of the most common injuries we see after motorcycle dooring crashes:
Even if injuries seem minor at first, symptoms can worsen over time especially head and spinal trauma. That’s why it’s critical to seek immediate medical care and legal guidance after any dooring incident.
Who Is Liable in a Motorcycle Dooring Accident in Michigan?
In Michigan, the person who opens a car door into traffic is generally liable for the accident. That includes both drivers and passengers. The Michigan Uniform Traffic Code (Rule 498) makes it illegal to open a vehicle door unless it’s safe to do so, and this applies equally in motorcycle dooring cases. Liability typically falls on:
Even though the motorcyclist is the one injured, insurance companies often try to shift blame, especially if the rider was lane-splitting or riding near traffic. However, in most cases, dooring accidents are considered a form of negligent behavior by the person opening the door.
Michigan follows a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning if the rider is found partially at fault (e.g., speeding, riding in a narrow gap), their compensation may be reduced, but not eliminated, as long as they are 50% or less at fault. In the next section, we’ll break down specific liability scenarios and how Michigan law applies in each.
Can You Sue After a Dooring Motorcycle Accident?
Yes. If you were hit by an open car door while riding your motorcycle, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the person responsible whether that’s the driver, a passenger, or a third party. Because motorcycles are not covered under Michigan’s no-fault PIP benefits (unless a motor vehicle was involved in a qualifying way), injured riders usually seek compensation through a third-party negligence claim. In some cases, liability may also extend to the manufacturer if a mechanical defect contributed to the severity of the dooring impact.. This allows you to pursue damages for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. Here’s a breakdown of who may be held responsible and how liability is handled:
In many dooring cases, passengers don’t realize they can be sued, but they are held to the same duty of care when opening a door into active traffic. Even if fault is shared, you can still recover compensation if your share of fault is 50% or less.
Talk to a Michigan Motorcycle Accident Lawyer About Dooring Crashes
Getting hit by an open car door isn’t just a freak accident, it’s usually the result of someone else’s carelessness. And when you’re on a motorcycle, that kind of negligence can lead to serious, life-changing injuries. Whether the driver admits fault or not, you deserve to know your rights and options under Michigan law. At The Clark Law Office, we don’t hand your case off to a junior associate or treat you like a number. You’ll work directly with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney who understands how dooring crashes happen and how to fight back against insurance companies that try to minimize your injuries. We’ve helped riders across Michigan recover compensation after being hit by inattentive drivers and we’re ready to help you too.
🔗 Not all crashes are the same — see more in our Motorcycle Crash Types overview.
Frequently Asked Questions About Motorcycle Dooring Accidents
