In most dooring cases, the person who opened the door starts from a difficult liability position. Under RCW 46.61.620, no one may open a vehicle door on the side available to moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe to do so. Washington law places a clear duty on vehicle occupants — driver or passenger — to make sure the way is clear before opening a door into traffic.
Washington's Vehicle-Door Safety Rule
Washington law requires vehicle occupants to open a door beside moving traffic only when it is reasonably safe and will not interfere with traffic.
Why Dooring Liability Often Favors the Cyclist
Dooring crashes are among the more straightforward liability scenarios in bicycle accident litigation. An occupant who opened a door without looking has violated a specific statutory duty, and a cyclist riding in a bike lane or alongside a parking lane typically had no warning and little realistic chance to avoid the collision. A door swings open in a fraction of a second.
The injuries, meanwhile, are often anything but minor. Cyclists doored at speed are thrown over the door or into adjacent traffic, producing fractures, shoulder injuries, and head trauma.
That said, strong is not the same as automatic. Comparative fault still applies, and the specific facts — the cyclist's speed, position, and lighting, the door's timing, the street layout — still matter.
Bike-Lane Position and Comparative Fault Arguments
Expect the usual arguments: the cyclist was riding too close to the parked cars, going too fast, or not paying attention.
RCW 46.61.770's lane positioning rules are useful here. Cyclists are permitted to ride further into the travel lane when the right edge is unsafe, and a bike lane painted directly in the door zone — a familiar condition on older Seattle streets in Capitol Hill and the Pike-Pine corridor — is a textbook example of an unsafe edge. Documented bike lane widths relative to the door zone can support that argument with measurements rather than generalities.
Rideshare Passenger and Driver Coverage Issues
If the door was opened by a passenger stepping out of a Lyft or Uber, additional insurance coverage may apply beyond the driver's personal auto policy. Rideshare claims involve their own coverage analysis, and the platform's status at the time of the incident matters.
Evidence to Preserve After a Dooring Collision
Dooring crashes frequently happen on busy commercial streets where evidence exists if it gets captured quickly. Photograph the vehicle's position, the bike lane width, the door itself, and your bike's point of impact. Collect witness names and numbers — bystanders are common on these corridors, and their accounts carry real weight when an occupant later claims the cyclist came out of nowhere.
Legal sources
General legal information only. Specific facts, policy language, parties, and deadlines can change the analysis.