“Doored” in a Forest Hills Bicycle Accident: Can I Sue?

If you were ejected from your bicycle because someone opened their car door into your path, you have every right to consider legal action. Contact the experienced Forest Hills bicycle accident attorneys at Cohan Law, PLLC for more information. We can investigate dooring crashes, identify the driver, passenger, vehicle owner, rideshare company, taxi operator, or insurer involved, and pursue compensation for injured cyclists.

New York Authorities Are Constantly Warning of Dooring Accidents

Authorities in New York City understand how common and dangerous “dooring” incidents can be. “Vision Zero” resources state that one in six bicycle injuries is caused by a driver opening a door. Although these resources attempt to educate drivers on how to safely open their doors, many completely disregard the possibility of passing cyclists.

Dooring incidents are particularly common when taxis or rideshare vehicles are involved. Passengers are constantly throwing open their doors without a care in the world, striking cyclists in the process. This is why Vision Zero is trying to have all professional drivers install special “Look for Cyclists” decals on their passenger windows. In a dense neighborhood like Forest Hills in Queens, the risk is higher. That is especially true around Austin Street, Queens Boulevard, commercial curbside pickup zones, parked rideshare vehicles, and routes often used by cyclists traveling.

Is Opening a Door Into the Path of a Cyclist Illegal in New York?

New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1214 directly addresses dooring. The statute provides that no person may open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so and unless it can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic. If you exit your vehicle while failing to yield to passing cyclists, you are committing a traffic infraction. In addition to being a basic traffic offense, “dooring” is also a form of civil negligence. As a result, it can lead to a valid lawsuit. In the past, cyclists have recovered considerable compensation after suing for dooring incidents in New York.

The rule can apply to drivers and passengers. A passenger who opens a door into a cyclist’s path may be personally responsible, and the vehicle owner, driver, rideshare company, taxi company, or commercial operator may also need to be investigated depending on the facts. A lawyer can determine whether the door was opened into a bike lane, travel lane, or shared roadway and whether video footage, witness statements, vehicle damage, or police findings support the claim.

Dooring Incidents Are Far Too Common in Queens

Incidents such as these are all too common in Queens. On May 22nd, 2026, Eyewitness News reported that a cyclist in Queens had suffered critical injuries after being doored. The 48-year-old cyclist was passing a parked vehicle when a passenger suddenly flung her door open. The door then slammed into the cyclist, sending him veering into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

The head-on collision led to severe head and body trauma. Although first responders managed to get him to a hospital very quickly, his life may never be the same. Officials have not yet revealed any criminal charges against the passenger. Reports indicate that the person responsible was a 15-year-old, and an investigation is ongoing. Although that reported crash happened in the Rockaways, the same danger exists in Forest Hills whenever drivers or passengers open doors into bike lanes, traffic lanes, or narrow curbside spaces without checking for cyclists.

Key Takeaways

• Drivers must exercise caution when opening their doors
• New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1214 prohibits opening a vehicle door into moving traffic until it is reasonably safe to do so
• A dooring accident can easily be fatal and grieving families can pursue compensation on behalf of a deceased cyclist
• Forest Hills cyclists face heightened dooring risks near Austin Street, Queens Boulevard, Forest Park access routes, rideshare pickup areas, and curbside parking zones

Can a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Forest Hills Help Me?

A bicycle accident lawyer in Forest Hills may be able to help if you’re recovering after a dooring incident. Alternatively, you may be able to work with a lawyer to file a wrongful death lawsuit if you lost a loved one to a dooring incident.

Were you doored by a driver while riding your bicycle? Contact Cohan Law, PLLC to discuss the pathway toward compensation during a free consultation. We can investigate what happened, determine whether VTL § 1214 was violated, identify every potentially liable party, and pursue compensation for your damages.

Sources:

 abc7ny.com/post/bicyclist-critical-condition-car-door-knocks-path-oncoming-rockaways-queens/19151354/

nyc.gov/assets/tlc/downloads/pdf/taxi_school_vision_zero.pdf

nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/VAT/1214