When a person rides their bicycle around, either on a quiet back road or a busy main road, they will likely encounter angry or dangerous drivers.
One unexpected way that this can lead to an accident is when this person rides past a parked car.
Paying attention only to distractions
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the driver inside the car may not think to check around them for possible pedestrians or people on bicycles. While opening a car door into another car may only leave scratch marks, opening a door into a moving bicycle can toss the rider off of it.
If the rider’s head or spine hits the pavement at a high speed, they could suffer from serious spinal cord injuries or head trauma.
Assuming silence means no one is there
Since bicycles do not make as much noise on the road as cars or trucks, people sitting inside their cars need to rely on other ways of telling who is around them. A crash can happen both in a more populated city or a smaller suburban area where there is less traffic.
Ignoring their mirrors
Bicyclists may be in danger if the driver does not look around and in back of the car before getting out. Even if you wear bright clothing and have all the proper lights on your bicycle, someone who is not looking could still open up their door.
Suffering from an open door bicycle accident in daylight or at night can lead to more serious health issues and injuries.