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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DC knocked over a cyclist

363 replies

blueirishues · 31/01/2017 16:33

The situation was that I pulled up and dc opened the car door, a cyclist went into it and over the top. My door is damaged and cyclist shouting all sorts about going to sue Shock what are the rights and wrongs here?

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 31/01/2017 16:34

Your DC is in the wrong and should not have opened the door into a cyclist.

Treaclex · 31/01/2017 16:36

Agree with Pottering. Is the cyclist ok ?

ZackyVengeance · 31/01/2017 16:36

you are liable. and will have to pay for damages.
happened to my dh. wish people would bloody look

ArmySal · 31/01/2017 16:36

Cycling on the pavement? His fault.

In the road? Your DC's.

AddToBasket · 31/01/2017 16:36

Did you swap details? You are likely to get a claim, damage and PI.

Tell us more about the positions in the road, we're you parked, where did he come from. Drawing would be good.

The liability will depend on the circumstances but your insurers are likely to agree that you were at some fault unless there are specific circumstances that show the cyclist at fault.

evensmilingmakesmyfacehurt · 31/01/2017 16:37

Your DC should have looked before opening the door, means you're at fault. Is the cyclist okay? Were they injured?

7SunshineSeven7 · 31/01/2017 16:37

Is the cyclist okay? You need to hand over your insurance details. The cyclist has the right to claim 100%.

MoreThanUs · 31/01/2017 16:37

Of course it was your DCs fault! That is awful.

Binglesplodge · 31/01/2017 16:37

Oh dear. I'd think as the driver, especially when the passenger who caused the injury is one of your children, it was legally your responsibility to prevent the accident. Poor cyclist: they could have been very badly injured or killed by that sort of impact/fall.

EveOnline2016 · 31/01/2017 16:37

Is the cyclist ok, was the door towards the pavement or the road.

londonrach · 31/01/2017 16:37

Your dc should check before opening the door. Is the cyclist ok

londonrach · 31/01/2017 16:39

Was cyclist on pavement (illegal) or road

blueirishues · 31/01/2017 16:39

They were ok, thanks, shaken (obviously) we were both very apologetic.

OP posts:
PaulaBBB · 31/01/2017 16:39

Poor cyclist, were they ok?

It's your fault entirely, you/DC should have checked before opening the door.

enfru · 31/01/2017 16:39

Your DC should have looked even if opening door onto the pavement, there could've been a pedestrian there and they could've been hit. Hope the cyclist is ok

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 31/01/2017 16:39

If you'd pulled over, shouldn't the cyclist have gone round you? Or was the cyclist on the pavement?

Dawndonnaagain · 31/01/2017 16:40

Save the life of a cyclist

Kiroro · 31/01/2017 16:41

What are the rights and wrongs of it? Assuming the cyclist was on the road, or cycle path, or a shared use path, you are in the wrong. Obviously.

Get a child lock until your DC are mature enough to check before opening doors.

canyou · 31/01/2017 16:41

Check has the cyclist insurance, we were parked putting DC into car last year when similar happened to us, a cyclist doing time trials hit the door ( so hit us in a parking space) I checked facebook for her club and made my car insurance follow up I had to insist they did, but her insurance paid us so check you may not be the one paying out.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 31/01/2017 16:42

It's got a name - doored - Shock. Well who knew.

blueirishues · 31/01/2017 16:42

It was quite a wide road, with parking, and dc just didn't look properly. I think she will in future! Really shocked us both, she was sobbing and saying how sorry she was. It's a relief no permanent damage but definitely a lesson. (She's my friends little girl, by the way.)

OP posts:
Northernlurker · 31/01/2017 16:42

I'm a cyclist. I also have children. Unless the cyclist was on the pavement or using a one way street wrongly this is definitely your responsibility.
Funnily enough I narrowly avoided an opening door today. That was an adult. Clearly didn't bother looking. It's really dangerous.

enterthedragon · 31/01/2017 16:44

Rule 239 of the highway code states that you must not hit anyone when opening a car door.

Northernlurker · 31/01/2017 16:44

You can't trust a child to look. I always look when I have dc opening doors but I am possibly unusually aware of this because I cycle so much.

WeAreEternal · 31/01/2017 16:44

Unless the dc was in the back and opened the back drivers side door.