Understanding New Jersey’s Dooring Accident Laws

New Jersey enforces strict rules to prevent dooring accidents. Key statutes include:

- NJ Rev Stat § 39:4-125: Prohibits opening vehicle doors unless safe and without interfering with traffic. Violators face fines up to $200 and potential liability for injuries.

- Comparative Negligence: NJ follows a modified comparative negligence rule. Victims can recover damages only if they are less than 50% at fault.

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Who’s Liable? New Jersey’s Liability Breakdown

1. Passenger Responsibility

Passengers in NJ must exercise caution when exiting ride-shares:

- Dutch Reach Method: Recommended by groups like the New Jersey Bicycle Coalition, this technique reduces blind spots by using the far hand to open doors.

- Consequences: A Newark passenger faced a $90,000 lawsuit after dooring a cyclist on Broad Street without checking traffic.

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2. Driver Responsibility

NJ ride-share drivers must adhere to strict safety protocols:

- Safe Parking: Illegal parking in bike lanes (common in cities like Hoboken) violates local ordinances and increases liability.

- Statutory Duty: Drivers must ensure passengers exit safely. Failure to do so can lead to shared fault under NJ’s negligence laws.

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3. Ride-Share Company Liability

Uber and Lyft operate under NJ’s ride-share insurance regulations:

Insurance Coverage:

- Period 1 (App Off): Driver’s personal insurance applies.

- Period 2 (Waiting for Ride): Uber/Lyft provide $50,000 in liability coverage.

- Period 3 (En Route): $1.5 million in commercial liability coverage.

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4. Third-Party Liability

NJ’s infrastructure and other parties may share blame:

- Municipalities: Poorly maintained bike lanes (e.g., Paterson’s abrupt lane endings) can lead to city liability.

- Vehicle Defects: A 2023 Trenton lawsuit found a car manufacturer 20% liable for faulty door sensors.

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Insurance Challenges in New Jersey

Navigating insurance claims in NJ involves:

- App Status Disputes: Insurers often contest claims if drivers are between rides (Period 2), leaving gaps in coverage.

- Cyclist Claims: Injured cyclists must file within 2 years (NJ’s statute of limitations) and prove negligence.

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Legal Actions and Compensation

Damages Recoverable in NJ:

- Medical bills, lost wages, pain/suffering (no cap under NJ law).

- Punitive Damages: Rare, but applicable for reckless behavior (e.g., intoxicated drivers).

Steps for Victims:

1. Document the scene (photos, witness contacts).

2. Report to police (required for injuries under NJSA § 39:4-130).

3. Consult a NJ personal injury attorney.

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Preventing Dooring Accidents in NJ

For Passengers:

• Use the Dutch Reach, especially in busy areas like Jersey City’s Journal Square.
• Exit curbside doors when possible.

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For Drivers:

• Avoid bike lanes on streets like Newark’s Halsey Street.
• Complete Uber’s “NJ Safety Certification” module.

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Conclusion

Dooring accidents in New Jersey’s busy streets—from Newark’s Halsey Street to Hoboken’s bike lanes—often leave victims battling insurers over shared liability, disputed app statuses, and murky negligence claims. With passengers, drivers, ride-share companies, and even municipalities potentially at fault, securing fair compensation demands deep knowledge of NJ’s comparative negligence laws and insurance tiers.

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Don’t let confusion over liability or vanishing evidence jeopardize your case. Sarofiem & Antoun dissects every angle—passenger actions, driver negligence, corporate policies, and defective infrastructure—to pinpoint accountability and maximize your recovery. Whether you’re a cyclist, pedestrian, or driver, call us today for a free consultation. We fight to recover medical bills, lost wages, and damages—no fees unless we win.

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