Car struck driver's door as I was getting out of the car

Most important question for resolving liability here in absence of an independent witness is the nature and location of damage to the other car.

Op where did your door connect with the passing car. Do you have photos of the other cars damage and are you willing to post them.

photome wrote: »

Yes but didnt you learn to drive to the conditions, if you did and you do, it cant happen.
according to car54

Absolutely.

If you have to drive through a hazard you must always drive at a speed that you can stop from.
So the closer you get to the hazard, the slower you get, until when you are microscopically close, you are travelling microscopically slowly, as you still need time to get that brake pedal pressed if something happens.

If you have done 2 grands' worth to another car, imagine what you would have done to a cyclist. Your fault entirely, I'm afraid.


Even if he was going too fast, or too close, he was in his lane of traffic and you opened your door into it.

facade wrote: »

Absolutely.

If you have to drive through a hazard you must always drive at a speed that you can stop from.
So the closer you get to the hazard, the slower you get, until when you are microscopically close, you are travelling microscopically slowly, as you still need time to get that brake pedal pressed if something happens.

I love this reply - I know you say it like it's a joke, but you also know it's true.
That rule that people always love to trot out - "always drive at a speed at which you could stop...", like almost evey rule in life, in any endeavour, can only ever be at best a guideline to adhere to as much as you reasonably can.

To truly - absoloutely positively - be able to stop when approaching a hazard, one must be crawling along only a few millimeters per second - a lot slower than walking pace (anyone who has ever been in a crowded street where people will suddenly stop, or move across your path knows how easy it is to walk into someone by accident - and that's *literally* at walking speed).

Let's be honest - unless you're going to drive in any built-up area where potential hazards are abound, at less than a quarter of a mile per hour or something equally impractical, then you're breaking the "always drive at a speed at which you could stop..." rule - let's just be straight about it & admit that life comes with risks. :cool: