Suche
Mein Konto
Serious accident in Paunsdorf: Motorcyclist crashes into open car door!
In Paunsdorf, Leipzig, a driver carelessly opened the door, resulting in a serious motorcycle accident. Investigations are ongoing.
Serious accident in Paunsdorf: Motorcyclist crashes into open car door!
On Friday morning, June 21, 2025, a serious traffic accident occurred on Döllingstrasse in Leipzig-Paunsdorf, drawing attention to the dangers of carelessly opening doors. A 59-year-old driver of an Opel Corsa opened his driver's door without paying attention to the traffic, which had fatal consequences.
A 42-year-old motorcyclist who was driving past at that moment was unable to brake in time and collided with the door. The motorcyclist sustained serious injuries in the accident and had to be taken to hospital immediately. The material damage is estimated at around 7,000 euros. The traffic accident service has begun investigations into endangering road traffic and negligent bodily harm, which points to the legal implications of such accidents.
Frequency of door accidents
Accidents caused by careless opening of vehicle doors are not uncommon. Like that Traffic lexicon reported, there are several typical scenarios in which such incidents occur. These include, among others, the following main constellations:
- Die Fahrzeugtür wird in die Fahrspur eines Radfahrers geöffnet.
- Ein Fahrzeug fährt mit zu geringem Seitenabstand an haltenden Fahrzeugen vorbei, während eine Tür geöffnet wird.
- Ein Fahrgast öffnet beim Aussteigen unaufmerksam die Tür, was zu Kollisionen mit anderen Fahrzeugen führt.
- Die Tür wird zu weit geöffnet oder nicht festgehalten und wird durch den Sog eines vorbeifahrenden Fahrzeugs mitgerissen.
Courts have made different rulings on such cases in the past. For example, according to a BGH ruling of March 11, 1971, it is clear that a door may only be opened if no road users are endangered. The high risk and legal liabilities associated with opening vehicle doors highlight the need for caution.
Legal aspects
The laws governing the opening of vehicle doors are clear. Drivers, especially passengers, must always pay attention to surrounding traffic when getting out. A ruling by the AG Kiel confirms that if the circumstances of the accident between the door opener and a passing vehicle are unclear, damages can be shared. In many cases, joint liability of both parties involved could also be considered.
In addition, there are guidelines that state that doors should only be opened slightly, if possible, in order to minimize the risk of collisions. Education about these safety measures remains important in order to prevent accidents similar to the one in Leipzig-Paunsdorf.
The tragic incident not only raises concerns but also raises questions about road safety protocols. The responsibility for road safety lies with both drivers and other road users.