We have all seen it in comedy movies or even some funny commercials when a car is parked on the side of a street and then someone opens the door only to have a passing car hit it. The door typically gets destroyed by being separated from the chassis and flying into the street only to have the driver of the vehicle looking in bewilderment all the while with no door on the car.
Although it is a humorous scenario, there is nothing funny about the damage that the action could cause. These stories are based on fiction but it really can happen.
If this did occur, there would be massive damage to both cars involved with one needing to replace its door and the other car having extensive damage to the front of the vehicle.
Though the scenes typically depict these scenarios with the car door being sent forward, it is most likely that it would fly into the windshield of the colliding vehicle. So, lots of bodywork would need to be completed most likely including the front bumper, hood, and windshield. The most serious aspect of this situation though is that people can get injured.
The person in the car with the door open can be injured and no doubt the car smashing into the door could also incur injury if the person was not wearing a seatbelt or had not taken all of the necessary safety precautions in their car.
If you are ever injured in a traffic accident, you need to seek help. The insurance you pay for each month is designed to replace or fix your vehicle if it is damaged. Most likely, your policy does not cover your injuries so if you are going to a doctor then those costs are on your dime.
Even if the doctor visits are covered through insurance, your driving there certainly is not. Many other costs are incurred such as gas, wear and tear on your vehicle, and prescription drugs. If you have to miss work due to injuries who will make up that missing amount of money? Reach out to Ticket Busters and we can help ensure you are covered.
You did not choose to get injured and therefore should not pay the price for someone else’s actions. Accidents do happen and that is why the other driver has insurance as well. Unfortunately, it usually takes help from legal professionals to make sure that the other insurance companies fulfill their end of the contract.
If you are the driver that caused the injury you should also reach out to us. Certainly, the other party will most likely hire an attorney so you will need assistance navigating the legal field and we can help. Ticket Busters can be reached by phone, email or even dropping by our office. If in an accident, do not delay in reaching out to us.
What Does NRS 484B.153 Say
There is a Nevada Revised Statute that references the scenario we illustrated above. It is NRS 484B.153 and is titled “Boarding or Alighting from Vehicle; Opening Door of Vehicle”. There are three aspects to the statute. The first one reads as follows:
A person shall not board or alight from any vehicle while it is in motion.
So what does this mean exactly? First, we need to understand what the definition of “alight” is if we do not already know. The word “alight” is defined as: descending from a train, bus, or another form of transport.
In other words, while a car is moving, passengers are not allowed to enter or exit a vehicle. Seems like common sense but some people will still perform this dangerous action. One common way is if a car is not starting.
In this situation, sometimes a driver (along with others) will push a car in neutral until it gets moving and then be able to start the engine. By doing so, the person nearest the steering wheel will have to jump in the car once it starts moving in order to turn the key to start the ignition.
By law, this is illegal. And it’s dangerous. Even at slow speeds, injuries can occur and any type of injury involving a moving vehicle can be significant and deadly. Even someone who is athletic can lose their balance or miss time their jump. The worst case scenario would be getting pinned underneath the car while it is still moving. So the law is in place for a good reason.
In other situations where someone is trying to jump into (or out of) a moving car, it causes havoc for other drivers. Most others witnessing this dangerous action will abruptly brake and slow down knowing that many bad outcomes could occur. Anytime a driver impedes another one it is not good and that is often why laws are written. NRS 484B.153 is no exception.
The second aspect to this Nevada Revised Statute is:
A person shall not open the door of or board or alight from the side of a vehicle which is closest to passing traffic in such a manner as to interfere with moving vehicular traffic.
This one really pertains to the comedy scene we discussed earlier in this article. Of course, if you are parked on the side of a street, you do not have to stay confined in the vehicle and are expected that you would be able to exit it. This law does not prevent that.
What this statute states is if you are parked in that scenario, you must wait until there is ample room from traffic so that you have sufficient time to exit your vehicle without impeding the other cars. Again, this seems like common sense and no one wants to get run over by a car or have their car door completely taken off it’s hinge.
What can happen though is someone exits the vehicle and starts unloading or loading items into the car. This action takes longer and if another car is coming and needs to slow down, brake, or change lanes to avoid then there is a violation of the statute.
This is what the third part of NRS 484B.153 was written about:
A person shall not leave open a door on the side of a vehicle which is closest to passing traffic longer than is necessary for immediate loading or unloading of passengers or cargo.
It does not mean you can’t have your door open for long periods of time. It also doesn’t mean that you cannot load or unload items. What it means is that you have to be efficient with your time and cannot leave your car door open longer than the time needed.
Sometimes a person will be unloading packages and have their car door wide open and exposed to traffic. If the street is quiet with not much traffic then it may not be a big deal. The person then sees someone they know and starts having a conversation or gets distracted with their cell phone.
Well, if a car does show up and that car door is open then that is a violation and can generate a traffic ticket from a law enforcement officer. A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police traffic cop can cite the ticket along with anyone from the Henderson Police Department or North Las Vegas Police depending on where the infraction occurred.
Ticket Busters Can Help
As we mentioned above, if you are ever cited for a traffic violation in Nevada please contact us at Ticket Busters for help. We will need some assistance from you when you reach out so that we can provide the best help for your situation.
Your responsibilities as our client consist of:
You need to reach out to us so we can help. Visit our office if something has happened and you need legal help. You do not need an appointment as walk-ins are always welcome. You can also call or email us if easier.
We will need to be some basic Information from you. The attorneys we have are professional and are the best at what they do. They will negotiate your case on your behalf and will need some basic information from you to do so. A ticket number will be helpful to them along with a court date, time and date of the incident and what exactly occurred in your mind. Basic info on you will also be required such as your full name, address and other contact data. If your situation is more complex our legal team may need more info but they will let you know as needed.
Lastly, you need to relax. By contacting Ticket Busters you can rest assured that our professional staff will work on your claim with urgency and will provide the best defense to reduce your liability. By allowing us to handle your ticket, you have more time to continue with your day-to-day activities. As updates present themselves, our staff will be in touch to keep you informed throughout the entire process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I leave my car door open in Nevada?
You should keep your car door open for as short a time as possible and no longer than necessary for immediate loading or unloading of passengers or cargo. Doing otherwise could result in a violation of the statute NRS 484B.153.
What are the penalties for leaving my car door open longer than necessary?
The penalty will depend on the court, but it could range from a warning to a citation with fines. It is best to consult with an experienced traffic attorney when faced with this type of violation.
