On April 15th, a tragic “door-opening” traffic accident occurred in Datong, Shanxi Province. A couple in their 60s riding an electric scooter collided with a parked sedan when the sedan driver suddenly opened the door, resulting in one fatality and one severe injury.
According to reports from mainland Chinese media, the fatal traffic accident caused by a “door-opening” incident took place around 8 a.m. on April 15th along Binhe Road in Pingcheng District, Datong City, Shanxi Province.
Witnesses revealed that a Buick car was parked at the roadside when the couple in their 60s passed by on the electric scooter. The door of the Buick suddenly opened, causing the electric scooter to collide with the door, knocking down both the scooter and its riders.
Due to the position of the fall near the driving lane, the man was thrown onto the second right lane due to inertia. At that moment, a black Audi driving past ran over the man. Eyewitnesses reported that the man died on the spot, while the other person on the scooter sustained severe injuries.
Local traffic police mentioned on the afternoon of the 15th that both the Buick car driver and the black Audi driver had been summoned, and the vehicles involved in the incident were temporarily detained.
This incident quickly became a hot topic on Weibo.
Netizens expressed their concerns, saying, “A life stopped abruptly with the casual opening of a car door, changing the fate of three families. It is essential to establish a good habit of ensuring safety before opening the car door.”
“This is very dangerous, no matter where you park. Before opening the door, it is best to check the surroundings through the window on both sides to ensure safety before opening the door.”
“The tragedies caused by ‘door-opening’ incidents have been too many.”
“Before opening the car door, always observe, open the door from the opposite side first!”
“In the eyes of many, opening the car door seems like a trivial act in daily driving, but the significant risks behind this behavior are often overlooked. ‘Door-opening’ incidents are not only the end of a single accident but the beginning of a chain of tragedies, as seen in this incident in Datong where the electric scooter rider was first hit and then crushed, ultimately leading to death.”
Zhao Liangshan, senior partner at Shaanxi Hengda Law Firm and public interest lawyer, analyzed that the Buick driver’s act of obstructing traffic by opening the door constituted the main fault in the accident, holding primary responsibility. If the Audi driver is found to have faults such as failure to observe safety or evade in time during the second crush, they should bear secondary responsibility. The electric scooter rider, if found to be riding normally without fault, will not be held liable.
Being primarily responsible for the accident resulting in one fatality, the Buick driver could be charged with a traffic offense and face up to three years of imprisonment or detention. Both vehicles will need to compensate for death benefits, funeral expenses, etc., within the scope of compulsory traffic insurance and commercial insurance based on their liability proportions. The Buick driver may also face administrative penalties, such as the revocation of their driver’s license.
“Door-opening” incidents refer to accidents where passengers or drivers of motor vehicles fail to observe oncoming vehicles or pedestrians from behind and rashly open the car door, leading to collisions with bicycles, electric bicycles, or motorcycles passing by the motor vehicle. This behavior easily results in injuries or even fatalities to the riders.