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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [CRIME]

2 clusters · 6 sources · 7 days · First seen 22 days ago · Last updated 15 days ago

BC Supreme Court unsafe door opening ruling

Overview

In late July 2026 the British Columbia Supreme Court interpreted section 203(1) of the province’s Motor Vehicle Act, which obliges drivers not to open a vehicle door into moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe. The case involved a contractor’s work truck parked on Southwest Marine Drive in Vancouver. When the driver opened the door, a motorcyclist riding through the narrow gap between parked vehicles and the adjacent lane struck the door and suffered serious injuries.

The court found the driver negligent for failing to check his mirrors, which were folded in, and for opening the door unsafely. It also held the motorcyclist partially responsible for riding too quickly, choosing a narrow gap, and positioning the bike too close to the parked vehicles. Responsibility for the collision was therefore split evenly, with each party assigned 50 % fault. The decision reinforces the legal requirement for drivers to ensure safety before opening doors and highlights shared responsibility between vehicle occupants and other road users.

Entities

British Columbia Supreme Court · Motor Vehicle Act · Mr Chan · Vancouver · contractor driver

Timeline

15 days ago

[CRIME] 3 sources
British Columbia Supreme Court rules opening vehicle door unsafe
BC Supreme Court upheld the Motor Vehicle Act duty to keep doors closed unless safe, finding both a truck driver and a motorcyclist negligent after a door‑opening collision in Vancouver.
22 days ago

[POLITICS] 2 sources
British Columbia Supreme Court rules on unsafe car door opening
BC Supreme Court held a truck driver and a motorcyclist each 50% liable after the driver opened a door into traffic, breaching Motor Vehicle Act section 203(1).

Sources

castanet.net · cowichanvalleycitizen.com · drivesmartbc.ca · kjjy.com · lakecowichangazette.com · mmidesire.com