Overview

• The 41-year-old actress was critically injured in late September in Hamburg-Rotherbaum and died in hospital on October 9, according to police reports.
• Investigators report she struck a suddenly opened passenger door of a stationary Ford Transit, fell, and suffered severe head injuries.
• Dooring is a common urban hazard, with an insurer study tying 18% of injury crashes to parked vehicles and about 52% of those in eleven cities to door-opening collisions; Cologne recorded 120 cases in 2024.
• German road rules (StVO §14) require checking before opening doors, with a €40 fine for endangerment and possible negligent-bodily-harm charges carrying up to three years in prison if injuries occur.
• Safety guidance highlights the Dutch Reach and shoulder checks, recommends helmet use and a 1.0–1.5 meter buffer from parked cars when possible, and points to door-warning systems that alert occupants or prevent opening as cyclists approach.