October 6, 2026 | Written by: Donna MacKenzie, Michigan Personal Injury Lawyer
Automatic and power-operated doors are everywhere. Hospitals, rehabilitation centers, senior facilities, grocery stores, and office buildings all use them. When one of those doors closes on someone who cannot move quickly, the result can be a broken bone, a head injury, or worse. A new Michigan Court of Appeals decision confirms that a business can be held responsible when a power-operated door injures a visitor, even when the door met every safety code the company points to.
The decision, Rusu v. Trilogy Healthcare of Oakland, was issued in September 2026. It is a meaningful decision for anyone injured by a dangerous condition on another party’s property, and it closes off one of the defenses businesses rely on most.
What Happened in Rusu v. Trilogy Healthcare
The injured man was recovering from broken ribs and was a resident at a rehabilitation facility. He walked slowly and used a cane. On the day he was being taken home, he moved through the facility’s power-operated exit doors while his daughter went ahead to bring the car closer. As he made his way through the second door, moving at the pace you would expect from an injured elderly man with a cane, the door closed on him. It knocked him to the ground and fractured his hip. He needed surgery.
The facility argued it was not responsible because the door was working exactly as designed. It stayed open for about 20 seconds and met the applicable industry standards and the Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The trial court agreed and dismissed the case before trial. The Court of Appeals reversed and sent the case back so it can move forward.
Similar questions can arise when escalators and other powered building equipment cause injuries, particularly when different companies operate, inspect, maintain, or repair the equipment.
The Key Ruling: Meeting Code Is Not Automatically Enough
The most important part of the decision is this: the Court agreed there was no evidence the door malfunctioned or violated any safety standard, and it still allowed the case to proceed.
A business that invites the public onto its property owes those visitors reasonable care to protect them from unreasonable risks of harm. The Court held that meeting a minimum standard does not automatically satisfy that duty. A jury could find that the facility should have done more, such as setting the door to stay open longer, installing a presence sensor to hold the door while someone is in the doorway, or adding a mat that detects a person in the door’s path. In other words, “our door met code” is not the end of the conversation. It is the beginning of it.
Safety Is Judged for the People Who Actually Use the Place
The Court made another point that matters far beyond this one door. The facility served injured and elderly residents. People like that move slowly and often rely on canes, walkers, or wheelchairs. These mobility limitations are also central when evaluating fall risks in nursing homes and other care facilities.
That reasoning applies to any business that serves the public, and especially to those that serve people who are less able to move quickly. Safety is measured against the people who actually use the property, not against a healthy adult who could dart through a closing door.
“No One Has Ever Been Hurt Before” Is Not a Defense
The facility also pointed out that no one had ever been injured by one of its doors before. The Court rejected that argument. Under long-standing Michigan law, the absence of past accidents does not prove the absence of negligence. A business cannot wait for the first serious injury to take a hazard seriously.
The Court also emphasized that a property owner’s duty to inspect is an active one. The facility inspected its doors each morning, but only to confirm they locked and released. No one checked how long the doors took to close or whether that created a striking hazard for slow-moving residents. A reasonable inspection means looking for dangers, not just confirming that equipment technically works.
Why This Decision Matters If You Were Injured
Rusu strengthens the position of injured people in three ways that come up constantly in Michigan premises cases:
Code compliance is not a complete shield. Businesses love to argue that a product or condition “met the standard.” This decision confirms that compliance is only one piece of the picture, not an automatic win.
Businesses that serve vulnerable people are held to account for how those people move. A facility serving the elderly and injured cannot design its property as if everyone is young and quick.
A clean safety record does not immunize a business. The fact that no one was hurt before does not mean the condition was safe.
A dissenting judge would have sent the case back on a narrower procedural point rather than reaching these questions, but the decision allows the injured man’s claim to move toward a jury.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue if an automatic door hit me and I was injured?
Often, yes. A business owes visitors reasonable care to protect them from unreasonable risks. If a power-operated door struck you because of how it was set up, maintained, or equipped, you may have a claim.
The business says its door “met code.” Does that end my case?
No. As Rusu confirms, meeting a minimum safety standard does not automatically satisfy a business’s duty of care. A jury can still consider whether more should have been done.
No one else was ever hurt by the door. Does that matter?
It carries little weight. Michigan law holds that the absence of prior accidents does not prove the absence of negligence.
What injuries do automatic doors cause?
Falls are the most common, and they often lead to fractured hips, wrists, and arms, as well as head injuries. These injuries tend to be most serious for elderly and already-injured people.
How long do I have to file a claim in Michigan?
Michigan sets strict deadlines that vary by the type of claim. Waiting too long can permanently bar your case, so it is important to speak with an attorney promptly.
How much is an automatic-door injury case worth?
There is no reliable average. The potential value depends on the severity and permanence of the injuries, whether surgery was required, lost income, available insurance coverage, and the number of responsible parties. Our discussion of Michigan premises liability settlement amounts explains the factors that commonly affect these cases.
Talk to a Michigan Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one was hurt by an automatic door, a dangerous condition at a care facility, or any unsafe condition on another party’s property, you may have a stronger claim than you think. The attorneys at Olsman MacKenzie Peacock have spent decades holding property owners, businesses, and care facilities accountable for serious injuries across Michigan.
Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation. There is no fee unless we recover for you.
Source: You can read the full Michigan Court of Appeals opinion in Rusu v. Trilogy Healthcare here: Read the full opinion
This post is for general information and is not legal advice. Every case turns on its own facts. To discuss your specific situation, contact a licensed Michigan attorney.