Call Us: Driverless Car Accidents
If you have been injured from a self-driving car, contact our experienced attorneys today to see how you can get compensation for your injuries.
Self-driving cars have now become popular as many car manufacturers are now equipping their vehicles with this feature. The most common car manufacturing company that has self-driving vehicles is Tesla. Although this may seem like a very smart idea to prevent negligent drivers on the road, there is still a possibility of being involved in an accident. Tesla has advised numerous times throughout the last couple of months that even though their self-driving feature seems pretty straightforward, drivers should still have their hands on the steering wheel at all times.
Our car accident attorneys have represented victims who have been injured in a car accident for decades. If you have been injured by a self-driving car, contact our attorneys today. Since self-driving is a fairly new feature, lawsuits involving self-driving vehicles are still very few. It is important that you have an experienced car accident attorney on your side to make sure that your rights and compensation are well-represented. You have the right to seek compensation from the negligent driver if you have been involved in a driverless car accident.
One of the major concerns with car accidents that involve self-driving vehicles is who the at fault party may be. An injured victim may not know exactly who to file a lawsuit against if the car was driving themselves, or if there were multiple parties involved. Not only will an injured victim be able to file a lawsuit against the driver who owned the vehicle that was self-driving, but they may also have a claim against the company who manufactured the vehicle.
Negligence Laws
If the injured victim were to hold the driver of the vehicle responsible for their injuries, they most likely will have to file a negligence claim. In order to prove negligence, your experienced attorney must show:
- The owner of the vehicle had a duty to other drivers on the road. Every driver on the road in California has a duty to other drivers. This is established through California Vehicle Codes.
- The owner failed to act within that duty when they drove in an unreasonably safe manner.
- The owner caused the accident.
- The accident led to injuries and damages the victim now has to suffer
Vehicle owners have been held liable for their self-driving vehicle accidents in the past. For example, a vehicle owner was charged with manslaughter when their vehicle ran a red light and hit an oncoming pedestrian in 2019.
Product Liability Laws
If the injured victim is filing a lawsuit against the car manufacturer, then it most likely will fall under a products liability lawsuit. Under a products liability lawsuit, the car manufacturer is held liable for any defects in the software. For more information on filing a products liability lawsuit, contact our top-rated attorneys today.
Are self-driving vehicles considered safe?
Self-driving vehicles are a great idea on paper. It may reduce the possibility of DUI accidents and may prevent severe injuries that could be caused from a DUI accident. Currently, many states have identified that this program is still fairly new, and has caused severe accidents because of defects in the program or system.
Self-Driving Taxi Accidents
The city of San Francisco recently passed a law that made it legal for self-driving commercial services. One of the most common self-driving companies we have seen is Cruise, a self-driving taxi that has plans to expand their service to other parts of California. There are safety drivers behind the wheel to prevent any accidents. Although this may seem like a great way to prevent negligent driving accidents, accidents are still bound to happen with self-driving taxis. If you have been involved in a self-driving vehicle as a passenger, contact our top-rated attorneys today.
Are there any laws that address self-driving Vehicles?
As of today, there are no federal laws passed that address driverless vehicles. The federal government seems to have handed off the power to regulate self-driving vehicles to the states. This means that to determine the rules and regulations that govern self-driving vehicles, we must turn to California laws.
California has made it legal for self-driving vehicles on the road. However, there has been a recent push back to make drivers have their hands on the wheel at all times, or face hefty penalties and fines. California has no laws that specifically prohibit self-driving vehicles on the road. There are also plans to have self-driving trucks on California roads by 2023. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, there have been several public hearings and workshops held where lawmakers have discussed the positive and negative attributes to self-driving vehicles.
In order to be operating a self-driving vehicle, the manufacturer must have several points and permits they must show to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. This includes:
- Collision data
- Technology failure reports
- Software update reports
- Visual messages to the driver that self-driving is in progress
- Mechanism to start the self-driving function
Currently, the California Department of Motor Vehicles is investigating Tesla’s full self-driving feature. This self-driving feature is around $12,000, and guarantees that a Tesla driver will be able to take their hands off the wheel while the car navigates and drives itself through highways and city streets. However, recent instances of car accidents have sparked the need for an investigation regarding the safety issues. There has also been an increase in the number of Tesla drivers who have posted videos about their car malfunctioning while on the self-driving function. For example, some videos show that the car swerves into oncoming traffic, fails to stop at stop signs, or fails to stop for pedestrians. This can pose a very severe safety risk and cause catastrophic injuries. Since the self-driving function is still fairly new, many do not even know which parties they could file a lawsuit against.
We understand your frustration when you are involved in a self-driving accident with another vehicle. Not only may you have medical bills, but you may also be suffering lost income, along with emotional distress. Filing the lawsuit against the responsible parties will provide some type of financial help. While you focus on your injuries, our attorneys will fight aggressively to make sure that you get the maximum representation and compensation you deserve.
Do not hesitate to contact our top-rated attorneys. Our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for our clients, and have received compensation such as medical bills, car repair damage, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more. For more information on your specific car accident case, contact our car accident attorneys today.
We have offices located in several cities in California and Nevada, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Bernardino, etc. Contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation. We also hold remote conferences, where you could speak to one of our well-qualified attorneys from home.
Call us today to schedule your free confidential case evaluation. With the emergence of new technology, it is very important to have a trusted attorney on your side in the unfortunate case that you are involved in an accident. The best thing you can do to prepare for an accident is to have a top-rated attorney on speed dial. As more self-driving vehicles are on California roads, especially for commercial purposes, car accidents will inevitably occur.