Who Is Liable in an Accident with a Self-Driving Car?

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Who Is Liable in an Accident with a Self-Driving Car?

Author: Jay Howard

Self-driving cars are being touted as a future-forward innovation that allows people to make the most of their time on the road. Some of these vehicles have “self-driving” features like lane-keeping that promote enhanced safety mechanisms for human drivers, while others are advanced enough to drive themselves fully.

However, most self-driving cars on the road currently still require humans behind the wheel. This muddies the waters regarding who is responsible for accidents involving vehicles with this technology.

Common Self-Driving Vehicle Impediments That May Contribute to Accidents

While self-driving vehicles have been hailed as the ideal transportation for the future, there are still challenges that have yet to be resolved regarding using these vehicles on roadways of all types. Some of the most common self-driving vehicle impediments that may contribute to accidents include:

  • Bridges: Self-driving cars sometimes use buildings and other similar structures as cues for navigation. Long bridges especially present a challenge in adequately navigating because of a lack of cues.
  • Weather: Heavy rain or snow may overwhelm the system’s ability to “see” properly while operating the vehicle. This is one of the more common reasons self-driving cars end up in collisions.
  • Heavy traffic: Heavily congested roads combined with construction and pedestrians requires the car to keep up with many different elements. This may interrupt the car’s ability to navigate around each of these potential roadblocks effectively.

Multi-stop interactions also sometimes present a challenge for self-driving cars, especially those that may not have been manufactured with the same sophisticated technology as other brands.

Who is Liable for Self-Driving Car Accidents?

This depends on the circumstances surrounding the collision. For instance, if a human was operating the vehicle at the time of the collision, the liability may be the same as any other vehicle. If not, we would look at the vehicle manufacturer and the company responsible for implementing the technology. Liability might fall on either of those entities if a defective product or malfunctioning technology was to blame for the collision.

The manufacturer and the driver’s insurance company may go back and forth trying to shift blame onto the other party, delaying your claim. This is one of the reasons it is critical to work with a Georgia car accident attorney with experience in this practice area. Tabbaa Law has a reputation for being thorough, aggressive and reliable when working with car accident victims to determine liability and hold negligent parties responsible for their contributions to the crash.

Reach Out to a Reputable Georgia Car Accident Lawyer for a Complimentary Case Review

There is still so much to learn about the safety mechanisms of self-driving cars. However, manufacturers and others responsible for their presence on the roads should ensure that they do not harm other drivers. If you have been in a car accident with a self-driving car, determining liability might be an unusual gray area. Relying on years of experience and legal knowledge, Tabbaa Law may be able to help.

Contact us today at (770) 370-7881 or reach out online to learn more and schedule a free case review.

Auto Accidents