Is the Manufacturer Responsible if a Self-Driving Vehicle Gets Into an Accident?
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Whenever a car gets into an accident, whether it involved two cars or a two-dozen car pileup, one of the questions that everyone asks is what caused the accident. Who is responsible for the damage to both the cars and the people inside of them? Well, whenever it comes to accidents caused by self-driving cars, that question is a little harder to answer.
If you find yourself involved in an accident with a self-driving car, you might wonder who is responsible for the crash. If the self-driving car is revealed to be at fault for the accident, then who do you sue to get your medical bills paid and the damage fixed? If you can’t sue the driver of the car, then do you sue the company that manufactured it?
Driving Vs Driverless Self Driving Cars
There are two different types of self-driving cars on the road today, ones that still have drivers and ones that do not. For those self-driving cars that have drivers, the drivers are supposed to be able to regain control of the car at any time in case the technology is making a mistake, or they want to take control for a while.
Sadly, while some drivers see self-driving cars as a way to take the pressure of driving off of them while still having a measure of control, others see it as permission to be distracted. If a driver is distracted and is required to be inside of the car, then they will be at fault for the accident… even if the car is driving itself.
For cars that require no driver to be on the road, then that is whenever the manufacturers will be responsible for any accidents caused. There’s no human in the driver’s seat who could have regained control to prevent the accident, so the company that made the car is entirely at fault.
However, since truly driverless cars are so rare, any lawsuits against car manufacturers will need to be taken care of case by case. All of this technology and its impact on both the roads and the safety of everyone else on the road can is still being tested and theorized.
Understanding How Self-Driving Car Accidents Happen
If you are sitting in a self-driving car, you might wonder how accidents happen. Well, the answer comes down to mistakes with the technology inside of the car. While self-driving cars have sensors that allow them to analyze conditions on the road and then react to them accordingly, the technology can have glitches and might make mistakes.
Additionally, accidents happen on the road. Even the brightest minds have admitted that a future of truly driverless cars will not prevent accidents. It will only make accidents less likely to happen because not every single situation on the road can be predicted.
No matter how the accident happens, you will need to hire a self-driving car accident lawyer. These lawyers have been kept up to date with the evolving field of automation and self-driving cars on public roadways, and they will be able to help you take on the big manufacturing companies that will be defending their cars.
Managing An Accident Involving A Self-Driving Car
If you are involved in an accident with a self-driving car, you might want to focus on finding a lawyer who specializes in this field of law. They will be able to sort through all the rapidly changing laws and regulations around this new field of technology, and will also be able to help you get what you deserve.
