Legal Questions Surrounding Issues of Driverless Cars
As San Francisco law firm, we’ve been dealing with personal injury cases resulting from auto accidents for decades. New technology such as airbags and lane departure systems work to protect drivers from harm, but also have raised new liability issues in car accident cases. One particularly progressive form of automotive technology that may raise numerous liability issues in the future is the driverless (autonomous) car, also referred to as the autonomous car.
Driverless Car Technology & Testing
An idea that once belonged solely in science fiction, several major car companies such as GM, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagon, Ford, Toyota, Audi, and Nissan have been testing autonomous vehicles as of last year. Additionally, search giant Google has made the news several times with Google’s Driverless Car Project, which developed software for a test fleet of autonomous cars. The driverless cars operate in California, Florida, Nevada, and Michigan, which are the first states to pass legislation permitting driverless vehicles. Google has touted much success with the project, reportedly logging at least 300,000 miles without an accident caused by vehicle error. In addition, four vehicles drove themselves from Italy to China, only requiring human assistance for toll booths and certain traffic jams.
All of these achievements seem to indicate that driverless car technology is here to stay and may soon become a part of everyday life for Americans. Experts hope that these new vehicles will work to eliminate human error in driving, which accounts for accidents causing nearly 1.2 million injuries and 33,000 fatalities each year.
Legal Questions Swirl Around Driverless Cars
As with any new technology, the law will have to evolve in order to address any new legal implications that may arise from the use of driverless cars. As the New York Times reported, the Law Review and High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University hosted a recent symposium for legal experts, Silicon Valley insiders, and governmental regulators to discuss questions surrounding the new technology. Some initial questions include:
- Can police pull over a driverless car if it violates a traffic law?
- Will driverless vehicle owners have to carry insurance?
- Who will be held liable if a driverless car causes an accident?
- What implications will accidents and injury have for manufacturers?
Driverless Car Liability
This last question is a huge concern for companies considering driverless car production. If vehicles malfunction and cause accidents and injuries, the principles of products liability law could open manufacturers up to significant liability to victims. In fact, some companies may even face large class action lawsuits if malfunctions and accidents became widespread.
As this new technology becomes more commonplace on the roads, accident and injury attorneys will likely play an integral role in helping to develop new law and set precedent for victims of autonomous car accidents. However, these vehicles are already on the roads in California, so other drivers are already at risk of injury.
Questions? Contact an Qualified Lawyer in San Francisco
If you have been involved in an accident with any type of motor vehicle, do not hesitate to contact one of the experienced accident lawyers at Callaway & Wolf for assistance today. Click or call 415-541-0300 now to request a free lawyer consultation at our San Francisco office.
Boone Callaway is a personal injury & medical malpractice lawyer in San Francisco who has been working with clients in the Bay Area for over 25 years. Mr. Callaway is one of only a few personal injury litigators in San Francisco who is a Super Lawyer, AV Rated and is also a member of ABOTA – American Board of Trial Advocates.
