Long Beach Driverless Vehicle Accident Lawyer
Self-Driving Cars
Driverless vehicles are becoming more prominent on Long Beach roads as more companies develop the technology. In fact, Long Beach partnered with Mercedes-Benz in 2021 to support the local Smart City Initiative — with self-driving vehicles.
Self-driving cars are a relatively new phenomenon, which means the associated risks are still quite high. A self-driving car is an automotive vehicle that is capable of sensing and assessing its surroundings and moving safely with limited or no driver input.
Ford, Tesla, and Microsoft are among the companies that have developed or are developing driverless vehicles. As these developers take their products into the mainstream consumer base, driverless vehicles become more and more common on California’s roads. Unfortunately, this means so too do driverless vehicle accidents.
It can be tough to establish who is at fault during an accident involving a driverless vehicle, but if you’ve fallen victim to a collision like this, you deserve help. Contact The Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV today to get the help you need.
Liability and Safety With Driverless Vehicles
The laws and regulations surrounding driverless cars are still developing and being perfected, due to the rapid development in the area in recent years. Accidents involving driverless vehicles can make it more difficult to determine liability because the vehicle cannot give a statement to police. However, most have cameras and records in their systems.
A victim of a driverless car crash can file a suit against the company that created the vehicle for damages. They may also have a claim for damages under product liability laws.
While driverless vehicles are safety tested just like any other product, there have been some notable safety issues and a number of accidents and fatalities involving driverless vehicles. If there is a “driver” on board, they are often unfocused because they believe the car will do all the work.
However, because the car relies on software to scan surroundings, they have been known to have trouble recognizing stationary objects, particularly white trucks. The cars may mistake these for land or sky and think they are safe to proceed. States are struggling to make laws quickly enough to keep up with the rapid developments in the self-driving vehicle field. It may be some years before we see safety regulations that account for all the risks of a driverless vehicle.
Driverless Vehicle Accidents
Any vehicle on the road can cause an accident, and driverless cars are no different. Accidents involving driverless vehicles have occurred in numerous different circumstances: collisions with other vehicles, collisions with trucks, loss of control/driving off the road, and striking pedestrians that are crossing the street.
Compensation Process in Driverless Vehicle Cases
After experiencing a car wreck involving a driverless vehicle in Long Beach, there may be various damages available for you to pursue. These may include damages for medical expenses, vehicle damage, loss of income or future earnings, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.
If you are the victim of an accident, you shouldn’t have to shoulder these costs alone. Also, if a family member lost their life due to a driverless vehicle accident, you may be able to bring a wrongful death case.
Your claim may be legally more complex than that of a regular car accident because it may be more difficult to determine who is liable. The Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV has experienced driverless vehicle accident attorneys who know how to navigate the claims process in Long Beach, and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Call us today at (562) 901-0840.