Self-driving cars, also called autonomous vehicles or driverless cars, have drawn attention as the future of transportation. Supporters argue that these vehicles offer greater safety and convenience by removing human error from the road. While the promise of the technology sounds appealing, real risks surround its use.
Learn how collisions with these vehicles occur, what injuries result, and how liability works if you are injured in a car accident.
What Self-Driving Cars Claim to Offer
Supporters of autonomous vehicles claim that the Automated Driving System (ADS) technology reduces crashes caused by human mistakes. Engineers design these cars with sensors, cameras, radar, and artificial intelligence that detect traffic, obstacles, and road conditions.
The system then decides how the car moves, accelerates, or stops. In theory, such systems should create safer trips and reduce the likelihood of collisions.
Risks Linked to Self-Driving Technology
Despite these promises, autonomous technology creates risks that place passengers and pedestrians in danger. A car depends on complex sensors and software. Control transfers between an automated system and a human driver can also cause confusion. If a car requests the driver to take over but fails to provide enough warning, the result can be a crash.
Common Causes of Self-Driving Car Accidents
Crashes with autonomous vehicles most often result from typical driving challenges, just like other car crashes. Beyond this, the complex technological systems within self-driving cars introduce unique points of failure, adding layers of potential danger not present in human-operated vehicles.
Sensor errors, software bugs, or poor programming may cause the vehicle to misread data. A car could misjudge the distance of another vehicle or fail to recognize a pedestrian. When a system makes the wrong decision, the car could put lives at risk.
Injuries Resulting from Self-Driving Car Collisions
Collisions with autonomous vehicles generally lead to the same common injuries seen in other car accidents. Passengers may suffer whiplash, fractures, concussions, or chest trauma from seat belts and airbags. Head and spinal injuries remain common and can alter your ability to work or care for yourself.
Pedestrians and cyclists face even greater danger. A car that fails to detect them in time can strike with full force. These accidents often lead to traumatic brain damage, spinal cord injuries, or internal bleeding. Some crashes result in fatalities. The severity of harm depends on vehicle speed, point of impact, and whether safety systems engage correctly.
How to Determine Liability for Self-Driving Car Accidents
Determining responsibility for an accident involving a driverless car often proves more complex than in a traditional crash. With an autonomous car, fault may rest with multiple parties depending on the cause of the crash.
If the accident was caused by an equipment failure, the manufacturer of the vehicle, the company that built the software, or even the engineer who installed the software may face liability.
Potential Legal Claims After a Self-Driving Car Crash
After an accident with an autonomous vehicle, you may have the right to file a legal claim. Such claims seek payment for medical treatment, lost income, and property damage. They may also request damages for pain or emotional distress caused by the crash.
Building a claim requires evidence. Police reports, medical records, and electronic data from the car can help establish what happened. Expert analysis from accident reconstruction specialists or engineers may be necessary.
Because multiple parties may share liability, a legal claim in these cases often becomes more complex than a standard car accident lawsuit.
Compensation Options for Self-Driving Car Accident Victims
Compensation after a crash with a self-driving car depends on the circumstances. Insurance policies may provide coverage. You may also file a personal injury lawsuit or negotiate a settlement with the at-fault party. The value of your claim depends on the extent of your injuries and the impact on your daily life.
Damages often include hospital bills, surgeries, rehabilitation costs, and long-term care needs. You may also claim lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working. Some cases include payment for emotional trauma and loss of quality of life.
If a loved one lost their life in the accident, a wrongful death claim may allow family members to recover compensation for funeral expenses and financial support once provided by the deceased.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Las Vegas Car Accident Attorney at De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers
If you suffered harm in an accident with a self-driving car, contact De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers as soon as possible. Our team of car accident attorneys can examine the facts of your case, collect evidence, and identify the responsible parties. We can also negotiate with insurance companies or take your claim to court if needed.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation with our Las Vegas car accident lawyers.
We have three locations in Nevada for your convenience, including Las Vegas, Summerlin, and Henderson. We’re proud to serve Clark County and the surrounding areas.
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers – Las Vegas Office
1149 S Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89104
(702) 222-9999
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers – Summerlin Office
410 S Rampart Blvd, Ste 480 Las Vegas, NV 89145
(702) 964-1806
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers – Henderson Office
9555 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89123
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About the Author
Alex De Castroverde earned his law degree from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law and is licensed to practice in Nevada. He is a dedicated trial lawyer who assists clients across Las Vegas in a wide range of legal matters, with a focus on personal injury. Alex has successfully represented clients in cases involving car accidents, catastrophic injuries, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents and more. Click here to learn more about the outstanding case results Alex has achieved for his clients.
