What Should I Do If I’ve Been in a Self-Driving Car Accident?


Being involved in a car accident typically means that you are entitled to compensation when the accident was caused by another party’s negligence. However, with the increase in driverless car technology, the question arises: What should I do if I’ve been involved in a self-driving car accident? Continue reading to learn what Florida law has to say about the legal action you can potentially take after being involved in a driverless car accident. If you have been injured in a car accident, give our experienced personal injury firm a call to learn how we can assist you, no matter the circumstances.

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Does the manufacturer share liability?

If software malfunctioned, causing a driverless vehicle to run a stop sign which resulted in an accident, the automaker would likely be responsible for the defective software. This is an example of an autonomous vehicle manufacturer being held liable for an accident when one of its vehicles is at fault. This can be proven if the human driver was negligent or not.

However, if the accident was caused by a software issue, the company that made the software could be liable. As software providers, they owe the public a duty of care to produce a safe product that works as intended.

Could the driver be held liable?

If a human driver was at the controls of the autonomous vehicle when the accident took place, they could still be held liable for the accident. Drivers can guide an autonomous vehicle when necessary. A person can even manually change lanes on a highway when they wish and make turns at a red light if the vehicle does not know that it can do so.

Another example of a driver being held liable for their actions is if a driver disables a safety feature. This is considered tampering with the vehicle. Investigators will seek evidence in a self-driving accident to discover if there was any tampering involved that led to the accident.

What types of damages am I entitled to?

If you have been involved in an accident with a self-driving car, you may be entitled to compensation for a wide range of damages including the following:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Reduced quality of life
  • Property damages

If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a self-driving car accident, it is time to take action today. To learn if you have a valid personal injury claim, give our experienced firm a call. Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys will work to satisfy the burden of proof to recover the compensation you require to heal.

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