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Jacksonville Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyers
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You’ve probably heard some horror stories about self-driving car accidents and crashes involving semi-autonomous vehicles. One recent high-profile self-driving car crash lawsuit involved a Tesla crash that killed a pedestrian and seriously injured another while Autopilot was enabled.
In that case, as in most of the others in the news, there was a driver in the vehicle at the time of the crash. But technology and regulations are developing rapidly, and today there are cars on the road with no driver at all. That raises questions about who is liable when a crash happens.
Harrell & Harrell Helps Victims of Self-Driving Car Accidents
Don’t try to navigate this new territory alone. If you’ve been injured by a self-driving car, you’ll want to talk to an experienced Jacksonville car accident attorney right away. At Harrell & Harrell, we’ve been fighting for car accident victims for decades, and we’re dedicated to staying on top of the most current information about self-driving vehicle accidents, regulations, and liability. You can schedule a free consultation by calling (904) 251-1111 or filling out our contact form.
Who is Liable in a Self-Driving Car Crash?
Liability in a self-driving car accident can be a bit more complicated than in the typical car crash, where one or both drivers typically bear at least partial responsibility for the crash. If there’s a human in the driver’s seat, that person may still be wholly or partly responsible for the accident–even if the vehicle was in autonomous mode. But there are other possibilities. For example:
- A software malfunction or flaw in the programming
- A defect in the vehicle itself
It’s also possible that a third party may be liable, in the same ways they might in any other car accident case. For example:
- Another vehicle may have negligently triggered the accident
- Debris in the road or other road conditions may have caused or contributed to the accident
- Faulty road design, signage, or other design aspects may have contributed to the crash
These varied possibilities mean that there are a wide range of people or entities who may be liable for a crash. These may include:
- The autonomous vehicle manufacturer
- The manufacturer of a component part of the vehicle
- The human operator of the autonomous vehicle, if there is one
- The operator of another vehicle on the road
- The entity responsible for road maintenance
The best source of information about the possible responsible parties in your case and how you may be able to pursue compensation is an experienced local self-driving car lawyer.
Types of Self-Driving Vehicle Accidents
A self-driving vehicle may be involved in virtually any type of crash, though the cause may be different. Some of the most common types of self-driving car accidents include:
- Rear-end collisions
- Sideswipe accidents
- Hitting a pedestrian or bicyclist
- Hitting a fixed object
- Intersection collisions
Causes of Self-Driving Car Crashes
Like other types of collisions, a self-driving car accident may be caused by human error–either the human in control of the autonomous vehicle or another driver or other type of road user. For example, someone operating a vehicle with autonomous features might over-rely on the technology and fail to take control of the vehicle when required.
Other reasons self-driving vehicles crash include:
- Sensor failures, causing the vehicle to miss something or miscalculate distance
- Weather conditions affecting sensor performance
- The vehicle not “understanding” what it’s seeing, and so failing to anticipate what will happen next
- The vehicle misinterpreting the actions of another driver, pedestrian, motorcyclist, or bicyclist
- Unpredictable actions by the self-driving vehicle that other drivers are unprepared for
- Inaccurate mapping data
- Complex intersections that the software is unprepared to manage
How a Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
The first thing an autonomous vehicle accident lawyer should do is gather information to assess all possible responsible parties. That’s true in any motor vehicle accident case, but requires more complex data and analysis in a self-driving car accident case.
Your self-driving car accident lawyer will also take over interactions with the insurance company or insurance companies. That takes some work off your plate and can reduce the stress that follows a car accident, but that’s not the only reason it’s important. An experienced accident lawyer will know how to navigate communications with insurance carriers that may resort to unscrupulous practices to avoid paying you.
While that’s always an issue when dealing with an insurance company, companies manufacturing self-driving vehicles and their insurance carriers have an especially strong motivation to avoid significant settlements and verdicts at this early stage in the industry’s development.
Other ways your self-driving car accident attorney can help include:
- Investigating the crash and gathering evidence
- Speaking with witnesses
- Explaining what you can expect as the case moves forward
- Drafting demand letters and negotiating with insurance company attorneys
- Managing deadlines and technical requirements to preserve your rights
- Preparing your case and, if it’s in your best interest, trying the case before a Jacksonville jury
Other Common Types of Car Accident Cases
Why Choose Harrell & Harrell for Your Autonomous Vehicle Accident Case?
Successful handling of a self-driving car accident case requires a combination of extensive motor vehicle accident experience and awareness of the new and different issues that come into play when an autonomous vehicle is involved. The injury attorneys at Harrell & Harrell have both. Our firm has long been dedicated to helping injured people secure the compensation they deserve, whether that means negotiating the best settlement possible or taking your case to trial.
Combining key skill sets is nothing new for us. We’ve long believed that our clients are best served by pairing deep knowledge and experience gained across many years with modern technology that makes the process simpler and more accessible for our clients. We’ve used personal one-on-one service to build one of the largest personal injury firms in Florida.
We know how important it is for you to have the right representation after an injury. We also know how tough it can be to know where to turn, and how risky it is for you to talk with insurance companies on your own. That’s why we offer free, no-obligation consultations. Call us today at (904) 251-1111 or fill out our contact form.
DON’T SETTLE FOR LESS THAN YOU DESERVE.®
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I had an auto accident but did not believe there was going to be a positive outcome, as the opposing insurance companies fought the process. However, Lauralee Rodriguez assured me that she would be persistent in the case, if I would be patient. Well, I was patient (as well as doubtful, lol), but SHE DID IT and SHE DID IT WELL!!! I am very satisfied with the service and the outcome of the case. GREAT FIRM!!! Thank you Harrell & Harrell for employing competent staff.
