Did you know you could get a driverless rideshare in Atlanta? While this technology may feel like it’s too advanced to be on the roadways already, it is possible to call a Waymo when you’re inside the perimeter in Atlanta and ride to your destination in a self-driving car.
As cool as it may sound to be a passenger in a driverless car, the vehicles are not without their issues. These cars can get into accidents too, and you need to know what should happen afterward to ensure you’re protected.
What is a self-driving car?
Self-driving or autonomous cars can drive and navigate without human intervention. With a combination of special software, sensors and hardware, the vehicle can react to its surroundings by controlling its speed, breaking and steering all by itself.
There are various levels of autonomous vehicles, graded on the amount of human input needed to ensure the car functions. While Level 5 cars require no human driver and may not even have pedals or a steering wheel, Level 1 cars only provide assistance with functions like steering or accelerating and breaking (think about that self-parking feature on your car as another example.)
In Atlanta, driverless Waymo autonomous cars are available through Uber within a 65-square-mile radius of Atlanta. This includes popular stops like Buckhead, but they can’t take you to the airport or go on any highways.
How do self-driving cars work?
Sensors and artificial intelligence power autonomous vehicles. The sensors collect data about the car’s surroundings and feed it to the car’s onboard computer where a real-time map of the area is generated for the car to use to safely navigate. This information helps the car decide when to accelerate and when to brake.
Getting into a self-driving car accident
Although the accident rate for self-driving cars is actually higher right now than for cars operated by a person, most autonomous vehicle accidents are minor. Often, the car isn’t traveling very fast to cause a large amount of damage or injury.
Common types of accidents that include a self-driving car include:
- Rear-end collisions
- Side-swipe accidents
- Collisions with pedestrians
- Broadside accidents
These accidents often result from technological issues. Additionally, self-driving cars can have trouble responding to unexpected changes in the environment, and can sometimes struggle to navigate around construction zones and react appropriately to pedestrians.
What happens after a self-driving car accident?
In the immediate aftermath of an accident involving a self-driving car, the steps you should take are the same as with any car accident. Ensure everyone involved in the accident is safe, and call 911. After that, document the scene with photos and collect contact information from any witnesses. Make sure you can show that the car you were in, or the car that hit you, was self-driving.
Next, because of the unique nature of this type of accident, it’s best to consult a lawyer who has experience with autonomous vehicle accidents. Establishing liability in these situations can be difficult. Police can’t actually write a ticket to a driverless car, so things are often complicated right from the start.
Who’s at fault when there’s no driver?
Even when a self-driving car is deemed at fault for an accident, you’re still entitled to compensation for property damage and personal injury. However, without an actual driver to be held responsible, the autonomous car manufacturer or company that maintains the car may be accountable.
Your legal team will help you decide which course of action is best for your case, but you may have options. Your case may just be an ordinary negligence case, where you’re asking for compensation, but there’s also a chance the accident was caused by a defect or malfunction in the car itself. In those situations, you may have a product liability case on your hands.
Regardless, you do have the right to compensation when you’re involved in a self-driving car accident.
Don’t fight alone
The legal team at Watson Injury Law takes being prepared very seriously. That means staying on top of the latest information related to the ever-changing technology found in autonomous vehicles. This allows us to fight more effectively for you and the compensation you deserve.
If you’ve been involved in an accident with a driverless car, contact us today and set up a free consultation. We’re here to help.