After a fatal accident involving a pedestrian and a driverless car in Arizona, many are wondering if autonomous cars will ever be safe enough. Testing of autonomous cars on public streets in Arizona has been suspended, but over 20 other states, including California, have laws allowing the testing to continue. The auto accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Alan M. Laskin in Elk Grove and Sacramento, CA, discuss whether these vehicles will ever be considered safe and how they may affect personal injury lawsuits.

Holding Artificial Intelligence to Higher Standards

As humans, we’re naturally skeptical of technology, but we also hold it to higher standards. When a car accident occurs, we can usually understand the cause and even empathize with the driver. When artificial intelligence fails, however, it’s shocking. We can’t believe advanced computer software could or would make a mistake.

Effects of Autonomous Cars on Personal Injury Claims

Although autonomous cars aren’t taking over the roads just yet, auto accident attorneys are already thinking about the effects they’ll have on personal injury claims. In traditional car accidents, one or both drivers are at least partially at fault. Sometimes, however, a defect can cause an accident, making the manufacturer at fault.

With autonomous vehicles, accidents are more likely to result from software glitches or other defects out of the driver’s control. As a result, auto accident attorneys will file personal injury claims and wrongful death suits against the vehicle manufacturers, software engineers, and other relevant parties, rather than a driver or pedestrian and their insurance company.

The auto accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Alan M. Laskin are prepared to handle personal injury claims like this as autonomous cars become more prevalent. If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, or some other incident as a result of another party’s negligence, their team of personal injury attorneys can help. Call their office at (916) 689-0700 or visit their website to request a free consultation.