Self-Driving Car Accidents

Legal Representation After a Houston Self-Driving Car Accident

As of 2023, self-driving cars, also known as autonomous vehicles, are at the forefront of automotive innovation. These vehicles are designed to navigate without human intervention using sensors, cameras, radar, and artificial intelligence (AI). Key players in the development of these vehicles include Waymo (an Alphabet subsidiary), Tesla, Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group (ATG), Cruise (owned by General Motors), and Argo AI (backed by Ford). As exciting as this technology is, accidents involving self-driving cars can be legally complex.

If you’ve suffered a car accident involving a self-driving car in Houston, Texas, DK Law is here to provide the skilled legal assistance you need. Headed by Mr. Khosravian, DK Law has the knowledge and experience to navigate the intricacies of accidents involving self-driving cars. Call us at (281) 916-2516 for a free initial consultation.

How Do Self-Driving Cars Work?

Self-driving cars use various technologies to sense their environment, such as:

• LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging): This remote sensing method uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure distances. It helps the car create a detailed 3D map of its surroundings.
• Radar Sensors: These monitor the position of nearby vehicles. They’re useful for adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and parking assistance.
• Video Cameras: Cameras detect traffic lights, read road signs, keep track of other vehicles, and look out for pedestrians and other obstacles.
• Ultrasonic Sensors: Usually installed on the wheels, these sensors detect the position of curbs and other vehicles when parking.
• Central Computer: This analyzes data from the sensors to manipulate the steering, acceleration, and braking.

How Reliable is the Technology of Self-Driving Cars?

Self-driving car technology, while innovative and rapidly advancing, is not flawless. The technology depends on a complex network of sensors, cameras, radar, and artificial intelligence (AI) to accurately interpret the vehicle’s surroundings. These systems have shown tremendous potential in reducing human error, a leading cause of road accidents.

However, there are still challenges. For example, self-driving cars can struggle in adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rain or snow, which can interfere with sensor function. Additionally, AI systems are only as good as the data used to trained them, and unpredictable situations can sometimes lead to errors.

Self-Driving Cars and Cyber Security

There are concerns about the cybersecurity vulnerabilities of self-driving cars, as they could potentially be targets for hackers due to being connected vehicles.

Despite these issues, companies like Waymo, Tesla, and Uber continue to invest heavily in improving the reliability and safety of self-driving car technology. It’s a promising field, but it’s also clear that there’s still a long way to go before these vehicles can be considered completely reliable.

Safety and Liability

The safety of self-driving cars is debatable. These autonomous vehicles have the potential to significantly reduce accidents caused by human error, which account for a substantial proportion of all road accidents. However, accidents involving self-driving cars have raised multiple safety concerns.

Liability in accidents involving self-driving cars in Houston can be complex. Liability could potentially rest on the vehicle’s owner, the company that developed the autonomous driving system, or even other drivers involved in the accident.

Examples of Liability with Self-Driving Cars

• Software Glitch or Sensor Failure: Autonomous vehicles rely on sophisticated software to interpret sensor data and make driving decisions. If a glitch occurs in the software or a sensor fails, the vehicle could behave unpredictably, potentially causing an accident. In such cases, the manufacturer of the vehicle or the faulty component could be held liable for any damages.
• Adverse Weather Conditions: Self-driving cars can struggle to operate in adverse weather conditions like heavy rain, fog, or snow, which may interfere with the vehicle’s sensors. If an autonomous vehicle causes an accident because failed to navigate safely in poor weather, liability could fall on the manufacturer for not adequately programming the car to handle such conditions.
• Human Error: Despite the advanced technology, self-driving cars still share the road with human drivers. If a human driver makes a mistake or behaves recklessly, causing an accident with a self-driving car, the human driver may be held liable.

Common Accidents with Self-Driving Cars

The most common type of accident involving self-driving cars is rear-end collisions, often because the vehicle didn’t properly gauge the distance of the other car. Another common accident scenario is when autonomous vehicles fail to accurately interpret complex traffic situations, such as construction zones or unclear road markings.

These incidents commonly occur in urban environments, where traffic is dense and unpredictable. However, highway accidents have also been reported, often due to high speeds and semi-autonomous vehicles requiring human intervention in certain situations.

While technology is rapidly advancing, the widespread adoption of fully autonomous vehicles still faces several hurdles. These include legislative and regulatory challenges, technological difficulties, ethical considerations, and public acceptance. Though self-driving cars represent a significant shift in the future of transportation, many are not yet ready to deal with real-life situations.

Have You Been Involved in an Accident with a Self-Driving Car in Houston? Call Now

At DK Law, we understand the complexities of self-driving car crashes and appreciate the severe impact such an accident can have on victims. If you or a loved one has been in an accident involving a self-driving car, it’s time to get a Houston car accident attorney on your side that knows how to win.

Led by Mr. Khosravian, a top-rated attorney with over a decade of experience, our team is dedicated to fighting for the justice you deserve. We are committed to always putting our clients first and ensuring they receive the sound legal counsel and support they need. Don’t hesitate to call us at (281) 916-2516 to schedule a free case consultation.