Founder and Managing Partner
It’s no secret that vehicle companies are striving to master the self-driving car. But with this endeavor comes many concerns for drivers in California. As more self-driving cars enter the streets, more accidents occur as a result of them.
If you are the victim of such an accident, it’s important that you contact an experienced California personal injury attorney right away. Your attorney can help you through this unique and still new scenario.
Read on to learn more about self-driving cars in California so that you are prepared and well informed on the matter.
The Future is Here
Many people are under the impression that self-driving cars are still many years from happening. But that’s not the case at all. At the end of 2015, self-driving cars were already taking to the streets of California, courtesy of Tesla.
And ever since then, the number of active self-driving cars has only increased. Automobile manufacturers are firmly on the bandwagon with no intentions of jumping off. To the average driver, this is a harrowing thought.
One needs only to spend a few minutes searching online to find countless videos of drivers reclining in their drivers’ seats, watching movies, reading the newspaper or a book, some even sleeping. If that doesn’t raise concerns, maybe the many accidents that self-driving cars have caused will.
As of this writing, it is estimated that for every million miles driven by self-driving cars, 9.1 accidents will occur. Compare that to the 4.1 crashes per million miles of conventional vehicles. It’s safe to say that there’s a big problem with self-driving cars.
Know the Law
California law used to state that only a specially trained driver may operate a self-driving vehicle. However, that quickly changed to where you just need to obtain a special deployment permit to launch a self-driving vehicle.
What’s more, many self-driving vehicles are now for sale in California, increasing concerns over the safety of such vehicles being on the road with regular drivers.
If you are the victim of an accident involving a self-driving car, it’s important that you secure the services of a qualified personal injury attorney right away. With the proper legal counsel, you can be sure to take on big corporations like Tesla with confidence.
Such an endeavor can certainly be intimidating. If you need to sue over injuries and loss of income, the process is a bit different compared to taking another to court in a typical accident. Because automation is involved, things can get complicated.
Thankfully, having the right attorney in your corner will ensure that all necessary information and data are acquired to build your case. Your attorney will conduct interviews, obtain police and accident reports, and gather all available evidence to support your claim.
It’s important that you act quickly following an accident with a self-driving vehicle in California. The sooner you act, the more time your attorney will have to build your case. Contact our office today for a free consultation.