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How to Handle Car Accidents Involving Self-Driving Vehicles: Legal Implications
The rapid integration of self-driving technology is reshaping the roads we travel. While these innovations offer convenience and potential safety improvements, they also introduce legal complications, especially when accidents occur. If you've been involved in an accident involving a self-driving vehicle, it's important to fully understand your rights.
At Denning Law Firm, LLC, our father-daughter team has years of experience helping car accident victims understand and resolve their legal challenges. Whether you’re dealing with state traffic laws or the uncertainties of fault in self-driving car incidents, our attorneys William Denning and Paeten Denning are ready to provide you with fearless representation.
Serving Kansas City, Missouri, and the surrounding areas, including Overland Park, Kansas, we are experienced in advocating for our clients' voices and rights. As traffic safety and advanced technology intersect in new ways, seeking legal help in these cases has never been more critical.
The Unique Challenges of Self-Driving Car Accidents?
Self-driving vehicles rely on complex software, sensors, and artificial intelligence to make decisions on the road. When a car accident happens, these systems create complicated scenarios for determining liability. Accident victims may need to investigate various factors, such as:
Whether the human operator was managing the vehicle appropriately.
Potential defects or malfunctions in the autonomous driving systems.
Road conditions or other third-party influences.
This isn’t your typical fender bender. You aren’t just dealing with another driver; you might also be dealing with automotive manufacturers, software developers, and other involved parties. Therefore, it's essential to seek the guidance of experienced legal professionals to move forward with clarity.
Missouri Laws Governing Self-Driving Car Accidents
Although Missouri has not yet implemented statewide legislation specifically addressing self-driving vehicle accidents, general state laws continue to govern such incidents. Therefore, responsibility for vehicle operation and any resulting damages often falls under conventional negligence rules. If you’re involved in a self-driving car accident in Missouri, here’s what you should know:
Negligence and fault: Missouri follows a comparative fault system. If multiple parties share fault for an accident, such as the operator of the autonomous vehicle and the manufacturer, a percentage is assigned to each based on their contribution. However, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you, but you can still recover damages if you’re less than 100% at fault.
Insurance coverage: Missouri requires all drivers, including those using autonomous vehicles, to carry a minimum level of liability insurance. The insurer of the involved vehicle, whether it covers a traditional driver or an AI-operated car, will likely be the first line of reimbursement for accident-related damages.
Manufacturer liability: If a malfunction in autonomous technology caused or contributed to the crash, manufacturers could be held liable. For instance, faulty sensors or software glitches may become key considerations in determining responsibility.
Missouri law emphasizes that whether the driver is human or AI-driven, someone must bear accountability for damages. Following a self-driving car accident, your attorney can help identify and effectively pursue claimable damages.
Kansas Laws Governing Self-Driving Car Accidents
Kansas law is evolving as self-driving technology becomes more prevalent; however, key existing regulations remain in effect to protect accident victims. The key laws governing self-driving car regulations in Kansas include the following.
Modified comparative fault system: Kansas applies a modified comparative fault rule. If you’re found more than 50% responsible for the accident, you may not recover damages at all. However, if your share of responsibility is less than 50%, you can still pursue compensation, reduced by your percentage of fault.
Fault assignments for technology: Cases involving self-driving vehicles often investigate the extent to which the incident is attributed to human versus machine error. Software-generated decisions, sensor setups, and technical oversight may all factor into assigning blame.
Autonomous driving permits and testing regulations: Kansas allows autonomous driving companies to test their vehicles within the state. Although oversight exists, certain gaps in enforcement or policy clarity might influence whether companies, rather than operators, are held directly liable after an accident.
Insurance requirements: Kansas law requires drivers, or the entities responsible for autonomous vehicles, to maintain insurance that can cover accidents. Autonomous driving creators may also need to demonstrate compliance with all applicable liability standards before testing or selling vehicles in the state.
Tackling legal challenges under Kansas’ fault rules means understanding when a technological oversight impacts a victim's claim and compensation. It's essential to work with an attorney familiar with state-level interpretations of self-driving incidents to determine the best course forward.
Challenges with Proving Liability in a Self-Driving Car Accident
Establishing liability in self-driving vehicle accidents can involve multiple layers of investigation. While the specific steps you will need to take might depend on the circumstances of your accident, there are challenges that you may encounter. Some of these include the following.
Driver accountability: Even with the self-driving systems engaged, most vehicles still require a licensed driver to monitor and intervene in emergencies. If they fail to do so, liability often rests with the licensed driver.
Manufacturer and software developer responsibility: Proving defects within the vehicle’s design or functionality requires extensive resources, a thorough understanding of relevant laws, and thorough technical research. Attorneys often collaborate with engineers or experts when pursuing claims against manufacturers.
Road infrastructure and third parties: Poorly maintained roads or hazards created by other drivers may also heavily influence the outcome of a self-driving vehicle accident.
Failing to seek legal guidance from an experienced attorney can leave potential claimants at a serious disadvantage, particularly in cases involving multiple responsible parties, such as automakers, tech companies, and individual operators.
What to Do After a Self-Driving Car Accident
If you’ve been involved in an accident with a self-driving vehicle, it's important to take certain steps to protect your rights while your case is under review. The steps may vary depending on the severity of the accident and your injuries, but the primary steps you should take include the following.
Document evidence on the scene: Take pictures of the damage, note weather conditions, collect witness statements, and exchange information with all involved parties. Recording obvious vehicle behaviors, such as failure to brake, is also useful.
Seek medical and legal Help promptly: To build the strongest possible claim, address your medical needs immediately. This provides documentation in case injury compensation claims arise. Then, consult an attorney who can assess liability and protect your interests.
Avoid direct contact with insurance adjusters: It's not uncommon for insurers to use tactics aimed at reducing their payout obligations, which is why you need an attorney to shield you from unfair evaluations.
Car Accident Attorneys Serving Missouri and Kansas
At Denning Law Firm, LLC, our attorneys William Denning and Paeten Denning bring both experience and understanding to every case. Our dedicated father-daughter team works tirelessly on your behalf to uphold your rights and make sure your voice is heard. You can trust our firm to stand by you, no matter the challenges ahead.
Serving residents of Kansas City, Missouri, as well as Kansas City and Overland Park, Kansas, you can count on fearless advocacy tailored to your needs. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.