Self-driving vehicle technology promises to revolutionize transportation by eliminating human error, yet accidents involving autonomous cars raise complex legal questions about liability when no human driver controls the vehicle. Traditional car accident cases focus on driver negligence, but collisions involving self-driving cars shift responsibility to manufacturers, software developers, sensor suppliers, and even the companies that map the roads these vehicles navigate. As autonomous technology becomes more prevalent on New Jersey roads, understanding who pays when these vehicles cause injuries becomes critical for protecting your right to compensation after a crash.
At Mandelbaum Barrett PC, we stay informed about emerging legal issues surrounding autonomous vehicle accidents and how traditional personal injury principles apply to this evolving technology. Our personal injury attorneys understand that self-driving car accidents require different investigation methods and liability theories than standard motor vehicle collision cases.
Potential Liable Parties in Autonomous Vehicle Accidents
Self-driving car accidents may involve multiple potentially liable parties whose negligence or defective products contributed to the collision:
- Vehicle manufacturers: Companies that design and produce autonomous vehicles face product liability claims when defective sensors, software errors, or design flaws cause accidents that injure other motorists, passengers, or pedestrians.
- Software developers: Third-party companies that create autonomous driving software may be liable when programming errors, inadequate testing, or failure to account for road conditions lead to crashes.
- Sensor and component suppliers: Manufacturers of cameras, radar systems, lidar sensors, and other critical components face liability when defective parts prevent the vehicle from properly detecting hazards or responding to road conditions.
- Mapping companies: Providers of high-definition road maps that autonomous vehicles rely on may be responsible when inaccurate or outdated map data causes vehicles to make dangerous driving decisions.
- Human drivers: Even in vehicles with autonomous capabilities, human operators may bear responsibility when they fail to monitor the system, ignore warnings to take control, or engage autonomous features in inappropriate conditions.
- Maintenance providers: Companies or individuals responsible for maintaining autonomous vehicles may face claims when neglected software updates, sensor calibration failures, or inadequate inspections contribute to accidents.
Identifying all liable parties requires examining vehicle data recorders, software logs, sensor readings, and maintenance records to determine what failed and why. Our car accident attorneys work with technology experts who can analyze these complex systems and establish causation between system failures and your injuries.
Product Liability Claims Versus Negligence Claims
Autonomous vehicle accidents often give rise to product liability claims rather than traditional negligence claims that focus on driver behavior. Product liability law holds manufacturers strictly liable for defective products that cause injuries, eliminating the need to prove the manufacturer acted carelessly. Three types of defects can support product liability claims against autonomous vehicle manufacturers.
Design defects exist when the fundamental design of the autonomous system creates unreasonable dangers even when manufactured perfectly according to specifications. Software that cannot properly identify pedestrians in certain lighting conditions or sensor arrays positioned in ways that create blind spots represent potential design defects. Manufacturing defects occur when individual vehicles or components deviate from their intended design due to errors during production, such as improperly calibrated sensors or corrupted software installations.
Marketing defects involve inadequate warnings or instructions about the autonomous system’s limitations and proper use. When manufacturers overstate their technology’s capabilities or fail to adequately warn drivers about situations requiring human intervention, they may face liability for accidents resulting from this lack of information. Tesla has faced criticism for naming its Level 2 system “Autopilot” despite requiring constant driver attention, potentially misleading consumers about the technology’s actual capabilities.
Negligence claims may still apply to human drivers who misuse autonomous features, fail to maintain proper attention, or engage self-driving functions in inappropriate conditions. New Jersey’s comparative negligence rules allow injured parties to recover damages even when multiple parties share fault, making it possible to pursue claims against both manufacturers and human operators simultaneously.
Challenges in Proving Liability
Self-driving car accident cases present unique evidentiary challenges that don’t exist in traditional collision claims. Vehicle data recorders capture extensive information about autonomous system performance before crashes, but accessing this proprietary data often requires legal action against manufacturers reluctant to reveal potential defects. Software source code examination becomes necessary to identify programming errors, yet companies fiercely protect this intellectual property as trade secrets.
Expert witnesses with specialized knowledge of autonomous vehicle technology become essential to explaining complex technical failures to juries unfamiliar with artificial intelligence, machine learning algorithms, and sensor fusion systems. These experts must translate technical concepts into understandable terms while establishing causation between system failures and your specific injuries. The limited history of autonomous vehicle accident litigation means fewer legal precedents exist to guide courts on liability standards and evidentiary requirements.
Insurance coverage issues complicate autonomous vehicle accident claims because traditional auto policies were designed for human-driven vehicles. Questions arise about whether personal auto insurance or the manufacturer’s product liability coverage applies when autonomous systems control the vehicle during a crash. Some states have begun requiring autonomous vehicle testing companies to carry special insurance, but coverage gaps remain as technology outpaces insurance industry adaptation.
Mandelbaum Barrett PC Can Help With Your Autonomous Vehicle Accident Case
Autonomous vehicle accidents require attorneys who understand both traditional personal injury principles and emerging technology issues that distinguish these cases from standard motor vehicle collisions. We conduct thorough investigations to identify all potentially liable parties, from vehicle manufacturers to software developers to human operators who misused autonomous features. Our experience handling complex product liability and motor vehicle accident cases provides the foundation necessary to navigate the unique challenges self-driving car accidents present.
With decades of experience handling personal injury claims, our experienced attorneys include Certified Civil Trial Attorney Andrew Bronsnick and Co-Chair Joseph J. Peters. We work with technology experts, accident reconstruction specialists, and automotive engineers who can analyze autonomous system failures and establish causation between defects and your injuries. Contact us today to discuss your autonomous vehicle accident case and learn how we can help you hold responsible parties accountable for your injuries regardless of whether a human or machine controlled the vehicle that caused your crash.