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The Legal Implications of Self-Driving Car Accidents in Pennsylvania

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October 21, 2024

Futuristic cars that no longer need an actual human driver are on the horizon. While there is still more work to be done before they become mainstream, there are self-driving cars on the roads today. Some believe that there are several benefits to having self-driving cars including potentially a reduction in automobile accidents.

Every year in the United States there are millions of car accidents and many are catastrophic leaving countless injuries and deaths. The United States ranks amongst the deadliest countries to drive in when compared to other similarly developed countries. At any given year, the number of victims who die in U.S. car accidents can fill up a professional baseball stadium. 

Despite the claim that self-driving cars are far safer than cars where there is a human operator, no system is completely fail-proof, even these smart cars. It should be expected that even with the highest level of quality assurance, there will still be some amount of mechanical failure or even programming errors that will cause a self-driving car to be defective which can lead to a car accident happening.

If you were in a car accident and are unsure about what your rights are or what the next steps for you are regarding taking legal action or obtaining compensation, you are welcome to reach out to a Philadelphia car accident attorney at Edelstein Martin & Nelson, LLP.

What Happens After a Pennsylvania Self-Driving Car Accident?

The Legal Implications of Self-Driving Car Accidents in PennsylvaniaAnytime a person gets into an automobile, there is a risk that they can be injured or lose their life in a car accident. Even though autonomous cars are designed and meant to drive defensively, responsibly, and conservatively and are equipped with all of the modern safety features to assist in this endeavor such as sensors and cameras, there is no way to completely eliminate the risk of an accident taking place. At least, not yet anyway.

Simply because one person has a self-driving vehicle does not mean that another driver will be traveling in an autonomous vehicle, meaning, that an autonomous car may not have a system advanced enough to recognize unexpected maneuvers of drivers. 

Or, suppose there is some sort of road blockage or issue that is slowing, stopping, or diverting traffic. There is the question of whether self-driving vehicles will be able to detect these road hazards and be able to make adjustments.

Last, an error can be internal and a self-driving car’s operating system has the potential to malfunction. Or, mechanical failure in the car’s components can also pose a risk of an accident happening.

Figuring out liability depends on several factors. For example, a manufacturer may be liable for a crash happening if the self-driving car does not rely on any interaction with a human and a human passenger has no control over the operation of the vehicle. Other times, another driver may be responsible if they were reckless and their behavior caused the accident.

When an accident does happen, though, Pennsylvania courts will use a modified comparative fault system to determine who is allowed to obtain compensation and how much they can get. In this system, all parties are assigned a percentage of fault and then compensation is reduced by how much fault they have. Parties who are over 50% responsible for causing an accident will be unable to collect any compensation.

Speak with an Attorney at Edelstein Martin & Nelson, LLP

For assistance with a car accident claim in Pennsylvania, please call Edelstein Martin & Nelson, LLP at (215) 731-9900 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney.

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