A car accident in Nevada can be a terrible ordeal, but what if the driver isn’t even human? The technology of the automobile industry is developing rapidly, and cars will likely be guided by artificial intelligence in the future.
Some time ago, a funny video about a woman who was trying to take a picture of herself with her phone while driving went viral all over the internet. The state saw the video and made changes to the traffic rules to avoid car accidents in Nevada. However, in our opinion, that wasn’t enough.
One perspective is that it would be better if the cars themselves would guide drivers. It will be interesting to use such a system when we leave our house and tell our car: “Go there,” without having to watch the traffic lights, signs, and the cars around us.
But recent accidents in some states have raised concerns about the credibility of self-driving cars. According to Statista, the global autonomous car market is expected to grow to $60 billion in 2030. It is turning into one of the biggest industries in the near future.
Nevertheless, it is a tricky area to determine who is at fault for a car accident in Nevada – the manufacturer or the operator? Let’s get into this discussion.
What is a Self-Driving Car?
According to the National Highway Safety Association (NHTSA), a vehicle that uses various sensors to detect its surroundings, and without human input, decides when to stop or go. It will also know when to speed up or slow down and it is also capable of interpreting traffic laws and regulations. Such a car is classified as a self-driving car.
A self-driving car has to detect its surroundings through multiple sensors, then process that information and send out the appropriate signals to operate the vehicle. This technology is still relatively new, and self-driving cars are not yet widely available for use on public roads. Self-driving cars have been around for a while now, but Google has recently invested in the technology and sparked interest from companies such as Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi.
Tesla recently announced that it would include a self-driving feature in its Model S cars, allowing them to parallel park on their own. Tesla’s self-driving feature will be ready for use in the next year and is soon to be followed by Mercedes-Benz’s autonomous driving system. Google is currently in the process of testing several different types of self-driving cars as well.
When is the Driver Responsible for a Self-Driving Car Accident in Nevada?
Nowadays, most self-driving cars operate on level 2 or 3 of the automated driving levels. What it means is that even though the self-driving car independently performs driving on its own, it still needs monitoring from the driver present inside the car. In numerous instances, these self-driving cars alert the operator to take some sort of required action.
In one such accident, a self-driving car hit a pedestrian in Arizona. When the case turned in court to conclude who was responsible for the accident – the manufacturer or the driver – the blame was finally shared between all three parties, i.e., the pedestrian, the manufacturer, and the operator. The driver and the pedestrian had also shown some carelessness.
When Would the Manufacturer Be Responsible?
If the driver is held responsible for the accident, it does not mean that the manufacturer leaves scot-free. One incident is important to quote here. In 2018, a Tesla auto-pilot car crashed into a highway barrier which killed the driver.
The decedent’s family sued Tesla and claimed that the design and auto-pilot feature didn’t work as expected and was responsible for the death. Tesla had to pay the compensation along with the department of transportation which had failed to fix the crash attenuator.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney for Your Car Accident:
A car accident in Nevada involving self-driving cars is a complex issue nowadays. It is extremely difficult to conclude who is at fault; the operator, the victim, or the manufacturer. It is important to see what is the autonomy level of a car. At the same time, the hardware and software of the company are other factors to consider when deciding the blame in an accident.
Suppose you find yourself amidst such an accident that involves self-driving cars. In that case, our team of experienced attorneys is here to help you investigate your accident and develop the best strategy for success.
