Self-Driving Car Accidents in San Diego, CA

California is the location for the testing of many self-driving car technologies being developed today. Driverless vehicles are expected to be the standard mode of transportation one day. Proponents argue that safety measures designed for a driverless car can reduce the risk of traffic accidents.

However, there have been several self-driving car accidents reported in the news. Unfortunately, some of these accidents resulted in fatal crashes or severe injuries.

Our nationally-recognized personal injury lawyer in San Diego, CA at Mission Personal Injury Lawyers follows the changing legal landscape for self-driving cars. We know how accidents with driverless vehicles can impact the lives of victims. We are ready to help you recover compensation after a self-driving car accident in San Diego, CA. 

Contact our law office at (619) 777-5555 to schedule a free consultation with one of our San Diego self-driving car accident lawyers. You may not be aware you are sharing a public road with a vehicle operated by software — that is, until it causes a car accident and injures you.

How Our San Diego Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You With Accidents Involving Autonomous Vehicles 

How Our San Diego Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You With Accidents Involving Autonomous Vehicles 

The technology that allows a vehicle to operate in autonomous mode is incredibly technical. Handling a personal injury case involving a self-driving car requires some knowledge of the driving system. It also requires knowledge of product liability and accident laws. That’s why we consult with expert witnesses and industry experts in San Diego, California, as we pursue these injury claims.

When you hire our award-winning attorneys at Mission Personal Injury Lawyers, you can expect us to:

  • Retain consultants and experts to assist in the investigation of the self-driving car accident
  • Identify parties who might be responsible for the crash
  • File claims with insurance companies and other parties 
  • Monitor the statute of limitations for filing personal injury lawsuits
  • Document your damages and negotiate for full compensation of all damages
  • Pursue a court action if the other parties refuse to negotiate in good faith

Being in a car accident can be confusing and overwhelming. When the other vehicle is a self-driving car, the case can become complicated very quickly.

Contact our office for a free consultation with our San Diego auto accident lawyer to discuss your case. Your options for recovering damages may decrease the longer you wait to seek legal advice. 

Are Self-Driving Cars Safe to Be on the Road in San Diego, CA?

Human error is a leading cause of traffic accidents. Therefore, advocates for self-driving cars claim that technology can reduce the number of traffic accidents. Their reasoning is that computer senses, software, algorithms, and artificial intelligence removes the possibility of human error. 

However, several concerns must be addressed. If you rely on a computer to operate the vehicle, are self-driving cars vulnerable to cyber-attacks? Could a terrorist or other person take over a self-driving vehicle remotely and crash it?

Another issue is testing and approval by government regulators. Will a rush to market self-driving vehicles mean shortcuts for safety testing? 

One of the most important questions being debated right now is who is responsible for self-driving car accidents? 

Several parties could share liability for the car crash, including human drivers, the vehicle owner, software companies, and vehicle manufacturers. However, identifying which party was at fault for a car accident could be challenging. 

Determining Liability for a Self-Driving Car Accident in San Diego

Several companies develop and test self-driving cars or autonomous vehicles in California. For example, you may see an Apple self-driving car on the Apple Park Campus within a few years. The California DMV issues permits for testing self-driving vehicles on public roads.

Regardless of the type of vehicle involved, the party responsible for causing the crash is liable for damages related to the accident. Still, the accident victims have the burden of proving causation and liability. 

For example, if a human driver fails to switch to manual mode when instructed by the vehicle, the human driver could be at fault for the accident. A malfunction in the software or a defect in the vehicle could result in a claim against the vehicle manufacturer or software company. 

The specific facts of the case determine who is liable for the self-driving car accident. Every factor of the accident must be analyzed to determine if it contributed to the cause of the crash. 

What Kind of Damages Are Available After a San Diego Self-Driving Car Accident?

The party responsible for the accident may be required to pay damages to the accident victim such as:

Auto manufacturers and software companies may not be willing to pay large injury claims. Instead, they may fight the claims to prevent a bad precedent for future accident claims. Therefore, your first step after seeking medical care should be to seek legal advice from an attorney who understands the issues related to self-driving car accident cases. 

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Car Crash Lawyers in San Diego

The consequences of a car accident can leave you overwhelmed. Our legal team will do everything we can to lessen the stress you feel regarding your personal injury case. We provide support and guidance as you navigate the claims process.

Don’t go it alone after a self-driving car accident in San Diego, CA. Call our law firm to schedule your free consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys.

Other Common San Diego Car Accident Claims We Handle

Our law firm handles all types of car accident cases involving:

San Diego Car Accident Resources