Self-Driving Car Accidents

Contact Our Pasadena Car Accident Lawyers Today!

In May 2016, the first American fatality involving a self-driving car occurred in Williston, Florida. In that incident, the driver of a Tesla Model S electric sedan was killed when the car failed to detect a tractor-trailer ahead of it making a right turn. The crash made national headlines and cast doubt on the entire auto industry's push to make autonomous vehicles a reality.

Self-driving cars may be a significant innovation, but a number of incidents all over the country have proven that they are not 100% safe. If you or a loved one has been hurt by a self-driving car, you may have the legal grounds to seek relief. At McGee Lerer Ogrin, our dedicated Pasadena car accident lawyers have recovered millions of dollars for injury victims and are prepared to assess and pursue this new type of injury claim in California.

Who Is Responsible?

Unlike other car accident claims, car accidents involving self-driving cars cannot assign blame to the driver. Instead, liability is likely to lie with the automakers themselves, just like a product liability claim.

Who is making self-driving and semi-autonomous cars?

• Tesla (Model S)
• Mercedes-Benz (S65 AMG)
• Infiniti (Q50)
• BMW (750i)
• Google (Self-Driving Car Project)

This is just a partial list. The truth is that nearly every major automaker is either producing or developing vehicles with autonomous functionality. However, federal regulators have yet to establish concrete guidelines for these products. Until they do, consumers—and the motorists, passengers, and pedestrians they share the road with—are at risk.