Virginia driverless car accident attorneys

We’ll advocate for you after a Virginia driverless car accident

You may think that driverless cars are science fiction, but they’re already being tested in Virginia. Self-driving cars currently require a human driver to remain at the controls, but automakers and transportation companies are looking forward to a future when no driver is required.

Some manufacturers have cut corners in their rush to get this new technology to the marketplace. Accidents involving partially and fully automated vehicles have resulted in many injuries and even some deaths nationally.

Although the federal government has encouraged the development of driverless cars, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not developed adequate rules yet on how these vehicles will be regulated. Virginia does not have any laws exclusively written for driverless cars either.

In the absence of clear guidelines, it can be difficult to determine who is liable in accidents caused by driverless cars. If you were harmed in an accident involving a driverless car in Virginia, the vehicle’s owner and the companies that designed and manufactured the car may bear responsibility for your injuries.

At GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys, we’ve won millions of dollars in settlements for clients who’ve been injured in auto accidents caused by another’s negligence. We are trial attorneys with extensive experience litigating these issues, and we know how to take on the insurance companies and win.

Call (804) 413-6777 to schedule a FREE consultation today if you’ve been injured in an accident involving a car with driverless technology. At GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys, we only get paid when you get paid.

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What is a driverless car?

Cars have become much more automated in recent years. This includes the rise of cruise control and safety features that warn drivers about pedestrians or obstructions in the road, or automatically stop the vehicle to prevent an accident.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has designated five levels of driving automation:

• Level 1: The vehicle has a single automated system, such as cruise control.
• Level 2: The Advanced Driver Assisted System (ADAS) can control steering and braking, but the driver is monitoring all driving tasks.
• Level 3: The Automated Driving System (ADS) can control many aspects of driving at lower speeds, but the driver must still be engaged at all times.
• Level 4: The ADS is operational under certain conditions. The system can handle steering, braking, accelerating, lane changes, and it will respond to changes in traffic flow.
• Level 5: The fully automated ADS controls all driving tasks in every situation without the need for driver assistance.

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The hazards of automated vehicles

Although automakers tell us driverless cars will make our roads safer, these vehicles have already caused crashes resulting in numerous injuries and fatalities. In many cases, these accidents resulted when drivers weren’t paying attention while the cruise control was activated. But people have also been killed in accidents caused by Level 5, fully autonomous vehicles.

According to a report by NPR, nearly 400 crashes involving cars with partially automated driver-assist systems occurred in just an 11-month period. Tesla’s Autopilot “Full Self-Driving” Traffic Awareness Cruise Control accounted for 273 of these collisions.

Fully autonomous Level 5 cars are on the road, but they are currently required to have a human driver behind the wheel as well. Regardless, fatal accidents have been caused by Level 5 cars being tested by Uber and Waymo, a subsidiary of Google.

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Who’s at fault in Virginia accidents caused by driverless cars?

No matter how safe driverless cars become, certain accidents will remain unavoidable. Further, many legal issues still have to be ironed out by individual states and the federal government.

With automated cars, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) that runs the system must make split second decisions that may result in death or injury to pedestrians, cyclists, and automobile passengers. But can you sue a robot?

In accidents involving partially or fully automated vehicles, it will be up to the courts to decide who is held liable. That’s why it’s essential to have an experienced driverless car accident lawyer on your side.

Our partners at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys have the courtroom experience needed to handle complex litigation. Ken Gibson served as a Federal and State Prosecutor, and John Singleton was a trial lawyer for insurance companies.

Together, we’ll investigate your accident to determine whose careless behavior caused your injuries. Then we’ll work wisely to file a claim against their insurance company to help you get the money you need to pay your medical bills and other expenses.

In an accident involving a driverless vehicle, negligent parties may include:

• The owner of the vehicle that caused the accident
• The person behind the wheel who should have been paying attention
• The manufacturer of the driverless vehicle
• Companies that built or designed components such as software or sensors

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Injuries caused by driverless cars

Automobile accidents can cause devastating injuries that drastically alter lives. Extensive medical treatments, such as surgery and rehabilitation, may be needed. Some injuries even require assisted care and wheelchair access in homes for survivors.

We’ve seen the following types of injuries in car accident cases:

• Spinal cord damage
• Severe burns
• Bone fractures
• Internal organ damage
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Loss of limb
• Disfigurement
• Wrongful death

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We’re on your side with the expertise and experience you need

You shouldn’t have to pay your own medical and other care expenses for a wreck caused by careless driving. No matter who caused the wreck, our team at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys will come up with a winning strategy to help you get the money you need to put your life back on track.

We consider it a calling to help people who’ve been injured by others. And we know where you’re coming from because we’ve been there ourselves.

Call (804) 413-6777 to learn more today. We’ll meet with you in a free consultation to discuss all of your best options.

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