For those of us over a certain age, there was a time when the concept of an autonomous or self-driving vehicle seemed like a fictional futuristic concept, but not anymore. Queue the robotaxi offered by manufacturers such as Tesla, Waymo, Zoox, Motional, and more.
Las Vegas is one of a handful of cities around the United States served by a limited number of robotaxi brands, and more are on their way.
(diana.grytsku/Freepik)
How Does a Robotaxi Work?
These autonomous cars use sophisticated technology like lidar sensors, cameras, radars, and onboard computers. These technologies work together to thoroughly assess your surroundings, then chart a course to your desired location and (hopefully) get you there safely.
There are five different levels of autonomous driving. Many cars come with basic autonomous features (levels 0, 1, and 2). These features assist with accelerating, braking, and steering, but they still require a driver. Most robotaxis are levels 4 and 5, meaning they have high or full automation and don’t need a person behind the wheel. (In fact, they don’t even have steering wheels or pedals.)
Why Robotaxis?
Should we really trust ourselves to autonomous vehicles navigating the thousand nuances of humans’ driving patterns? While skepticism is certainly warranted, let’s remember that it is due to the fact that roughly 94% of traffic accidents are caused by human error that many companies saw the need for self-driving vehicles in the first place.
Robotaxis are predictable. They don’t get tired. They don’t get drunk. They don’t text or put on makeup while they drive. And if you’re worried about a taxi or rideshare driver having bad intentions, you won’t find that with a robotaxi.
These autonomous vehicles bring the promise of saved time. Rather than driving yourself, you could put the hours to better use by reading, knocking out work projects, or closing business deals. They also save time by optimizing traffic flows to find the most efficient route. Robotaxis may be able to get you there quicker.
Also, many of these vehicles are being engineered with an eye to extreme energy efficiency so they can be easier on the planet. Robotaxis can be shared, which cuts down on emissions even more.
This is an exciting technology, but unfortunately, it’s not foolproof.
What if I Was Injured in a Robotaxi Crash?
If you were involved in a robotaxi accident, you probably don’t have the same rosy view of these vehicles that we described above. Robotaxis may potentially be safer than other cars, but nothing on the road can be 100% safe.
If you were hurt in a robotaxi accident, you may be dealing with damages and injuries. You may see your medical bills piling up alongside missed days at work.
If the robotaxi was to blame for your accident, you may be able to seek compensation. You will start your legal case by establishing liability. Anyone (or any entity) that is driving on the road has a duty of care for other drivers and pedestrians. If you can show that the robotaxi breached this duty of care—and then demonstrate that this breach caused your injuries—you may be eligible for compensation.
The big question is, who exactly is liable? In the case of a regular car accident, this question may be fairly straightforward; it’s usually the other driver. But what happens when there’s no driver, as in the case of autonomous vehicles?
Owner
The company that owns the robotaxi is often the liable party. For example, if your car was hit by a robotaxi owned by Zoox (an Amazon subsidiary), then Zoox would likely be liable. In some cases, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft own the robotaxi and may be at least partially liable for the crash.
Manufacturer
If there is a defect tied to the development of the vehicle, your lawsuit could be based on “product liability.” You could sue the manufacturer for things like design flaws, manufacturing errors, poor instructions, or inadequate warnings.
Software Developers
Robotaxi vehicles will often implement software systems from third-party developers. If these systems have glitches that contributed to the crash, the software company could be liable. They could also be liable if there was a cybersecurity breach that contributed to the crash.
Operators
While some robotaxis operate free of humans, others still require a person to be in the car for supervision. If the operator failed to perform some aspect of their duty, they could be liable.
Pedestrians
If a pedestrian stepped out into traffic, causing the robotaxi you were riding in to veer out of the way and into another car, the pedestrian could be liable. There have even been cases where pedestrians have purposely caused problems by messing with the robotaxi’s sensors.
Other Drivers
Another driver’s negligence may have contributed to your robotaxi crash, in which case they could bear some or all liability.
Road Maintenance Officials
Poorly maintained roads or malfunctioning lights can sometimes contribute to crashes. If these factors played into your accident, you may need to seek compensation from an entity like the city or the maintenance contractor they count on.
Do I Need an Attorney?
Any time there is new technology, new laws rise up around it. Robotaxis are a new frontier, and an experienced car accident attorney will understand the latest legislation surrounding robotaxis and how it applies to your wreck.
They can help you gather the most compelling evidence to establish liability. They can stand up to the tactics of Big Insurance. These tactics could include trying to pin the blame for the accident on you or making it seem like your injuries are due to pre-existing conditions, not the robotaxi crash.
An attorney can also help you understand what constitutes a fair settlement. Insurance companies are famous for lowball offers. An influx of cash may sound great in the moment, especially if you’re struggling to pay your medical bills from the crash, but you’ll want to hold out for an offer that adequately covers your past and future damages.
Contact us for a free evaluation today. Our car wreck lawyers serve Las Vegas, Summerlin, and Henderson. We’ve been serving Nevadans for over 50 years and have the experience to help you win your case. And we work on contingency fees, so we don’t get paid until you reach a successful settlement.
Infographic
If you were hurt in a robotaxi accident, you may be facing medical bills and lost wages. The important question is: who is responsible? In regular car accidents, it’s usually the other driver. But with autonomous vehicles, there is no driver to blame. Find out more in this infographic.
