In an effort to solve the truck driver shortage, embrace trucking technology of the future and ultimately improve traffic safety, the trucking industry has ventured into autonomous or self-driving commercial trucks. Unfortunately, self-driving technology has not proven infallible over the last few years of road tests. There have been several reports of serious accidents, injuries and deaths related to autonomous vehicle technology.
If you get into an accident involving a self-driving truck, one or more parties may be responsible for paying for your medical bills and property repairs. The Dallas truck accident attorneys at The Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert, P.C. can help you pursue fair financial compensation and hold someone accountable for your collision. Contact us today for a free case consultation.
Financial Compensation Available for an Autonomous Truck Accident in Texas
A successful personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim for an autonomous truck accident could give you and your family
the financial compensation that you need to pay off your related debts and move forward with greater mental peace. You may be able to recover compensation for the following losses:
- Health care expenses
- Ongoing medical needs
- Property damage repairs or vehicle replacement
- Disability accommodations
- Losses of income (past and future)
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages
The value of your truck accident case will depend on factors such as your specific injury diagnosis and prognosis, your income before the accident, and the severity of the crash. Collisions involving commercial trucks are often serious to catastrophic, resulting in high-value personal injury cases.
What Are the Dangers of Autonomous or Self-Driving Commercial Trucks?
Self-driving technology is promoted by companies as a safer alternative to human drivers. In theory, autonomous technology does not leave room for human error. While this is meant to decrease the risk of commercial truck accidents, it can in fact lead to accidents under the wrong circumstances. If the technology malfunctions, it can cause or contribute to a truck accident. Some of the risks that are associated with autonomous trucks include:
- Software glitches and issues
- Cyberattacks and vehicle hacking
- Part and equipment breakdowns
- Sensors failing to pick up vehicles or pedestrians
- Poor performance in bad weather or real-life driving conditions
- Human supervisor distraction or inattention
- Too much reliance on autonomous technology
- Lack of self-driving vehicle/industry regulations
Self-driving technology is still being perfected by companies around the world. In the meantime, test trucks and semi-autonomous trucks are already sharing the road with other drivers, putting them at risk. If the technology fails or the human supervisor makes a mistake, the self-driving truck could cause a deadly traffic accident. In this scenario, one or more parties
may be legally responsible (liable) for victims’ injuries.
Who Is Liable for an Autonomous Truck Accident in Texas?
If it is discovered that an issue with the self-driving software or driver caused or contributed to your wreck, the manufacturer of the technology may be liable. If there was a human supervisor that made a mistake, the individual driver or trucking company that hired the driver may be liable.
In other cases, a third-party driver or the government could be responsible for the crash. Liability for an autonomous truck accident can be difficult to determine, especially as this area of law is relatively new and constantly evolving. Your accident may require an in-depth investigation into the reason behind the collision by an experienced
truck accident attorney.
Contact The Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert, P.C. for a Free Case Review
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a self-driving truck in Dallas, Texas, don’t hesitate to contact our attorneys for legal advice and assistance. These are highly complicated claims. You deserve representation from an attorney with years of experience and a long track record of success.
Contact The Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert, P.C. to request a free consultation today.
