Driver-Assist Systems and New York Car Accidents
Are motor vehicles with autopilot and other driver-assist systems actually safe for the road? When one of these vehicles causes a serious or deadly car accident, it can be difficult to know where to turn in order to seek financial compensation. While New York requires drivers to carry personal injury protection (PIP) coverage as a no-fault state, many car accident victims must turn to lawsuits when they suffer serious injuries that are not covered by their own no-fault insurance. Ultimately, it may be possible to file a claim against the maker of the vehicle or the driver-assist system. Our New York car accident lawyers want to tell you more about a recent study concerning driver-assist systems and serious collisions, and to discuss your options for filing a claim after a crash involving this type of technology.
Hundreds of Collisions Involve Driver-Assist Systems
According to a recent article in The New York Times, a high rate of car accidents in the U.S. involve vehicles with driver-assist systems, which are also known as driver-assistance technologies. Indeed, as the article explains, a recent study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that “nearly 400 crashes in the United States in 10 months involved cars using advanced driver-assistance technologies.” Given that more and more vehicles are implementing these technologies, it is critical to consider whether they are actually making driving safer.
Of those hundreds of crashes, six people were killed in the collisions and five additional people suffered serious injuries. Not all of the vehicles were alike. Some of the cars were Teslas that were operating on Autopilot at the time of the accident, or Teslas using “Full Self Driving” mode. The Teslas using the “Full Self Driving” mode accounted for 273 of the nearly 400 reported collisions, and five of the six deadly injuries occurred in those vehicles with that particular type of technology.
NHTSA administrator Steven Cliff responded to questions about the study and emphasized a need to “identify potential defect trends that emerge” in driver-assist systems and other automated technologies. He underscored that, while “these technologies hold great promise to improve safety,” there is a “need to understand how these vehicles are performing in real-world situations.”
Filing a Car Accident Claim Involving Defective Driver-Assistance Technologies
To file a car accident lawsuit in New York, an injured person must meet a serious injury threshold outlined by New York law. In many cases involving serious injuries, an injured motorist needs to file a claim against a negligent driver who caused the crash. However, in cases where defective driver-assist technologies caused the accident, it will likely be necessary to file a product defect claim.
Rather than needing to prove the elements of a negligence claim, you may be able to file a claim based on a theory of strict liability. A New York car accident lawyer will be able to discuss your case with you and to tell you more.
Contact Our New York Auto Accident Lawyers
If you have questions about filing a car accident claim after a collision caused by a defect, you should seek advice from one of our New York auto accident attorneys today. Contact Leitner Varughese, PLLC for more information.
