There have been several high-profile car accidents involving self-driving technology over the last few years. However, a new study of autonomous car crashes in California indicates that human error is to blame in most cases.
Axios researchers looked at vehicle incident reports from autonomous car crashes between 2014 and 2018. During that period of time, there were 38 crashes involving moving self-driving vehicles in autonomous mode. Of those crashes, only one was linked to a technological error. There were also 24 incidents involving self-driving vehicles that were not in motion. None of those were linked to technological errors. Meanwhile, there were 19 incidents involving cars in conventional mode, which allows for human interaction. Six of those incidents were linked to technological errors. Finally, there were three incidents where humans either attacked or jumped on top of autonomous vehicles. Obviously, those incidents were not linked to technological issues.
Other studies have shown that Americans have some apprehension over the idea of self-driving technology. For example, many people don’t like the idea of not having complete control over the vehicle they are riding in. However, the Axios study shows that humans are often more dangerous than autonomous vehicles.
Car accidents involving self-driving vehicles can cause severe injuries and even death. Someone who has been injured by an autonomous vehicle may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit against the vehicle’s driver and/or its manufacturer. A lawyer familiar could help a victim prepare a claim and file it in court. This could lead to a settlement that covers medical expenses, lost wages and more. If someone is killed in a crash, a lawyer could help the victim’s family file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible parties.