Could Self-Driving Cars Pose a Bigger Threat in the Future?

There is no denying the fact that technology is changing the auto industry with each passing day. While this is a good thing on many levels, it’s important to realize that it can also cause harm from time to time.

For many years, people have been dreaming of self-driving vehicles. In fact, some people believe that this is the wave of the future.

While this technology is far from taking over the road, it goes without saying that a growing number of companies are devoting time, money, and other resources to developing self-driving vehicles.

Unfortunately, things don’t always work out like they should. As of late, accidents involving self-driving vehicles have been reported in many parts of the country.

For example, an Uber self-driving SUV was recently involved in a crash in Phoenix, Arizona. While nobody was seriously injured, there’s no way of knowing what could happen in the event of a future accident.

A recent article published by WKOW outlined the circumstances surrounding this accident, noting the following:

“Friday night’s crash was blamed on the driver of an oncoming SUV that turned left in front of the Uber vehicle carrying two test drivers and no passengers. There were no serious injuries and the driver of the other car was cited for a moving violation. But images of Uber’s Volvo SUV rolled onto its side reverberated heavily on social media.”

Even though this accident was not blamed on the self-driving car, nothing changes the fact that the end result could have been much worse.

Uber is just one of many companies involved in this space. In fact, the company has testing locations in Phoenix, as well as Pittsburgh and San Francisco.

At this time, the company continues to press forward despite the fact that there are many unanswered questions in regards to accidents, insurance requirements, and how to report situations in which the person in the vehicle needed to take full control.

In the months and years to come, we can expect a variety of changes in regards to the rules and regulations associated with self-driving vehicles.

Your Role

It’s up to you as to whether you ever step foot inside this type of vehicle. While it sounds exciting and innovative, the technology may not be advanced enough to give you a high level of confidence.

If you find yourself involved in an accident with a self-driving vehicle, remember a few things:

• You should treat this just the same as any other type of accident, focusing first on your health and well being.
• There will be a person inside the vehicle, even if they weren’t controlling it at the time of the crash.
• Due to the special circumstances, you may face challenges as you make an insurance claim and attempt to receive compensation for your injuries and other damages.

Since this is a specialized situation, you don’t want to hesitate to consult with a personal injury attorney.

At our law firm, we’re more than happy to answer all your questions related to any type of motor vehicle accident. If you require representation, don’t wait to contact our office.

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Stephanie Thompson, Estate Planning Attorney of Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC

As the owner of Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC, it is Stephanie’s mission to address each client’s goals for their estate plan. By identifying their wishes and concerns she can educate, guide, and counsel on the different tools and options that will effectively and efficiently accomplish those goals.

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