Self-driving cars are becoming increasingly popular in busy metro areas like Denver, Colorado. Consumers are excited about increasing levels of autonomy, and manufacturers are financially incentivized to be the first to market. However, in the rush to release such new technology, automakers and software designers may skip testing or safety checks, endangering motorists behind the wheels of their vehicles, as well as others that share the roadway with them.

If you were injured in a car crash involving a self-driving vehicle, a Denver car accident lawyer can help you seek justice and accountability for the harm you’ve suffered. Contact Dulin McQuinn Young today for a free consultation.

How a Denver Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

While car accident victims may be able to handle a typical Denver car accident claim on their own, self-driving car accidents are more complicated and involve advanced technology. Without knowing how to identify, extract, and preserve this evidence, it can be lost, destroyed, or overwritten. An experienced Denver self-driving car accident lawyer can help protect your rights by:

Extracting vehicle logs and reviewing the vehicle’s data
Reviewing dashcam footage
Having technology experts analyze how the system was designed to respond in the particular situation, how the failure occurred, and how it could have been prevented
Collecting evidence to help support your legal claim
Handling conversations with insurance companies
Assembling information about your damages
Fighting for fair compensation

At Dulin McQuinn Young, we are trial-proven. Our seasoned litigators aren’t afraid to go up against powerful adversaries, including car manufacturers, autonomous vehicle software designers, and insurance companies. We help level the playing field against these opponents, seeking to hold them fully accountable for the harm they cause our clients in Denver. We focus on determining what went wrong and who should be held accountable under the law.

Our attorneys have over 20 years of experience in personal injury law. We keep informed about the latest updates in technology and have an intimate understanding of the intersection between technology and the law. We have already recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients and work on a contingency-fee basis, so you benefit from our legal services upfront, but you don’t have to pay for them until we recover compensation for you. Contact us today to get started with a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal rights and options.

What Is a Self-Driving Car?

Self-driving cars are also called autonomous vehicles. With greater levels of autonomy, the need for driver involvement decreases. These vehicles have software and hardware that provides data information so the vehicle can operate and respond appropriately.

Self-Driving Car Programs Currently Operating in Colorado

Many companies, including technology companies and automakers, are racing into the field of autonomous driving. The government in Colorado has allowed some of these companies to offer their self-driving vehicles in the state. Some of the self-driving car programs currently allowed in Colorado include the following:

Waymo
Uber
ai
Aptiv
Cruise
Zoox
Ford
Aurora
BMW
Nuro

More and more companies are entering the field every year.

Common Causes of Autonomous Vehicle Accidents

Safety concerns have existed around autonomous driving technology since it began. When a human operator relies on the vehicle and its accompanying technology to singlehandedly operate the vehicle, serious accidents can occur.

Various issues can contribute to self-driving car crashes, such as:

Vehicle programming issues
Technology failures to respond to road conditions or hazards
Software and sensor malfunctions
Hardware failures
Errors by the driver or the failure for the operator to regain control of the vehicle when necessary
Cybersecurity hacks

An experienced attorney from our Denver personal injury law firm can carefully investigate your case to determine how the accident happened and who is responsible for it.

Common Types of Legal Claims Involving Self-Driving Cars

Self-driving cars can be implicated in personal injury cases for various reasons. Some of the most common lawsuits and legal claims involving these vehicles include:

System detection failures: These crashes occur when the autonomous vehicle fails to detect a vehicle, pedestrian, or object nearby.
Tesla Autopilot crashes: These crashes occur when the driver-assist features in the vehicle failed, resulting in injury or property damage.
Pedestrian accidents: Autonomous vehicles are notorious for failing to detect pedestrians, especially at night or people of color.
Brake failures: Some vehicles are equipped with automatic braking, but this feature may fail, leading to serious crashes.
Passenger claims: When system errors result in self-driving car accidents, passengers can be injured in an accident and have a viable claim against the party responsible for such errors.
Fatal crashes: Tragically, self-driving cars have been involved in numerous traffic fatalities. Loved ones can seek justice and compensation through a wrongful death claim.

If you’re uncertain of whether you have a viable legal claim, contact Dulin McQuinn Young for a free consultation.

Who Is Responsible for Autonomous Vehicle Accidents

Various parties could potentially be responsible for an autonomous vehicle accident. An experienced attorney can conduct a thorough investigation to determine which party violated their legal duty and which legal claims can help hold them accountable. Possible defendants that could be named in these accidents could include:

Car manufacturers: Various vehicle manufacturers, such as Tesla, Google, Uber, General Motors, and Ford have been experimenting with this technology and could be responsible for
Software designers: The designers of the software could be held liable in cases where the technology failed under a product liability legal theory.
Technology or AI system providers: Separate companies may be responsible for designing or installing the technology in the vehicles that could have failed, making them potentially liable in such legal actions.
Human drivers: The human operator may have had a duty to regain control of the vehicle in semi-autonomous vehicles and could be responsible for failing to do so.
Other drivers: Just because an autonomous vehicle was involved in an accident does not necessarily mean a problem with the vehicle caused it. Another driver could have been distracted, speeding, or engaging in other dangerous behaviors that caused the accident.
The government: For self-driving cars to operate safely, the proper infrastructure must be in place. The government could have failed to place this infrastructure before allowing more autonomous vehicles on the roadway.

Contact Our Denver Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation to Discuss Your Specific Situation

If you were injured in a traffic accident involving a self-driving car, you may be eligible for compensation for your lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. The legal team at Dulin McQuinn Young wants to help fight for it. Contact us today at (303) 246-1111 to arrange a free case review.