Driverless trucks are no longer the stuff of sci-fi movies. Automakers such as Tesla, Toyota and Volkswagen are developing and testing big rigs that may in the near future, have self-driving technology. Several tests have already been conducted. Two years ago, a platoon of driverless trucks were test-driven in Europe. Months later, a beer truck in Colorado drove more than 100 miles without any control by its human operator. This is technology that will be commercially available in the near future. Manufacturers of these vehicles believe they may be able to prevent catastrophic truck accidents, which are often caused by driver error or negligence. But the question that lingers in many minds is: How safe are these driverless trucks?
No Federal Laws Yet
Laws governing the operation of driverless vehicles – be it cars or trucks – are still at a very nascent stage. While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) oversees the operation of commercial vehicles, it has yet to come up with laws that govern driverless vehicles. A majority of current federal laws governing the operation of large commercial trucks understandably pertain to human drivers.
Examples of some of the existing laws include federal Hours of Service (HOS) laws, which dictate the amount of time truck drivers can be on the road without a break and DUI laws, which state that commercial drivers should not operate vehicles with a blood alcohol level of 0.04 percent. That legal limit is 0.08 percent for drivers of other passenger vehicles. Similarly, there are also federal cell phone use and texting bans for truck drivers to prevent distracted driving. However, with a robot, these laws become irrelevant. The federal government will soon need to create a framework of laws to ensure public safety as driverless big rigs begin to operate on our highways.
Questions Regarding Liability Issues
Currently, in our nation’s roadways with human drivers operating trucks, liability is more or less clear-cut. For example, if a truck accident occurs due to the negligence or an error made by the truck driver, the driver and his or her employer can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. Similarly, if improper truck maintenance caused the accident, the trucking company can be held liable.
But, who is to be held accountable when there is no driver behind the wheel? What happens if a system or sensor malfunction causes a catastrophic crash? There are studies that show that currently existing technologies don’t sense pedestrians or bicyclists well. A recent crash involving an Uber test vehicle that crashed and fatally injured a pedestrian, raised significant concern about the way driverless technology works and how safe it is for all on the road.
There is no question that a driverless big rig with malfunctioning sensors may cause devastating crashes and injuries. While these new technologies are being promoted as safer and better than human drivers who may become fatigued, impaired or distracted, it is still important that they are properly tested before they are used on public roadways.
Compensation for Victims
If you have been injured in a truck accident, you may be able to seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families of deceased victims can also seek compensation by filing what is known as a wrongful death lawsuit.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 46 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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