Can You Sue After a Crash Involving an Autonomous Vehicle in Texas? | Carabin Shaw Attorneys

Driverless cars are becoming more common on Texas roads, which means more accidents involving these vehicles are occurring. Companies such as Waymo have expanded autonomous ride-hailing services in parts of the U.S., and as self-driving technology becomes more widespread, Texans are more and more likely to encounter autonomous vehicles on public roads. A crash in an autonomous car can be frightening for passengers. The aftermath can also be confusing. Where do you turn when you are hurt, unable to work, and facing mounting medical bills? Can you sue after an autonomous vehicle accident in Texas?

Texas allows victims of autonomous vehicle crashes to hold responsible parties liable, and the Texas car accident lawyers at Carabin Shaw can help. We offer free case reviews for people who have been seriously injured and are considering their legal options in English or Spanish. Our expert team is available 24/7, and you pay nothing unless we win your case. Call us toll-free now at 1-800-862-1260 or contact us online.

While self-driving cars are touted as safer than vehicles operated by humans, they are not foolproof. Common causes of accidents include:

• Issues with the vehicle’s software or sensors
• Inadequate mapping data
• Insufficient testing before roadway use
• Defective equipment like cameras or radar systems
• Human intervention errors

The accident could also be caused by another driver who rear-ends the car or cuts into a lane unexpectedly, leading to a collision. An autonomous vehicle accident lawyer in Texas will investigate to determine the accident cause so you can hold responsible parties liable for your injuries.

When a crash involves a self-driving vehicle, determining liability becomes even more complex. In addition to other drivers, the collision may be attributed to issues with how the car was manufactured or how it operates on the road. Liable parties might include:

• The operating company
• The vehicle manufacturer
• Tech manufacturers and vendors
• Human supervisors overseeing the car’s operation
• Vehicle maintenance providers

Your attorney must identify the liable parties and show that their negligence led directly to your accident and injuries. If the issue that caused the accident was a vehicle or equipment defect, you may hold the manufacturer liable under Texas’s products liability law. Since the state recognizes strict liability in many product liability claims, your lawyer may only have to show the product was defective, and not that any negligence occurred.

Some accidents involve multiple causes and at-fault parties. For example, another driver may create a hazardous condition, and the self-driving vehicle could have a manufacturing defect that interferes with the car’s ability to change course quickly. In this case, both the human driver and the manufacturer of the defective part could be liable for your accident.

Under Texas’s proportionate responsibility rule, accident victims can hold all at-fault parties liable based on their portion of fault for the crash. You can even hold a party liable if you contributed to the accident cause, as long as your portion of fault is less than 51%. Your attorney will use the proportionate responsibility rule to hold multiple parties liable if appropriate and maximize your compensation.

While you can file a personal injury claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company on your own, it is unlikely you will see the same level of compensation you might receive if an experienced personal injury lawyer handles your case. Your legal team will handle the heavy lifting of your case, which might include:

• Identifying the correct at-fault parties
• Preserving evidence while it is readily available
• Proving negligence or product liability
• Keeping your case within the statute of limitations

You can rest assured that the experienced professionals at Carabin Shaw will take care of all your legal details, so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. Check out our law firm’s client reviews to see how we’ve helped other accident victims like you receive all the compensation they were entitled to.

A crash in an autonomous vehicle can be a traumatic and painful experience. You need time to heal and move forward without worrying about how you will pay your bills. Carabin Shaw’s skilled attorneys are available to help you. Call us at 1-800-862-1260 or contact us online to schedule your free case review.

For more information:

• Texas Statutes 82
• Cornell Law School
• Texas Statutes 33