Every year, more and more cars are built with automated systems intended to make driving safer. There are theories that fully automated, self-driving cars will take the risk of human error out of driving. In some cases, this may be true – but the software and automated systems in your car are still made by humans. Glitches and errors in code can produce traumatic effects if an error in the software causes your car to lock up or shut down on the road.
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident caused by a defective automated system or vehicle software problem, call Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA today. Miami automated system and car software defect lawyer Prosper Shaked may be able to take your case and fight to get you compensation from the auto manufacturer. To schedule your free consultation, call our office today at (305) 694-2676.
Auto Accidents Involving Software or Automatic System Defects
Modern cars use automated systems for parallel parking, automatic braking, lane departure avoidance, and 360-degree collision avoidance. These systems are based on hardware and auto parts manufactured to work with software and firmware produced by coders and software engineers. Large auto manufacturers test these systems vigorously before putting them on the road. However, auto manufacturers often have to issue recalls for auto defects involving mundane, non-electronic auto parts, let alone advanced, intricate defects involving automated systems and software.
Widely-reported news stories discuss auto accidents involving self-driving cars hitting pedestrians and causing other crashes. In one case, a self-driving car recognized a pedestrian entering the street but struck her anyway. Another accident saw a self-driving car crash head-on into an oncoming semi-truck. Some of these accidents are attributable to unforeseen problems in software, while others were caused by accidental triggering or deactivation of automatic systems.
Other automatic systems in your car are designed to help you brake or avoid accidents. Some systems can activate the brakes if you do not step on the brake pedal in time. Other systems beep to warn you if you are leaving your lane, while still other systems automatically adjust the steering to force you back into the lane. These systems may not be able to predict or scan for dangers that you can see or predict as a driver, and their decisions may conflict with your choices, causing an accident. Still other risks could involve systems triggering the brakes or adjusting the steering in unnecessary circumstances, potentially causing crashes.
Suing for Auto Defects Involving Software Glitches and Automated Cars
If you were injured in an accident, there may be multiple potential parties you can sue for your injuries. The manufacturer of a defective auto part or vehicle system is potentially responsible for the errors or defects in their system if they caused the accident. Drivers and purchasers of defective auto parts are foreseeable victims and may be able to sue the auto manufacturer directly for problems with these systems. If you were injured in another vehicle or were a pedestrian struck by a defective vehicle, you may be able to sue the driver or the manufacturer, depending on the circumstances of the accident.
Auto manufacturers are responsible for putting safe products into the stream of commerce. When car companies release vehicles with dangerous or defective parts, they often issue recalls to warn drivers of the problems and replace the parts. However, these manufacturers may not know that there are defective parts on the market until multiple serious accidents occur. If you were injured in your own car because of a software problem or another problem with an automated car, and there was no recall issued, you may be entitled to sue the manufacturer of the vehicle for compensation.
If you were not driving the defective car, you may be able to sue the driver of the defective car. If the driver knew that the car was having problems, it is their duty to take their car to the shop or repair the issue; they should not continue to drive a vehicle they know to be dangerous. In some cases, their errors may have also contributed to the accident, opening them up to fault.
In other situations, they are just as much of a victim as you are. You may be able to sue them for damages, and they can have any damages reimbursed in a lawsuit against the auto manufacturer. Otherwise, the law may allow you to include the auto manufacturer as a defendant in a lawsuit against the driver, allowing you to collect financial compensation from the at-fault driver and the auto manufacturer with each party paying their fair share of the damages you suffered.
Call Miami Injury Lawyer Prosper Shaked for Help with Your Automated Vehicle or Vehicle Software Injury Case
If you or a loved one was injured in a car crash caused by defective automatic systems or defective car software, contact Prosper Shaked today. Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA may be able to take your case to court and sue the auto manufacturer and any at-fault drivers to get you the financial compensation you need for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA today at (305) 694-2676.