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January 24, 2025

| Car Accidents

The Dangers of Self-Driving Cars

Driving provokes anxiety in nearly two-thirds of Americans. For those individuals, a self-driving car, also known as an automated vehicle, may seem like the answer to their prayers, allowing them to travel stress free.

While automated vehicles contain safety features that have improved with the advancement of technology, there are risks that come with relying on computer software for your transportation needs. If you are considering purchasing a self-driving car, it is important to know some of the known hazards associated with these types of vehicles.

Your legal rights may be confusing, but HGSK Injury Lawyers is dedicated to proving liability and securing the compensation that is rightfully yours. In this blog, our PA car accident attorneys discuss the top dangers of self-driving cars and the types of recovery that may be available to you.

Automated System Malfunction

While no vehicle is completely fully automated, self-driving vehicles can provide drivers with warnings about potential hazards and other assistance features to help avoid a crash. Even with this technology in place, there is still the risk of being in a crash if there is a glitch in the software.

A malfunction may result in the computer system being unable to recognize road signs or sense that you are drifting into another lane (a glitch in the lane departure warning system). This can result in a crash, especially if you are relying on these features when driving.

Network Connectivity Issues

Having a stable internet connection can mean the difference between a dependable or hazardous ride. If you do not have a reliable connection, then you will not receive the most up-to-date information on road conditions, which can result in you making uninformed decisions when planning your trip. As always, it is important to have regular maintenance on your automated system to ensure that you are seeing traffic conditions in real-time.

Hacking

Since self-driving vehicles rely on computer systems to operate, hacking has been a growing concern. Advanced vehicle safety technologies depend on electronics and sensors to provide a safe ride, but even with firewalls put in place hackers may be able to bypass them to access the system. A hacker may gain control of your vehicle and cause an accident, defeating the purpose of the advanced technology.

Damages

If you are injured while driving a self-driving vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses, known as damages. Damages are designed to make a car accident victim “whole” again by reimbursing the individual for their losses.

In examining your situation, a car accident lawyer will review the damages and help calculate your requested relief. Noneconomic damages can be complicated to calculate. For most folks, our legal team uses the multiplier method. This method assigns a level of severity to your injuries (on a scale of 1.5 to 5) and multiplies it by your economic damages to determine your total noneconomic damages.

Compensatory damages allow injury victims to recoup actual losses. They may be either economic or noneconomic damages. Economic damages are any losses that impact a person’s pocketbook, which may include:

In contrast, noneconomic damages are nonpecuniary losses that impact a person’s quality of life but are intangible. These may include:

Injured in a Self-Driving Car? Contact Our PA Car Accident Attorneys Today

Although self-driving vehicles afford individuals peace of mind, advanced technology can create unforeseen issues. If you have been injured while driving an automated vehicle, the PA car accident attorneys at HGSK Injury Lawyers are ready to advocate on your behalf. To schedule your free consultation, contact us online or give us a call today.