The first U.S. Fatality Due To a Car in Self Driving Mode

The first U.S. fatality involving an Autopilot car has initiated much discussion about liability. Car accident attorney Howard Ankin offers his advice.

Joshua Brown was an enthusiastic supporter of the Autopilot technology and had recently shared a YouTube video with others demonstrating how the system may have helped avoid a highway accident. Tesla Motors points out that Brown's death was the first fatality in over 130 million self-driving vehicle miles. There is approximately one fatality for every 94 million miles of traditional human-controlled driving in the United States.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 40-year-old Joshua Brown was traveling east on Highway 27 in his Tesla Model S when it struck the trailer of a semi that was turning left in front of it. The self-driving system was apparently unable to distinguish the difference between the bright Florida sky and the white side of the trailer. After hitting the semi truck, the Tesla Model S went under the truck and continued traveling another 1,500 feet before going through two fences, striking a telephone pole and coming to a stop. In a public statement, Tesla stressed that the Autopilot system is in "public beta testing" and people must use it only as an assist feature. Drivers should still keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times and be prepared to react to highway situations.

Accident victims still deserve compensation

More than 30,000 people die in motor vehicle accidents each year. The vast majority of those accidents are due to human error. Chicago car accident attorney Howard Ankin stresses that many of these accidents and deaths could be prevented by more people adhering to traffic laws and basic common sense driving. Ankin further stated that while self-driving cars are still in the early stages of development, liability remains an open question with many complicated nuances that must be explored fully. The unique challenges associated with self-driving vehicles do not change the fact that victims of accidents deserve compensation.

Company :-Ankin Law Office LLC

User :- Howard Ankin

Email :-howard@ankinlaw.com

Phone :-312-600-0000

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Url :- http://ankinlaw.com/