PENNSYLVANIA Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer
Content Legally Reviewed & Approved
This page has been written and edited by a team of experienced legal writers. This page was approved by Managing Partner, Michael Saile who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
Self-driving car accident claims are complicated. It’s not always clear whether the driver or the vehicle’s technology was to blame for an accident. Understanding the laws about autonomous vehicles and driverless cars will help you know what to do if you or someone you love is hurt in a crash.
At Cordisco & Saile, LLC, our Pennsylvania self-driving car accident lawyers are well-versed in the laws governing these crashes and will identify all potentially liable parties and help you take action. If you were involved in a self-driving car crash, call us at 215-642-2335 or contact us online for a free consultation.
Table of Contents
- Self-Driving Vehicle Accidents Are Changing the Personal Injury Landscape in Pennsylvania
- Why Choose Cordisco & Saile After a Pennsylvania Self-Driving Car Accident
- When a Vehicle’s Driverless Technology Contributes to a Crash
- Who May Be Liable for a Pennsylvania Self-Driving Accident?
- The Critical Evidence That Can Make or Break a Driverless Vehicle Accident Claim
- Defective Technology, Software Errors, and Product Liability Claims
- Pennsylvania Laws That May Affect Your Self-Driving Car Accident Case
- What Compensation May Be Available After a Self-Driving Car Accident
- Insurance Challenges in Autonomous Vehicle Accident Cases
- Talk to a Pennsylvania Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer Today
Self-Driving Vehicle Accidents Are Changing the Personal Injury Landscape in Pennsylvania
While fully autonomous vehicles are currently only available on the commercial market, supervised self-driving cars are common on Pennsylvania roads. Unfortunately, driverless cars present unique accident risks because they can experience technology malfunctions that jeopardize safety.
Legal cases involving self-driving cars present unique factual issues. Unlike most car accidents, there might be other parties who can be held responsible beyond the driver. If a defect in the technology caused a crash, the car manufacturer could be liable.
Uncovering the responsible parties helps victims pursue fair compensation for their damages.
Why Choose Cordisco & Saile After a Pennsylvania Self-Driving Car Accident
When you need a driverless car accident lawyer, our legal team at Cordisco & Saile, LLC never stops fighting. You can trust our team because:
- We’ve won over $100 million for our clients
- We have over 400 five-star reviews
- We’ve been dedicated to personal injury law for over 30 years
- Our motto is “People Come First”
You only get one shot to bring your claim, and we can help you get it right the first time. Our team has the resources and knowledge to conduct comprehensive investigations involving large corporate defendants. We also understand the technology of autonomous vehicles and have a network of experts who analyze their issues.
Our case results and client testimonials show that we take our responsibility to fight for you seriously. By providing comprehensive legal support, we minimize the stress of the claims process as much as possible.
When a Vehicle's Driverless Technology Contributes to a Crash
Liability in a Pennsylvania self-driving car accident depends largely on the technology involved. There are different levels of self-driving technology:
- Fully autonomous vehicles: These cars are designed to operate without human input, with no steering, braking, or monitoring required.
- Vehicles with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS): These vehicles assist the driver but still require an attentive human who can take control at any moment.
If a car is fully autonomous, there is no driver to blame. Investigators will examine whether a sensor, camera, software system, or other vehicle technology malfunctioned or responded in an unexpected way. If so, the car maker could be held liable.
However, if there was a human driver who should have been prepared to act to prevent an accident, an investigation can analyze whether the technology, the driver, or both failed. Our robotic car accident attorneys can handle this investigation and build the strongest case possible.
Who Is Liable for a Pennsylvania Self-Driving Car Accident?
If you are injured in a self-driving car accident in Pennsylvania, a robo-car accident lawyer will help you identify who could be liable for damages. Sometimes, liability is shared. Some of the individuals or companies who could potentially be liable include:
- The vehicle’s driver or owner: If they failed to monitor the vehicle or acted negligently
- The manufacturer: If a defect in the vehicle or autonomous technology contributed to the crash
- Software developers: If programming or system errors caused the vehicle to behave unexpectedly in a way that caused the crash
- Parts manufacturers: If a defective sensor, camera, or other component failed
- Maintenance providers: If faulty repairs or poor servicing contributed to the accident
- Other drivers: If their negligence contributed to the collision
Determining liability often requires reviewing vehicle data, software records, maintenance history, and other evidence. Multiple people or companies may share responsibility for the same crash, and they could all be held liable for your losses.
The Critical Evidence That Can Make or Break a Driverless Vehicle Accident Claim
While most car accident claims focus on photos, witness statements, and police reports, some of the strongest evidence in self-driving car accidents concerns the technology. Specifically, critical evidence includes vehicle data logs, sensor and camera recordings, software records, GPS data, and other details about how the vehicle’s automated driving system operates.
Unfortunately, accessing and interpreting this data can be more challenging because manufacturers may be unwilling to turn over control of vehicle laws, or the information may be recorded using proprietary technology. In addition, understanding how, or if, the technology fell short can require specialized technical knowledge.
Because of these challenges, combined with the fact that electronic data is often overwritten or deleted over time, a timely investigation is critical before relevant data disappears. Experts can analyze data to reconstruct the crash, understand the sequence of events, pinpoint the precise cause, and provide technical documentation that could be critical to your claim.
Defective Technology, Software Errors, and Product Liability Claims
Beyond holding negligent drivers accountable, there could also be claims against the car manufacturer or the manufacturer of a vehicle’s parts.
A defective sensor, a faulty camera, glitchy software programs, or a malfunctioning braking system can all be grounds for a product liability claim. In these situations, crash victims may have both a personal injury claim against a negligent driver and a product liability claim against the manufacturer or another company involved in designing or producing the technology.
Product liability claims don’t always require proof of negligence. Under the legal principle of strict liability, if a defective product causes harm when it is used as intended, a company can be held strictly liable. An attorney experienced in autonomous vehicle cases
can also pursue a product liability claim in appropriate situations.
Pennsylvania Laws That May Affect Your Self-Driving Car Accident Case
Several Pennsylvania laws directly shape how fault is determined and what compensation you may recover after this type of crash.
Specifically, Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7102. As long as you are 50% or less at fault, you can still recover damages in a personal injury claim. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re more than 50% responsible, you typically can’t pursue a compensation claim.
Personal injury lawsuits resulting from self-driving car crashes are also generally subject to a two-year statute of limitations under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524. If you miss the deadline, you won’t be able to pursue a claim. Filing deadlines and exceptions vary by case, so the sooner you speak with an attorney, the better positioned you will be to understand your options and act before time runs out.
What Compensation Is Available After a Self-Driving Car Accident?
The specifics of your self-driving car accident injuries determine how much compensation you may be entitled to recover.
You may be able to recover damages for:
- Medical expenses and future medical care
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
The more severe and long-lasting your injuries, the greater the possible value of your claim, especially if you need ongoing medical treatment or experience permanent disabilities.
Get legal help from a team that will never stop fighting for you.
Insurance Challenges in Autonomous Vehicle Accident Cases
In a Pennsylvania self-driving car accident case, insurance disputes can get complicated. With the potential for multiple parties, such as the car maker, software developers, and drivers, insurance companies are likely to dispute responsibility and how fault should be divided.
These disputes can delay the claims process and make it harder to recover full compensation. Manufacturers of autonomous vehicles may also have a team of investigators dedicated to minimizing or avoiding liability. An experienced attorney can help you counter their efforts.
Talk to a Pennsylvania Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you have a Pennsylvania self-driving car accident claim, our legal team at Cordisco & Saile, LLC can provide experienced legal guidance. With decades of experience handling complex injury claims, we know what these cases require and will work to protect your rights. Call 215-642-2335 or contact us online for a free consultation to learn more.
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Real Stories. Real Results.
“I was in a serious accident in 2021. My injuries were new however they mimicked some of the injuries I received in a 2017 accident. After treating with 2 doctors, both who stated my injuries were permanent, I was recommended to Cordisco & Saile. My attorney, Steven DeBonis, was wonderful. He listened and guided me through the process. He worked endlessly to ensure I received a proper settlement. I am so grateful for his effort and kindness. I would highly recommend him to anyone who needed someone to fight for them. The staff was friendly, informative and helpful. They are the best legal team around. Thank you for all you have done.”
I had a slip and fall on Saturday, December 21, 2024. I waited a few days before calling Barbara’s firm and when I decided to reach out, I left a message late at night on the 23rd. First thing Christmas Eve day, Barbara calls me to let me know. She received the message and wanted to chat about my fall. She was extremely professional, detailed the process, and what they would look for in terms of backup documentation, but also instilled a sense of safety and security because she was kind, compassionate and empathetic. She gave the distinct impression that my case would be well researched thoroughly but also be done ethically without having me jump through a whole lot of extra hoops. Five stars, would highly recommend.”
“I had a car accident in January 2019. I called Cordisco and Saile. Michael Saile Jr. worked with me along with his associate Steve, and para legal Michele. They treated me with kindness and respect. I had injuries to my neck and spine. I went through months of physical therapy. The person who t- boned my car had no license, registration or insurance, therefore Mr. Saile had to put together a lawsuit against my own insurance company. I had limited tort insurance but Mr. Saile and his people fought to get me the most money that I was entitled to from my insurance company. It took four years due to the pandemic but they kept at it until they reached the maximum. I cannot thank them enough. Everyone in their office worked very hard for me. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone who has had an accident, or any legal work.”
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