Driving on Florida roads means sharing them with a diverse range of vehicles, from motorcycles to massive semi-trucks. Technological advancements have now introduced self-driving vehicles into the mix. If you’ve been injured by an autonomous vehicle, our Clearwater self-driving car accident lawyers are here to discuss your legal options.
The science of self-driving cars is still evolving and is far from perfect. As long as these cars continue to cause accidents, our personal injury attorneys in Clearwater, Florida, are here to get justice for victims.
When your future hangs in the balance after a self-driving car accident, you need Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers in your corner. You may be eligible for substantial compensation, contact our experienced Clearwater law firm for legal help. Contact our law offices today at (727) 796-8282 to schedule your free consultation today.
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How Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers Help Clearwater Self-Driving Car Accident Victims
Crashes involving self-driving cars can give rise to difficult questions surrounding the cause of the accident and who is ultimately liable for injuries. Our Clearwater car accident lawyers have the technical knowledge and legal experience to answer these hard questions.
Since 1955, we’ve been committed to delivering justice to car accident victims. Our team of dedicated attorneys has secured substantial financial relief for our clients, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.
Our advocacy has earned us some of the highest honors in the legal profession, including:
- Being named by The National Trial Lawyers as Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- Membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Receiving Martindale-Hubbell’s highest AV Rating
- Board Certified by the Florida Bar Association in Civil Trial Law
Our achievements are the direct result of meticulous preparation and a determination to face insurance companies head-on. Negotiating a strong settlement requires a knowledge of how insurance companies operate and the tactics they use to limit or deny claims.
Contact us today in Clearwater, Florida, to set up your free case assessment. It’ll give us the opportunity to get to know you, understand your story, and help you understand your legal rights.
What Are Self-Driving Cars?
Cars today are designed to do more than simply get you from point A to point B. Comfort, convenience, and ease of operation are paramount, leading the way to cars that can operate all on their own.
Broadly speaking, a self-driving car is a vehicle that can sense and react to its surrounding environment with limited or no human involvement. Depending on their automation capabilities, self-driving cars are classified into the following levels:
- Level 1 vehicles are equipped with minimal assistance features such as adaptive cruise control or speed regulation
- Level 2 vehicles have advanced driving assistance systems that can control steering, acceleration, and braking
- Level 3 vehicles feature more advanced systems that can take over all driving functions
- Level 4 vehicles are similar to Level 3 except the automation system is equipped to take control in the event of a system failure.
- Level 5 vehicles are fully autonomous and eliminate the need for any human action or attention
Florida law expressly allows self-driving cars, even fully automated ones, to be operated within the state. Unfortunately, self-driving vehicles can still malfunction, especially as the technology continues to develop.
One reason for accidents is that self-driving vehicles may give drivers a false sense of security. Drivers may be much more inclined to engage in texting or other distracting activities.
If you’ve suffered injuries in a Clearwater, FL accident involving a self-driving car, contact Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers to learn more about your rights.
Who Is Liable for the Injuries I Suffered in a Clearwater, Florida Self-Driving Car Accident?
The introduction of self-driving vehicles has complicated the issues surrounding accident liability. The driver’s own negligence may still be a factor in self-driving car accidents. However, because the technology behind self-driving cars hasn’t been perfected, glitches in the system could also cause accidents.
When we investigate a car accident involving a self-driving vehicle, we’ll look closely at:
- Self-driving car makers, who have a legal duty to ensure that their vehicles are reasonably safe—if they breach their duty, they could face liability under product liability laws
- The operators of self-driving vehicles, who still have a legal duty to remain attentive and protect others from an unreasonable risk of harm
- Software developers, who must ensure that software is reliable and effective
A dangerous defect in the vehicle may cause an accident involving a self-driving car, the driver’s own negligence, or both. It takes an experienced personal injury lawyer to get to the bottom of what happened, how it happened, and who is responsible.
Contact Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers for a free, personalized consultation. We’ll put our 300 years of combined legal experience to work for you.
Contact Our Clearwater Car Crash Attorneys for a Free Case Review
Self-driving automobile technology is still in its early stages, with many more safety improvements yet to be made. These cars aren’t foolproof, so they have the potential to cause problems on the road.
Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers offers you a distinct advantage in securing the compensation you need to heal from your injuries. We’re well-versed in personal injury law as well as the technical aspects of self-driving technology.
If you were injured in a crash, call (727) 796-8282 self-driving car accident attorneys or contact us online and schedule a comprehensive assessment of your claim. You can be assured your case will be handled with professionalism and integrity.
Our law firm handles all types of car accident cases involving:
