Self-driving car accidents are not standard traffic crashes; they are complex product liability battles. Our Indiana autonomous vehicle lawyers strive to act within the first 72 hours to secure the telemetry and “black box” data needed to prove who – or what – is truly at fault.
| 💡 Key Takeaway Time is critical in self-driving car accident cases. Every hour of delay gives manufacturers the advantage to control the evidence and narrative. Our team mobilizes quickly to preserve the vehicle data that will prove your case. |
Auto Manufacturers Often Attempt to Avoid Liability
Manufacturers of self-driving cars and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) have a lot to lose, so they protect their interests fiercely. When an accident occurs with a self-driving car, these manufacturers and their representatives will often place sole responsibility upon human drivers to protect their technology’s reputation and profitability.
They will claim one of two things:
❌ There was no defect with the vehicle
❌ The crash or incident was caused by the driver and nothing else
Even if the car is in “autopilot” or “full self-driving” mode, car companies will often state that the driver should have intervened. This is despite the fact that self-driving cars have faced known issues like phantom braking, failure to detect stationary emergency vehicles, and an inability to recognize cross-traffic.
Individuals involved in accidents featuring self-driving cars can feel like they face David vs. Goliath odds.
This is where dedicated self-driving car accident lawyers can step in to assist.
Our Autonomous Vehicle Attorneys Can Facilitate Forensic Investigations
When someone has been involved in an automobile accident, acquiring key data as quickly as possible is paramount. While standard police reports can provide some actionable information, it’s not enough, especially when a self-driving car is involved.
Data from the event data recorder (EDR), which records a short window of information about vehicle dynamics and safety systems, along with other technical information, can make or break a case. Therefore, our self-driving car accident attorneys in Greater Indianapolis seek out data on:
- Vehicle speed
- Delta-V
- Brake/accelerator use
- Seatbelt status
- Dashcam clips
- Telemetry information for the driving location
- Driving behavior
- Autopilot-related information
With this information, we can begin building the best case possible for our client, presenting a detailed, scientific analysis of the data that proves what went wrong.
| ⚠️ Important to Know We’re also aware that an accident isn’t always 100% the fault of the car or 100% the fault of the driver. Many times in cases like these, there is more than one party at fault for the crash, and one party may have a greater percentage of fault than another. If we identify more than one party that could have been responsible or otherwise contributed to the injury-causing incident, we will bring that party into the lawsuit and a jury will be tasked with assigning the percentages of fault, if any. |
Let Our Indiana Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyers Put Their Skills to Work for You
The Stephenson Rife team is dedicated to helping our clients receive the best outcome possible in their cases, and we accomplish that through:
✅ Proactive responses – The first 72 hours of a car accident case are critical, and whenever possible, we spend them tracking down the vehicle location, ensuring the vehicle is preserved, researching the tech involved in the accident, and conferring with experts
✅ Deep technical learning – We take the time to thoroughly study all incident reports and automotive data to fully understand the systems at play so we can best represent you
✅ An Indiana focus – Our autonomous vehicle lawyers in Shelbyville are fully versed in state and federal automotive law, giving us the skills needed to fight for you
FAQs on Self-Driving Car Accidents
Can I sue if the accident was partly my fault or the other driver’s fault, not just the car’s?
Yes. Indiana law allows for the apportionment of fault. Our Indiana autonomous vehicle attorneys will bring all responsible parties – including the manufacturer and other drivers – into the lawsuit and let a jury assign the percentage of responsibility.
Would a case be brought as a class-action lawsuit against the manufacturer?
In most cases, no. We would handle these as individual catastrophic injury cases because a client’s specific injuries and the specific failure of the vehicle in a crash requires a personalized, detailed investigation, not a generic mass claim.
How long will my case take compared to a normal car accident?
You should expect these cases to take longer than a standard traffic accident claim because we must retain specialized technology experts to analyze the vehicle’s software and data against the manufacturer’s vigorous defense.
Hurt in a Car Accident in Indiana? We Can Help
If you’ve been in an accident with a self-driving car or advanced driver-assistance system, don’t delay in starting your case. Every hour of delay gives manufacturers time to control the narrative and secure the vehicle data. Our self-driving car lawyers strive to start working within 72 hours – before critical evidence disappears.
The Stephenson Rife team is ready to fight for you. Reach out to us today for a free consultation.