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NHTSA Stands by Self-Driving Cars, Even After Fatal Crash

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in

driverless carThe federal government will continue efforts to speed up the development of self-driving cars, even after a fatal car accident involving a self-driving Tesla in May, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Chief Mark Rosekind.

Car industry insiders have questioned whether Tesla vehicles and other self-driving cars give drivers a false sense of security. However, Rosekind says that the NHTSA is confident that self-driving technology has the potential to reduce 94 percent of car crashes that happen because of human error. Moreover, accidents with self-driving cars will provide valuable data that regulators can share with car manufacturers to make these vehicles even safer.

The agency is still working on safety guidelines for self-driving cars to govern how these vehicles should react to various road conditions. The NHTSA was planning to release those guidelines this month, but they may not be released until later this summer, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

NHTSA Investigating Tesla Crashes

The announcement comes as the NHTSA is in the midst of a formal investigation into a May crash involving a Tesla Model S that was being driven by an autopilot system. The accident happened in Florida when the Tesla crashed into an 18-wheeler, which was making a left turn on a divided highway. The car traveled under the 18-wheeler, which cut through the windshield and ripped off the top of the car.

NHTSA investigators have also been collecting information about a non-fatal Tesla crash that happened earlier this month. Investigators are trying to determine if the car’s autopilot feature was active at the time of the accident.

The driver told police that the autopilot was engaged when his Tesla Model X SUV hit a guard rail, traveled across the road and hit a median before rolling over. Tesla has stated that it did not receive logs from the car which would confirm or deny whether the autopilot system was engaged.

Have you been seriously injured in a car accident? You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The experienced Sacramento car accident lawyers at the Arnold Law Firm have a long track record of securing fair compensation for our clients.

Complete a Free Case Evaluation or call us at (916) 777-7777.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.