Self-Driving Car ‘Decided’ Not To Swerve in Fatal Crash
June 14, 2018
The next step in the evolution of the automobile is autonomous vehicles — otherwise known as self-driving cars. Many of these have already been made and are undergoing real world testing in the hopes they can really be the solution to eliminating accidents on the road. When it comes down to it, human error is the largest contributor to motor vehicle accidents taking place. Whether a driver chooses to use their cellphone while driving or decides they can drink and drive safely home, the decision to act negligently lies with the motorist. Taking the negligent driver out of the equation should fix the problem, right?
Uber Self-Driving Car Killed Woman
Well, roadways free of motor vehicle accidents are still a long way off. While it appeared great strides were being made with self-driving technology, it was a recent incident where a self-driving Uber vehicle struck and killed a woman crossing the road that states otherwise. The Uber self-driving car hit the woman as she was walking her bicycle across the street. Recent news reports that Uber believes the SUV ended up striking the woman because it “decided” not to swerve. They explained that the software was tuned in such a way that it decided evasive action was not necessary — possibly flagging the woman as a false positive.
Making the situation a bit worse is the fact that, in addition to the technology failing, the safety driver who was in the vehicle also failed to prevent the incident. The safety driver is supposed to take control in a failure like this, but Uber’s employee was glancing down in the moments before the accident. The technology is constantly under construction and clearly needs some more work. But again, technology is only as good as the person handling and/or programming it, leading back to human error. In this instance, a woman died. In many other accidents that happen each day, people end up injured, which can impact their well-being for quite some time.
Pittsburgh Lawyers Can Help With Your Injury
The roads in Pittsburgh and other areas of Pennsylvania can be the site of many different types of motor vehicle accidents, most of which could have even been prevented. If you have suffered an injury due to the negligence of another motorist, you need the assistance of Quinn Logue, LLC. The Pennsylvania law firm handles all types of motor vehicle accidents involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, pedestrians, and bicycles. They will make sure you are properly compensated for your losses so all you have to worry about is recovering from your injury. Call them today at 412-765-3800 to begin discussing your legal options.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
