Many people in Las Vegas are excited about the potential for self-driving cars. With the technology being tested by several large companies, including Google and Uber, it may seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner. Some safety experts support the widespread use of self-driving cars because it seems that an algorithm will be safer than human drivers and less prone to negligence, distraction, or carelessness.
However, our current models to understand who is at fault in Las Vegas car accidents rely on the idea of a human driver. After all, it can be straightforward to show when a human driver is to blame for being careless or negligent. They can be drunk, distracted, or fail to follow the rules of the road. Seeking justice in a car accident may be more complicated when autonomous vehicles are involved.
Human Error Is a Major Risk
Human error is responsible for around 90% of all motor vehicle accidents in Las Vegas and across the country. While it seems that the widespread use of autonomous vehicles could sharply reduce the danger of an Uber accident in Las Vegas, it is essential to remember that autonomous vehicles rely on computer programs created by humans. We all know that computers and smartphones we use every day are crucial but prone to error. The prototypes of these vehicles are not flawless. While self-driving cars may cut down on accidents, the software involved is also likely to carry flaws of its own. Existing prototypes being tested by Google, Tesla, and other firms have had difficulties detecting large obstacles, including semi-trucks and buses. Understanding these six facts about car accidents can help put this into perspective.
The Changing Face of Liability
When people are injured in Las Vegas car accidents, they can turn to the best injury lawyer Las Vegas to help them fight for compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. The legal system is based on the idea of human drivers, and there are certain ways to assess fault and determine who is to blame for a crash. Determining fault may be more challenging when self-driving cars are involved. Some may want to blame the human involved in all circumstances, but several companies have declared they will accept full liability for accidents involving their autonomous vehicles. When faulty software is to blame, liability could even extend to software developers, mapping companies, or technology firms.
Hacking, Malfunctions and Insecure Systems
Others have expressed concerns about the dangers of an unregulated industry. When businesses begin to proliferate, some will almost certainly cut corners, which could lead to more dangerous roads as part of an overall quest for safety. Given the danger that hacking and malware pose to regular computer systems and even entire cities, many have raised serious worries about the safety of self-driving cars’ internal systems. If they are hacked, autonomous vehicles could essentially become large killing machines. While it seems like a far-fetched idea out of science fiction, network security is critical to any successful large-scale deployment of these vehicles. The level of remote control available for these vehicles may raise concerns about the threat of malware but also about a loss of privacy and government surveillance. Few regulations hinder what can be done with autonomous vehicles today, so their effect on confidentiality remains a gray zone.
Less dramatically, software and hardware malfunctions could interfere with a vehicle’s ability to drive, leading to an Uber accident in Las Vegas and significant damages if a self-driving car freezes up or loses control. We all have seen even high-end computer systems break down and crash. Will an actual crash result if that happens to self-driving cars’ systems? To better understand how you could be compensated for such an event, check out damages and compensation you may be entitled to.
Weather, Radiation and Other Unknowns
Human drivers can be poorly affected by severe weather conditions like rain, snow, and sleet. It is not yet clear how self-driving cars will deal with severe weather and how their components will be affected. Algorithms may not account for all circumstances, and severe weather can also directly affect computer components, from flooding rain to extreme heat. For example, Las Vegas’s extreme summer heat could pose significant risks to autonomous vehicles.
Others have raised concerns about the interactions of various electronics on the roadways and in autonomous vehicles themselves. There are often many different systems in today’s human-propelled cars, including GPS systems, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and entertainment systems, alongside those operating on the roads. Some health experts have expressed concerns that self-driving vehicles could add to an overload of electromagnetic field radiation, leaving humans at greater risk for high blood pressure, migraine headaches, insomnia, and other symptoms.
For now, human drivers continue to pose a major threat to Las Vegas roadways. There are still plenty of concerns about safety before self-driving cars are widely deployed, however. If you’re injured in a car crash, make sure that you protect your rights. The best injury lawyer Las Vegas can work with you to fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact The Schnitzer Law Firm at 702-960-4050 or use our secure online form to seek an initial consultation.