Self driving cars are facing challenges throughout the world

February 25, 2016, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

Self driving cars are on the road in Ontario and in America, insurance rules and government laws will need to keep pace with them. Self driving cars such as the Tesla, have autopilot options allowing the user to give the car control of cruise control, hands free lane changes and collision warning. Self-parking features are now available on it and Ford models as well.

The question then becomes who is liable for any accidents if the software is controlling the car and not the driver. As drivers become more accustomed to the self-driving options and become less concerned with the road, and avoiding accidents, the questions of liability in accidents may change. Can the car manufacturer be held liable in a car accident?

It is a fact that Hakan Samuelsson, President and CEO Volvo Cars, said in the fall of 2015, that Volvo will accept full liability whenever one of its cars is in an accident while in self driving mode. This has caused great concerns within the auto insurance industry that car manufacturers are trying to get into the insurance business. In Ontario almost 55% of income for insurers comes from their car policy lines.

There is no doubt that regulators and insurers need to work together to solve issues with self-driving cars of liability or hacking by criminal third parties. Technology is advancing at breakneck speed while it seems insurers and regulators move at a tortoise like one.

I will keep you posted about the evolution of insurance and regulations with self-driving cars as they become available.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

The opinions expressed here, while intended to provide useful information, should not be interpreted as legal recommendations or advice.