Self-driving cars are no longer a distant concept; they’re already on Houston roads. Unlike a typical car crash, accidents involving autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles often raise difficult questions about fault. An experienced Houston self-driving car accident lawyer can guide you through the legal process.
Attorney Brian White has over 20 years of experience helping injury victims. Contact us to learn about your rights and what your legal options for recovery might be. We could help recover your medical bills, the cost of property damage, lost wages, and more.
Our Houston car accident lawyers handle your case with care. We work on a contingency fee basis and offer a free consultation. Call today.
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How Our Houston Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
It’s hard enough getting into an accident with a car driven by another person. Things can get really complicated when your crash involves a self-driving car. Our Houston personal injury lawyers know how to simplify your claim.
At our personal injury law firm, we have the experience, knowledge, and courtroom skill needed to pursue the full compensation you are entitled to after a serious car accident.
Since 2008, we have represented thousands of clients, handling a wide range of complex personal injury cases. We stand up to insurance companies and opposing counsel.
Prove Negligence
To recover compensation for your driverless car accident injuries, our Houston car accident lawyers will need to prove that:
- The other party owed you a duty of care
- The other party’s negligence breached that duty of care
- The other party’s breach of duty caused you to suffer an injury
- Your injury is as debilitating as you claim
Search for Evidence to Help Your Case
To prove negligence, our legal team will use evidence like:
- Medical records
- A recorded statement from a witness
- Dashcam footage
- A police report
- Expert witness statements, such as those from accident reconstruction specialists
Having spent a great deal of time in the industry, our attorneys know where to find strong evidence for a personal injury case.
Negotiate With the Other Party’s Insurer
Insurance companies rarely want to take car accident lawsuits to trial. Instead, they typically prefer to negotiate a settlement deal with the injured party. Our attorneys will advise you on whether to accept the insurance company’s settlement offer.
Our firm has been working out settlements with Texas insurance adjusters for many years. After a Houston car accident, you can trust us to represent your interests.
Argue on Your Behalf in Court
If the at-fault party’s insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, your claim may need to move forward in court. Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts, even when the evidence clearly supports a higher case value. When negotiations break down, the next step is litigation.
For years, our attorneys have stood up for injury victims in courtrooms across Texas, consistently securing strong and favorable outcomes in a wide range of cases, including Houston car accidents.
Compensation Available in Self-Driving Car Accident Cases in Houston
When you are injured in a car accident caused by another party, you are entitled to damages. This statement holds true whether the other vehicle was autonomous or non-autonomous.
After a self-driving car accident in Houston, you could recover damages for:
- Medical expenses, including the cost of immediate medical attention
- Future medical expenses, including ongoing medical treatments
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
At Attorney Brian White, we are proud to help Houston residents recover the compensation they need to rebuild. If you would like us to fight for you, please call our Houston car accident lawyers.
Who Is Liable in a Self-Driving Car Accident?
Determining liability after a self-driving car accident is often much more complicated than in a traditional crash. While autonomous technology is designed to improve safety, these vehicles still rely on a combination of software and, in many cases, human oversight. When something fails, multiple parties may share responsibility for the Houston car accident.
The personal injury lawyers at Attorney Brian White have spent many years in the legal field. As such, we know how to analyze a case and determine who is liable for damages. When you hire us, we will do just that on your behalf.
Any of the following parties may be at fault for your Houston car accident:
Negligent Driver
Many vehicles currently on the road are not fully autonomous. Instead, they use advanced driver-assistance features that still require a human driver to remain attentive and ready to take control.
If the person behind the wheel was distracted, ignored warnings from the vehicle, misused the autonomous features, or failed to intervene when necessary, they may be held responsible for the motor vehicle accident. In this case, they should cover your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other losses.
Even when a vehicle can handle certain driving tasks on its own, drivers are still expected to operate it safely and follow traffic laws. Our car accident lawyers in Houston will investigate.
The Vehicle Manufacturer
In some cases, the company that designed and manufactured the self-driving vehicle may be liable. A defect in the vehicle’s hardware, software, braking system, steering components, or autonomous driving technology could contribute to a collision.
Our Houston car accident lawyers can hold manufacturers accountable for negligence. We can determine if you have a product liability case. With our vast legal experience, we know how to hold companies accountable.
Manufacturers have a responsibility to design reasonably safe products and adequately test their technology before releasing it to the public. If a design flaw or manufacturing defect caused the car accident, the manufacturer may be held accountable for the resulting damages.
The Sensor or Technology Manufacturer
Self-driving vehicles rely heavily on sophisticated technology, including cameras, radar systems, LiDAR sensors, GPS equipment, and computer processors. If one of these components malfunctions or provides inaccurate information to the vehicle’s operating system, the vehicle may make dangerous driving decisions.
When a defective sensor or technology component contributes to a crash, the company responsible for designing, manufacturing, or supplying that component may share liability.
A Private Business
Some autonomous vehicles are owned or operated by private companies, including rideshare services, delivery companies, transportation providers, and vehicle-testing organizations.
If a company failed to properly maintain a self-driving vehicle, ignored known safety issues, failed to update critical software, or allowed unsafe vehicles to remain in operation, it may be responsible for injuries caused by a resulting car accident.
Businesses can also be liable for the actions of employees operating or supervising autonomous vehicles within the scope of their employment. Our Houston self-driving car accident lawyers can help you hold the at-fault party accountable.
A Government Entity
In certain situations, a government agency may bear some responsibility for a self-driving car accident. Poorly maintained roads, malfunctioning traffic signals, missing road markings, defective signage, or hazardous roadway conditions can interfere with the ability of autonomous systems to navigate safely.
Claims against government entities are often subject to strict deadlines and special legal procedures. Act quickly if a public agency may be involved. Our self-driving car accident lawyers serving Houston will protect your interests.
Compassionate Legal Support After a Fatal Self-Driving Car Accident
Losing a loved one in a self-driving car accident is devastating. Families are often left struggling with grief while also facing unanswered questions about the wrongful death lawsuit process.
When a fatal crash involves autonomous vehicle technology, the situation can become even more complicated. Determining what caused the car accident and who is responsible may require an extensive investigation.
Wrongful death damages after a deadly self-driving car accident may include:
- The earnings, benefits, and economic contributions your loved one would have continued providing to the family
- The practical assistance and day-to-day help they would have contributed around the home
- The emotional suffering, grief, and distress endured by surviving family members
- The loss of the guidance, care, affection, support, and personal relationship they provided
- The financial assets, future wealth, or inheritance that family members may reasonably expect to receive in the future
While no legal action can undo such a loss, a wrongful death claim can provide families with financial security and a sense of accountability. Our compassionate Houston wrongful death lawyers can handle the legal process while your family focuses on healing.
Statute of Limitations for Self-Driving Car Accident Claims in Texas
The statute of limitations for almost all personal injury cases in the state of Texas is two years, under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003. You must typically begin fighting for damages before the second anniversary of your car accident. Should you fail to do so, you may lose your right to civil justice.
The sooner you call our Houston self-driving car accident attorneys, the more time we have to work on your case. In time, physical evidence can disappear, and witnesses may forget what they saw. Fresh evidence (such as reliable witness statements) can strengthen your personal injury claim.
How Self-Driving Cars Use Sensors to Navigate
Autonomous cars rely on a combination of advanced tools and integrated systems to navigate roads safely and stay on course. These technologies work together to monitor the vehicle’s surroundings, follow traffic patterns, and make real-time adjustments when conditions change.
Almost all self-driving cars have one or more of the following sensors:
- LiDAR sensors: These sensors use laser beams to help vehicles understand their immediate surroundings. LiDAR sensors primarily search for lane markings, road edges, and upcoming obstacles.
- Image sensors: Image sensors use video cameras to watch out for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles. They can also read road signs.
- Ultrasonic sensors: These types of sensors make use of sound waves to detect the position of nearby obstacles. They primarily assist with parking.
- Radar sensors: Radar sensors use radio waves to detect nearby vehicles and determine their location and speed in real-time.
Levels of Self-Driving Motor Vehicles
According to the Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE), driving automation systems in vehicles are grouped into six different levels:
| Automation Level | Description |
|---|---|
| Level 0 | Vehicles in this category have no driving automation. The driver is fully responsible for steering, braking, accelerating, and all other driving tasks at all times. |
| Level 1 | Level 1 vehicles can assist with specific functions such as steering, braking, or acceleration. However, the driver remains in control of the vehicle and must handle all other aspects of driving. |
| Level 2 | These vehicles can manage both steering and speed for limited periods without direct driver input. Even so, the driver must continuously monitor the vehicle and be prepared to take over immediately if necessary. |
| Level 3 | Level 3 autonomous vehicles can perform most driving tasks under certain conditions. However, a human driver must remain alert and ready to regain control whenever the system requests intervention. |
| Level 4 | Vehicles at this level can operate without driver input in specific environments or conditions. The occupant generally only needs to enter a destination. If the system encounters a problem, the vehicle is designed to safely stop or pull over. |
| Level 5 | Level 5 vehicles are fully autonomous and require no human involvement in driving. They can operate under all driving conditions without a driver and may not even include traditional controls such as a steering wheel or pedals. |
Potential Causes of Self-Driving Car Accidents in Houston
Self-driving cars are not 100% safe. The following factors can cause them to get into accidents:
- Software glitches
- Sensor failures
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Poor road maintenance
- Manufacturing defects
- Inattentive humans
At Attorney Brian White, we have a long history of helping clients recover compensation after car accidents caused by poor road maintenance and manufacturing defects.
If you want to have a personal injury attorney from our firm represent you throughout your case, all you have to do is pick up the phone and give us a call.
Work With a Trusted Self-Driving Car Accident Attorney in Houston
When you need a lawyer to help you fight for compensation after a collision with a self-driving car, there is only one law firm you need to turn to: Attorney Brian White. Our firm is prepared to investigate every detail of your case. From start to finish, we focus on fighting for the strongest possible outcome on your behalf.
To get started with your car accident claim, just give us a call or send us a quick message online. Our Houston self-driving car accident lawyers are ready to help you.
We work on a contingency fee basis, so you only pay us after we win your case. Call our law firm today.
