On behalf of Rooney Law Firm posted in Trucking Accidents
One of the aspects of personal injury claims that requires diligent evaluation and sound application of the law is the question of liability. Truck accident victims are often faced with devastating recovery needs, and some families suffer a loss that can never be replaced. A semi-truck crash, by its nature, is one of the most serious because of the size and weight of the vehicle involved.
According to recent reports, truck driving is now one of the top jobs in this country. It dominates the employment ranking in 29 states. History, however, is reportedly being made in the industry because one state’s governor has issued licenses for two self-driving trucks to legally operate on its roads.
Touting the competitive advantage of self-driving trucks, the report explains that truck operators have a big financial incentive to use this advanced technology to reduce expenses. Profits will improve initially, but questions about their longevity remain as the market will settle in time.
When interstate transportation becomes possible with these vehicles, the manufacturer reportedly contends, legislation will fuel the market for this technology. At present, the self-driving trucks operate on programming that allows them to operate in less challenging driving environments such as multi-lane highways. City streets and neighborhoods would not be utilized with the initial endeavors.
But there is another regulatory hurdle facing scrutiny: the question of accident liability. Victims of car and truck accidents are entitled to seek compensation from at-fault drivers or businesses. Even with human presence in the vehicle, if a computer system is doing the driving, the question of who will be liable in the event of an accident reportedly remains unanswered.
Source: ValueWalk, “Self-Driving Truck On Road in Nevada, Ushering In ‘History’,” Mark Melin, May. 06, 2015
