Legal Roadblocks for Google’s Self-Driving Cars: Product Liability Concerns

Product liability is a relatively important section of personal injury law. Where products are defective and are also mass-produced, this defect, if dangerous, can conceivably cause injury to quite a few people. There are different types of product defects: design, manufacturing, and ineffective warnings. Where one defect type does not apply, however, another could.

Google Self-Driving Cars and Accident Reports

Take the Google self-driving cars as an example: recently, reports have come in about the Google self-driving cars getting into accidents with other vehicles. Many have assumed that it is a mechanical issue causing these accidents, implying that the vehicles are defective in their manufacturing.

However, a review of the publicly available reports that Google filed with the California Department of Motor Vehicles reveals that the Google cars themselves were not the responsible party. Each incident seemingly took place when the Google car was either at a complete stop or traveling at 5 mph at most – the car was then rear-ended by another vehicle, which was driven by a living person.

Human Error or Design Defect?

Can the accidents truly be written off as human error in their entirety? The drivers of the vehicles that rear-ended the Google cars are not entirely without recourse – one may argue that the Google cars have a design defect.

The Potential Impact of Design Features on Driver Distraction

Google is a very well-known entity – anyone who sees a Google Maps Street View car stops whatever they are doing and spends a minute looking at the car. Google incurs interest in people.

The Google self-driving cars bring with them the promise of fewer accidents, safer roads, and likely a better driving style – they also bring distraction. The Google cars have the Google logo splashed on them, with a notation that informs people they are self-driving vehicles. They have a spinning laser scanner on top of their roof – with these design elements, the cars are flashy and attention-grabbing.

People may crane their heads to see the car better, perhaps whip out their phone to take a picture and show their friends. The distraction they cause could be the reason behind the inattentiveness of the drivers around them.

Conclusion

While self-driving cars like those from Google aim to revolutionize road safety and reduce accidents, they introduce new legal and practical challenges. From potential distractions caused by their design to questions about liability in accidents, these vehicles blur the lines between human error and product responsibility. Addressing these concerns will require careful legal scrutiny, design adjustments, and perhaps even new laws to ensure these cars fulfill their promise without creating unforeseen risks. Moreover, if you are willing to hire one of the best Product Liability Attorneys in Los Angeles who can help you with your legal car matters, feel free to contact the Law Office of Eslamboly Hakim today!