Woman Killed by Self-Driving Uber Car
Uber suspended its testing of the self-driving car after an autonomous Volvo SUV killed a 49-year old Arizona woman. The Uber vehicle, which did have a 44-year old man behind the steering wheel, struck the woman while she was riding her bicycle. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident. The NTSB has not indicated why the SUV driver didn’t’ take control of the steering wheel to avoid the accident.
What attracted Uber to Arizona?
Arizona recently relaxed its rules to allow Uber and other self-driving car companies to test-drive its cars on public roads. They do require that a human driver is in the car. Due to the good weather in Arizona, this state is attractive to a self-driving car. Since there isn’t much snow or ice to add to the likelihood of an accident. The death in Arizona is not the first self-driving vehicle death. A Telsa vehicle fatally struck a man, in 2016, when the autopilot system didn’t’ work.
What are the safety concerns of self-driving cars?
Self-driving car proponents argue that autonomous cars will be good for traffic safety. Manufacturers claim that self-driving cars don’t have drunk drivers, tired drivers, or drivers who text while driving. Consumer advocates fear safe-driving vehicles can't respond to different types of traffic conditions. Car accidents kill tens of thousands of car riders and pedestrians yearly.
The rights of families when a self-driving car kills a loved one
In a case like the Arizona Uber case, experienced car accident lawyers will bring a wrongful death action on behalf of the family members. The damages include:
- The loss of the support, companionship, and guidance
- The financial income the woman would have provided her family
- The cost of the funeral and burial
Other damages
The legal basis for the wrongful death claim is negligence and product liability. Negligence includes improper testing and other failures. Product liability holds manufacturers liable for allowing a defective product, the SUV, on the road. Thus, the defective car must be the cause the death.
Talk with a strong legal advocate now
Delay can hurt your case. At Lulich Attorneys and Consultants, our car accident victims have a strong record of success. We have been fighting for the injured and the families of deceased victims for 30 years. We have the experience and resources to aggressively assert your claims. To review your case, please call us at 772-589-5500 (Sebastian) or 772-774-7771 (Vero Beach). to schedule a free consultation.