As we enter the era of the technology revolution, autonomous or self-driving vehicles are redefining transportation. The technology applied to these vehicles uses high-resolution sensors and efficient computation to improve road efficiency and safety.

Automated vehicles reduce the risk of accidents by eliminating driver errors like drunk driving and distracted driving. However, these systems are imperfect, and there is a risk of failure, which could result in collisions with other vehicles and obstacles on the road.

Like human-driven trucks, accidents resulting from collisions with an automated trick could be catastrophic. You may be entitled to compensation if injured in an automated truck accident. You will recover this compensation by filing a civil claim or personal injury lawsuit against the parties liable for the accident.

Due to the high dependence on technology for the operation of these vehicles, you may find it challenging to determine liability for the accident and recover compensation. For this reason, it is critical to have a competent accident injury attorney by your side.

An Overview of Automated Trucks Safety

Autonomous trucks are commercial vehicles that use artificial intelligence and do not always need a human driver. California is often at the forefront of technological advancements, and many automated vehicles are already on the roads.

As the prospect of automated trucks delivering products and addressing the changing labor markets improves, there is a concern for their safety on the roads.

There are different levels of automation for self-driving trucks, and the level of automation determines the vehicles' efficiency and safety. Since fully autonomous vehicles have not started moving on the roads, the self-driving trucks available may require some form of human intervention in cases where the self-driving systems fail.

Although autonomous trucks present exciting prospects, you must recognize that the systems used for these vehicles are not infallible. Self-driving vehicles partially depend on human oversight. The blend of autonomy and human intervention in emergencies presents legal struggles in the event of an accident.

For example, relying on software and sensors can open the doors to potential defects, resulting in catastrophic accidents and severe injuries. As technological advancements march forward and the popularity of autonomous trucks increases, our roads are also changing.

Self-driving trucks promise a future that will reduce road congestion and increase safety. However, the technology is not flawless, and accident reports involving these vehicles have increased. Until April 2024, up to 708 automated vehicle collisions were reported in California.

Advantages of Automated Trucks

Automated trucks have been tested in California to adjust to improved technology and increase efficiency. The desire to transition from human-driven trucks to automated trucks is a result of the following benefits offered by autonomous vehicles:

Improved Safety

The most significant number of truck accidents in California result from human error. This includes acts like:

  • Driving while fatigued

  • Driving under the influence of alcohol

  • Distracted driving

Self-driving trucks have the potential to reduce the risk of accidents significantly. This is done by eliminating human error and allowing advanced technology to control the vehicles. The promise of reduced accidents urges action to bring these vehicles to the roads.

However, the vehicles must undergo system updates and regular maintenance to ensure that the automated trucks are efficient and the system functions properly. Additionally, the government must have regulations that the vehicle manufacturers, software developers, and owners of these vehicles must meet.

This ensures that there are the right challenges for individuals injured in accidents involving these vehicles to pursue compensation.

Reduced Traffic Congestion

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, Americans spend up to 6.9 million hours each year sitting in traffic. Automated trucks will reduce traffic congestion by eliminating the stoppages caused by human driving behaviors.

Reduced CO2 Emission

The automotive industry is moving towards electrification and automation to improve safety and create better environments. Reducing traffic congestion will result in reduced CO2 emissions.

Lower Fuel Consumption

Automated vehicle technology could improve fuel consumption by up to 10%. This is because these vehicles' acceleration and deceleration are more efficient than those of human-driven vehicles.

Increased Efficiency

With the current levels of competition in the transport industry, every minute counts. The pursuit of faster turnaround times between goods deliveries is a significant cause of truck accidents.

An automated truck could make delivery more efficient and faster. This is because it reduces the need for rest stops along the way, which is impossible with a human driver. Unlike seasonal truck drivers, automated trucks are also more reliable when sidetracked.

Reduced Operating Costs

Driverless transportation offers cost-saving opportunities in the mobility and logistics sectors. The automated trucks have the necessary systems to operate on the road and deliver goods to the desired destinations. The money saved can be used to maintain and update the systems.

Disadvantages of Automated Trucks

Despite the numerous benefits offered by autonomous vehicles, the technology faces difficulties and challenges that could make the vehicles less reliable and unsafe for the highways in California, including:

Technical Development

A system that participates in daily traffic must evaluate large amounts of information and data to make accurate predictions and the right moves. The system must be highly sophisticated to deal with the changing conditions and ensure the safety of other road users.

An error in the automated truck systems and software can increase the risk of accidents. Since the tests for the safety of these vehicles cannot be done for all possible scenarios, the risk is unpredictable.

Surveillance

When software is involved, the risk of attack by hackers is inevitable. Hackers attack the data from these software systems, send wrong commands, and impact the vehicle's function. Common attack areas for automated vehicle software include USB interfaces, SD cards, and Bluetooth.

Expensive

Implementing automated trucks requires coordination and alignment for different subsystems. This increases the cost of acquiring and maintaining these trucks more than standard trucks. This could translate to the cost of seeking delivery services for these trucks.

Rebound Effects

Automated vehicles are characterized by conformity. For this reason, many people may turn to automated trucks to transport different items. This will result in overcrowding of the industry and traffic. The registration of automated vehicles may need to be controlled to avoid this issue.

Vehicle Communication

Another challenge that could arise with automated trucks is data exchange. Self-drive vehicles do not communicate visually and depend solely on data transfer. This can result in data congestion during transfers and the failure to send some commands.

Legal Complications

Automated vehicles are highly dependent on technology for operation. Unfortunately, this translates to more complexity when the vehicle is involved in an accident. If you are involved in an accident caused by an automated truck, identifying liable parties and proving responsibility for the accident or injury could be an uphill task.

Potential Causes of Automated Truck Accidents

Although automated trucks have been determined to offer more safety on the roads, the technology comes with risks. Some of the common causes of accidents for these vehicles include:

Technology Errors

Autonomous trucks are highly dependent on technology for their operation. For this reason, an error in the technology can increase the risk of vehicle malfunction. Common technological errors that could occur include:

  • Software malfunction. A self-driving vehicle requires complex algorithms to operate. An error in the vehicle's coding systems can result in an incorrect command and malfunction. This can result in severe accidents that affect other road users.

  • Faulty sensors. Autonomous trucks use sensors to perceive their surroundings and navigate correctly. If one or more sensors are faulty, the vehicle could collide with obstacles or other vehicles.

  • Inaccurate data mapping. Self-driving trucks use mapping data to navigate the roads and make the right decisions. When there is an error in data mapping, the truck can turn wrong and cause an accident.

Human Error

The main goal of autonomous vehicles is to eliminate human control. There are cases when a person's actions can cause an accident, including:

Misusing the features. Automated trucks come with features like autopilot and cruise control, which must be used correctly for the vehicle to function properly. Improper use of these features can cause a collision with other vehicles.

Interference with the control system. In trucks that are not fully automated, a human driver may ride in the vehicle to intervene in case of an emergency. If this individual interferes with the vehicle control, the systems could fail.

Complete dependence on technology. Some drivers may need more confidence in the technology of the automated trucks. This could result in a slow reaction during emergencies and a lack of attention, resulting in a malfunction.

Cybersecurity Threats

Like other systems that rely on the internet to operate correctly, automated trucks are prone to hacking and cyberattacks. If a hacker gains control of the vehicle and its sensors, they can cause an accident. Cybersecurity is a growing concern for automated cars and must be addressed to reduce the risk of accidents.

Road Infrastructure Issues

Automated vehicles must have the right software commands to react to different load conditions. Unforeseen weather conditions can create obstacles and difficulties for these trucks to operate. This could result in severe accidents.

Liability in an Automated Truck Accident Lawsuit

Although automated trucks reduce the risk of road accidents, you could be involved in an accident involving these advanced vehicles. Trucks are large vehicles, whether human-driven or automated. Accidents involving trucks cause catastrophic injuries or even death to the victims.

You are entitled to compensation if you are injured in an automated truck accident. You can recover compensation in this case by filing a personal injury lawsuit. A significant part of filing a lawsuit is identifying the liable parties and establishing liability for the accident.

In standard truck accidents, different parties are held liable for an accident due to their direct involvement in the crash. There are added liability layers with autonomous vehicles, making it challenging to hold the right individuals accountable for their negligent acts. Liable parties in your automated truck accident lawsuit include:

The Backup Driver

Although autonomous vehicles use technology and do not require a driver to operate, an operator is always present to control the vehicle in case the systems fail. When a system fails, the operator must be notified to take control of the vehicle. The human driver is responsible for responding promptly to the system failure and operating the vehicle safely.

If a system fails and a human driver is expected to take control of the truck, they can be liable for the resulting accident. However, in such an instance, the liability will be shared between the driver and the person responsible for controlling the failed system.

Vehicle Manufacturers

An intricate series of software and systems operates autonomous vehicles. Since these vehicles share roads with human-driven vehicles and pedestrians, the manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that all the systems work properly.

A manufacturer or software company of autonomous trucks could be held liable for an accident involving the trucks. With autonomous technology being complex and relatively new, pinpointing the specific defect that caused the truck accident is critical to determining liability. You can file a lawsuit against these parties if you determine that manufacturing or design errors result from the malfunction or accident.

Truck Owner

Although automated trucks are made with advanced technology, they must undergo regular maintenance and software updates to maintain proper functioning. Additionally, the vehicle must undergo regular inspection to determine if it meets the safety requirements. The vehicle owner is responsible for regular maintenance.

If an automated truck accident is caused by poor vehicle maintenance, the owner could be liable for the accidents and injuries.

Other Road Users

Other drivers, motorists, and pedestrians could be held liable for an autonomous truck accident. This could result from acts like failing to follow traffic rules, making a dangerous change in direction, or driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Additionally, having a faulty vehicle could interfere with the automated systems of self-driving vehicles and cause accidents.

Government and Regulatory Bodies

Different government regulatory bodies are responsible for enforcing regulations that ensure the safety of autonomous trucks on the road. Failure to implement or poor enforcement of the regulations can contribute to incidents that cause accidents. In this case, the government entity will be partially liable for the accident.

Compensation Benefits in an Automated Truck Accident Lawsuit

Although automated truck accidents increase efficiency and can reduce traffic congestion, they are as prone to accidents as human-driven trucks. You pursue a claim or lawsuit if injured in an automated truck accident. In a successful lawsuit, you may recover compensation benefits similar to those paid for other victims of automated car accidents. They include:

Medical Bills

Whether a truck is human-driven or automated, accidents involving these vehicles are often catastrophic. When an automated truck malfunctions or fails, it could result in severe accidents, including head-on collisions, T-bone collisions, and rollover accidents.

These accidents can cause catastrophic injuries, including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones. These injuries may take a while to record, affecting your financial life. If you are successful in your personal injury lawsuit, you can be reimbursed for the medical expenses.

Lost wages

If you are injured in an automated truck accident, your injuries can prevent you from going to work for weeks or even months. When you are away from work nursing your injuries, you can lose your income from self-employment, wages, bonuses, and overtime. You will be compensated for the lost wages if your lawsuit is successful.

Lost Earning Capacity

If the injuries you suffer from the automated truck accident have not recovered when your claim is settled, you will be compensated for the loss of future earning capacity. The compensation covers the income you stand to lose due to the disabilities associated with the injuries.

Pain and Suffering

The injuries from a truck accident can cause physical and emotional pain. Although you cannot put a dollar value on pain and suffering, the compensation you recover from your lawsuit will ease the financial burden associated with the accident.

Find a Competent Personal Injury Attorney Near Me

The emergence of autonomous or self-drive vehicles has revolutionized the transportation industry. However, these systems may be prone to failure and malfunction, which could be dangerous on the roads. Determining the safety of automated trucks and how accidents can occur with them is critical for individuals injured in automated truck accidents.

While these vehicles increase road efficiency and reduce the risk of accidents, they introduce a new complexity in the legal framework in case of an accident. Due to the complex systems used in automated vehicles, filing a lawsuit and determining liability for an automated truck accident may be challenging.

For this reason, you must hire and retain a skilled personal injury attorney to help you navigate the complex legal process and secure maximum compensation. At the Truck Accident Attorney Law Firm, we will offer the expert guidance you need to secure a favorable outcome in your lawsuit. Call us at 888-511-3139 from any location in California for much-needed guidance.