Legislators Still Can't Agree on an Important Insurance Question for Self-Driving Cars
Andrew Koole
Updated on Apr 27, 2022 · 3 min read
Self-driving cars
are almost here. Limited autonomous driving technology is already in many vehicles, from self-parking capabilities in everything from a Chevy Malibu to a Mercedes Benz, to the AutoPilot system available for $10,000 in any new Tesla
. But one thing continues to stop fully autonomous vehicles from entering the market, and it isn’t the progress of automakers—it’s the U.S. Senate.
The question of liability
If you make a mistake while driving that causes an accident, you are liable for the damages or injuries resulting from the accident. In most cases, your
car insurance
covers the cost of whatever damages you caused to vehicles, people, or property.The decision of who is liable in an accident usually ends up in the hands of the insurance companies covering the people involved. When they can’t come to an agreement, it goes to the courts.
But the issue of liability is more complicated for self-driving cars. If a fully autonomous vehicle crashes into another car or, even worse, into a pedestrian, who’s at fault, the driver or the manufacturer?
It might seem obvious that the automaker is at fault, but there are more factors involved than at first meets the eye. What if the owner of the vehicle had not taken sufficient care of the vehicle or properly installed necessary software updates?
A recent
deadly crash involving a Tesla
in AutoPilot mode, as well as an accident involving a self-driving test car owned by Uber that resulted in the death of a pedestrian, have increased focus on the issue.The legislative roadblock for autonomous vehicles
Insurance Journal
says the complexity of the liability issue has also increased because of a move by some manufacturers. They’ve lobbied to force consumers to submit disputes to binding arbitration rather than suing or forming class-action cases.It’s with this part of the bill that Senate Democrats are taking particular issue. Five Senate Democrats, including
Dianne Feinstein
(D-Calif.), wrote a letter in response to the current bill stating that self-driving cars "should provide no less protection to occupants or pedestrians in the event of a crash" than their manually driven counterparts.How the Senate’s decision could impact your car insurance
As the law adapts to regulate new driving technology, the insurance industry will need to adjust as well. Once the Senate decides how to answer the question of liability for self-driving cars, insurance companies will need to create new policies that align with the federal legislation.
Wherever the government, automakers, and insurance industry land on the issue, you can count on
Jerry
to find the best insurance to match your needs. Jerry compares prices and discounts in real-time, so you know you’re getting the most accurate, up-to-date options for coverage.
