injury | Dolan Law Firm

Determining Liability in Driverless Car Accidents

Today’s question comes from Wallace D. in Knob Hill who asks: “I read your article on the driverless vehicle. Isn’t this just sci-fi? Will they ever actually hit the market and if they do, what will they look like and who will be responsible if there is a crash?

According to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2011 America’s 212 million licensed drivers crashed over 5.3 million times, injured 2.2 million people and killed another 32,367. Road traffic injuries have become the leading killer of young people aged 15 to 29. According to a World Health Organization Report, almost 1.3 million people die each year on the world’s roads making this the ninth leading cause of death, globally.

Worldwide, road crashes cause between 20 million and 50 million non-fatal injuries every year.

Personal Car Sharing: Revenue Stream or Liability Nightmare?

A new bill signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger last week and taking effect January 1st will permit Californians to share their personal cars in carsharing pools without risking the loss of their personal auto insurance coverage. The new law aims to make clear that personal vehicle sharing does not constitute a commercial use of the vehicle. The law also aims to make sure that the individual car owner is not held liable for losses that arise when the vehicle is used for personal vehicle sharing.

Multiple Lanes Closed After a Crash Involving a Motorist and a Motorcycle on the Bay Bridge

During the morning commute on September 29, 2010, a motorcyclist was injured on the Bay Bridge in a collision involving a motorist. A CHP spokesperson said that there were injuries involved, but according to early reports the motorcyclist was seen standing up after the crash. We hope that both the motorcyclist and the driver of the vehicle involved sustained no serious injuries.