In: Economics
how the legal liability regime and personal auto liability insurance may change with the introduction of fully autonomous vehicles to our environment. If you are hit by a fully autonomous vehicle with no occupant driving, who is liable for any injuries or property damage? Do you sue the vehicle owner, vehicle manufacturer or do we go to some form of no fault liability regime?
In the scenario of fully autonomous vehicles, the legal liability regime will change in a way that it will consider owner of the vehicle as well as manufacturer of the vehicle as party to it. It will happen, because ownership of these vehicle goes to the particular person and it can be the result of design flaw from the end of manufacturer that led to the accident. Hence, both these parties will be sued in the court of law. Personal auto liability insurance will work to protect the insured person even if the vehicle is autonomous, but the premium will vary based upon the design, model and scope of making failure of these vehicles.
Hence, in a scenario of myself getting hit by such a vehicle, owners and manufacturer, both will be sued and on the basis of technical examination, the guilty and degree of damage caused by these two entities will be decided. Legal regime will change with inclusion of some laws that can consider autonomous vehicles in its scope. But, it is not going to be no fault liability regime, because these machines work on certain programs and if there is a flaw, them person or manufacturer making these programs will be held responsible.