Both accidents were not the fault of the self-driving vehicle or its operator. The first incident occurred in San Diego on August 19. Apple’s Lexus was stopped in traffic when it was rear-ended by a Hyundai. The crash resulted only in minor damage and no injuries. The second rear-end accident occurred on August 23 in Cupertino, with the Apple vehicle also stopped in traffic when it was rear-ended by a Subaru.

Both accidents are notable for occurring within a week of each other, after no accidents involving Apple self-driving vehicles since September 2019.

Apple is believed to have ramped up its vehicle testing in recent years, reporting more than 18,000 miles of testing in 2020, a massive increase over previous years. This increased testing may mean an increased likelihood of Apple’s vehicles being involved in crashes.

Liability for an Accident with a Self-Driving Vehicle

Accidents involving self-driving vehicles have become an increasing concern, especially given the prevalence of Teslas equipped with the company’s Autopilot technology. Teslas with Autopilot engaged have been involved in a number of notable accidents over the past few years. Despite the system’s name, Tesla states that the system is not yet fully autonomous and drivers are expected to maintain attention on the road and be prepared to intervene and retake manual control in an emergency. In many of the Tesla accidents, drivers were otherwise distracted or even sleeping while the Autopilot system was active. 

When a self-driving vehicle causes an accident, liability for the crash may rest with the driver if the vehicle is engaged in manual mode. Drivers may also have liability for a self-driving vehicle that is not fully autonomous, as drivers are expected to continue monitoring the vehicle. 

Many companies are testing fully autonomous self-driving vehicles, including Tesla, Apple, Google, and a number of traditional auto manufacturers. When these test vehicles are involved in an accident while engaged in fully autonomous mode, the company can be held liable for the accident.  

What Can You Recover if You Are Injured by a Self-Driving Vehicle?

If you were injured in a car crash that was caused by a self-driving vehicle, you may be entitled to recover compensation for:

• Repair of vehicle damage
• Costs of medical treatment, including hospital bills, doctor’s appointments, surgeries, prescriptions, and physical therapy
• Costs of long-term care, such as home health care, if you suffer disabilities as a result of your injuries from the accident
• Loss of wages or income when you miss work to recover from the accident
• Loss of earning capacity due to permanent disabilities
• Physical pain and emotional distress and trauma
• Loss of enjoyment or quality of life due to scarring/disfigurement or due to physical disabilities caused by your injuries

Contact a Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Self-Driving Vehicle Accident Case in Pennsylvania

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a self-driving vehicle accident in Pennsylvania? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Marrone Law Firm, LLC represent clients injured because of self-driving vehicle accidents in Philadelphia, Center City, University City, and throughout Pennsylvania. Call (866) 732-6700 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 200 S. Broad St., Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19102.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.