Hardly a day goes by without hearing some news on self-driving cars. Testing is ongoing with more states allowing limited use of drive less cars. It’s no longer a matter of if this is going to happen, it is now inevitable that we will be seeing self-driving cars in our near future. Even though the technology is moving forward in leaps and bounds, there are still considerations to think about such as insurance.
This may be a complicated subject, but for now, coverage for cars using self-driving technology works the same way as coverage for traditional vehicles, according to the insurance industry. Insurance claims process for cars using the systems generally works the same way as for cars without them per one insurance industry group.
When there is an accident involving a driver less car, and investigation must be conducted and once that investigation is completed, the insurer of the driver at fault pays for injuries and damage to the others, up to the limits of the policy.
The problem may be that some will argue that the software is at fault while trying to cast blame on the manufacturer of the vehicle. Today, there are very few d self-driving cars on the road so this issue hasn’t become a big one. Fewer than a dozen states, including Florida, have enacted regulations specifically addressing self-driving cars, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
There will no doubt be court battles in the future as this technology becomes more prevalent and there are more self-driving cars on the roads. Just due to the number of cars on the road there are bound to be accidents, and no doubt some of them fatal. Once emotions come into play we will see how the courts will rule. Who will they decide is ultimately to blame, and how will insurance companies deal with it.
