More self-driving vehicles are on the road thanks to advanced technology. These vehicles are equipped with radar, GPS, odometry, laser vision, and computer vision so they can maneuver and navigate through the environment.
However, if one of these features malfunctions or fails, the vehicle can get off course and an accident can result. If you have been in a self-driving car accident in Massachusetts, you should consult with a personal injury attorney.
All accident injury claims are challenging, but those with a self-driving vehicle can even be more difficult to pursue.
How Negligence Comes into Play
To have a successful personal injury claim, you must prove negligence. There are four elements of negligence – duty, breach, cause and damages. First, you must show that the other party had a duty or a responsibility to act in a specific way to prevent others from being hurt.
You then must show that duty was breached. As an example, the other vehicle ran a stop sign or rear-ended your vehicle at a traffic light. The third step is to show that action, such as the rear-end impact or running a traffic light, led to the accident that resulted.
You must then show the damages and injuries that were suffered were a result from the accident. In Massachusetts, comparative negligence is used.
Massachusetts Accident and Insurance Laws
In Massachusetts, comparative negligence is used. This means that damages are reduced by your percentage of fault for the accident. If you were 20% to blame for the crash, then the other party is only responsible for 80% of the damages that resulted.
If your damages were $60,000 and you were 20% at fault, you can recover up to $48,000 from the other party. The accident report and other documentation, such as the medical bills, medical records, and damage estimates will help support your claim and prove the damages and responsibility.
In Massachusetts, drivers are required to maintain auto insurance coverage. Drivers must maintain $20,000 bodily injury per person per accident and $40,000 bodily injury for all persons per accident.
You are also required to maintain $8,000 personal injury protection (PIP) and $5,000 property damage liability. There are two different kinds of PIP coverage. One covers the policy holders and the other covers the entire household.
Uninsured/underinsured coverage is not required but recommended. If you are caught driving without insurance, you can face fines ranging from $500 to $5,000 and up to a year in jail. Your driver’s license, registration, and vehicle tags can be suspended for 60 days as well.
Consult With a Massachusetts Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been in an accident with a self-driving vehicle in Massachusetts, you should consult with a Massachusetts personal injury attorney. There is a three-year statute of limitations for pursuing a claim in the state.
If you wait too long, you will not be compensated. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page today.
