As self-driving vehicles become more popular, you will be much more likely to encounter them on the roads. While they have been designed using the latest technology to make them operate properly and safely, they can still be in accidents.
Radar, GPS, laser vision, computer vision, odometry, and other features allow the vehicle to sense its surroundings, so it can navigate around things and adhere to traffic regulations. If something malfunctions, the chances of being in an accident increase.
If you have been in an accident with a self-driving vehicle, you should consult with a North Carolina personal injury attorney.
How Negligence Comes into Play
Negligence is the key to a successful personal injury claim. If you can show that the other party was negligent, you can recover compensation for the damages that resulted. There are four elements of negligence that must be proven to show negligence was involved.
Those four elements are a duty of care, which means you had a duty or responsibility to act in a specific way. Then you must show that duty was breached, which means traffic laws were violated, there was an error or malfunction, or something similar.
Next, you prove that the breach caused the accident and then last, prove that the accident resulted in the damages that were suffered. North Carolina uses contributory negligence, which means if you are partially at fault for the accident, you cannot recover damages.
North Carolina Accident and Insurance Laws
Using contributory negligence, North Carolina bars any driver who was partially at fault for an accident for recovering compensation for any damages that were suffered in the crash. This means even if you were found to be just 10% at fault you will not be able to recoup your losses from the accident.
Documentation and evidence will be used to prove fault and determine your eligibility to pursue a claim. If you have been involved in an accident, you need to make sure an accident report is completed by law enforcement. This accident report often shows who is at fault.
In North Carolina, drivers are required by law to maintain auto insurance coverage. The minimum coverage requirements are $30,000 bodily injury for each person and $60,000 total bodily injury for all persons in a single accident. There is a requirement of $25,000 coverage for property damage.
If your coverage lapses, you can face a civil penalty ranging from $50 to $150 depending on the number of previous lapses on your record. Driving without insurance is a Class 1 misdemeanor in the state, which means imprisonment. You could face 1-45 days probation as an alternative sentence.
Consult With A North Carolina Personal Injury Attorney
In North Carolina, there is a three-year statute of limitations for pursuing a personal injury claim after an accident. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page to get your case reviewed for free by an accident injury attorney.
Personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, so there is no cash paid out of pocket.
