July, 2016 - WNW Legal

NHTSA Still in Support of Automated Cars Despite Fatal Wreck

July 21, 2016/in Personal Injury /by damg

Mississippi residents may have heard about the person who was killed in a motor vehicle crash involving a Tesla Model S car that was driving in autopilot mode. The fatal accident happened May 7 in Florida, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, is formally investigating what went wrong.

Despite the accident, the head of the NHTSA said the agency is still in support of the development of autonomous vehicles. According to him, 94 percent of all motor vehicle accidents are caused by human mistakes, and the agency believes that autonomous vehicles could substantially reduce that percentage. The agency chief made his comments on July 20 at a conference.

The NHTSA is currently in the process of drafting safety guidelines for the deployment of automated vehicles as well as the manner in which the vehicles should react in a variety of different circumstances. The guidelines originally were scheduled for release by July 14, but the agency now says that they will not be ready until later in the summer.

An accident involving an automated vehicle raises issues regarding liability. The question of whether the driver or the software is technically at fault must be acknowledged by the creators of the software and any accident survivors. If a person is killed in an accident caused by a negligent motorist, then the person’s lawyer may help him or her file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault driver in order to hold him or her liable for the losses they have suffered. The lawyer may also investigate whether the driver’s insurance policy may provide an additional avenue of coverage for the accident.

Seat Belts, Speed and Traffic Safety in Mississippi

July 14, 2016/in Personal Injury /by damg

A report from the CDC analyzed data from WHO and the OECD from 2000-2013 and found that the United States has the highest rate of car accident deaths among wealthy nations. In 2013, there were roughly 90 fatalities each day, which equated to over 32,000 for the entire year. The data takes into account accidents involving bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.

Although traffic deaths have declined since 2000, that decline still lags behind other countries. In the United States, there was a 31 percent decline compared to an average of 56 percent among 19 other wealthy nations. Spain had a reduction of 75.1 percent in that same time period while Denmark saw a decline of 63.5 percent. In addition to leading in deaths per year, the United States was also tops in deaths per 100,000 people and per 100,000 vehicles.

Driving at high rates of speed, driving while impaired and inconsistent seat belt use were three reasons why the CDC believes the U.S. crash death numbers are so high. In fact, the United States was third-worst when it came to seat belt use, and the problem exists with both adults and children. In 2013, 38 percent of accident victims under 12 were not wearing a seat belt at the time. The CDC believes that 3,000 lives could be saved annually if seat belts were worn at all times.

After a car accident, serious injury or death is possible. Family members of those killed in a wreck may take legal action for wrongful death. Compensation may be available for lost future earnings, final expenses and any medical costs that may have been incurred prior to passing. The estate of the other driver may be responsible for costs if he or she also passes in an accident he or she caused.

Automated System Would Help Trucks Steer Around Cars

July 7, 2016/in Personal Injury /by damg

Mississippi motorists may be interested in learning about an automated braking system that is designed to take control of large trucks in order to prevent or mitigate rear-end crashes. People can be seriously hurt when large trucks hit them from behind, and the new components may help lessen the risk of these collisions.

The components use sensors that measure the stopping distance of the truck and cars that are stopped ahead of it. If it appears that the driver cannot stop in time, the parts take over the steering of the truck in order to maneuver around the stopped vehicles. The devices also have sensors that detect vehicles in the lanes next to the truck. If cars are present there and the truck can’t be steered around the stopped vehicles, then the systems brake as hard as possible to at least minimize the impact of the crash.

The two companies involved in the development of the system indicated that it will function as one of the first steps needed to develop autonomous trucks. It is called the Evasive Maneuver System, and the companies indicated it should be available in three or four years.

Many truck accidents involve rear-end collisions that happen when traffic has slowed and the driver isn’t paying attention. When these crashes occur, people in the vehicles that are hit may suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries. People who are seriously injured in a rear-end crash caused by a large truck may want to talk to a personal injury attorney in order to see what the most advisable way to seek compensation for their losses would be.