Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers represents those who have been injured in accidents caused by defective collision avoidance systems. Call us today for a free consultation if:
- You or a loved one was injured or killed in an auto accident
- You believe the accident may have been at least partially caused by a defective collision avoidance system
Collision avoidance systems are safety features which help drivers to avoid collisions or reduce collision severity. However, when these systems do not work as intended due to product defects, car accidents can occur. For example, Wikipedia, as of December 17, 2024, lists 27 examples of fatal accidents involving Tesla Autopilot systems.
We represent victims of automated safety systems on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t charge any fee until and unless we recover compensation for the client. No upfront or out-of-pocket fee will be charged for us to represent you in connection with your crash – our only fee is a percentage of any compensation we recover.
If you’ve been injured by crash avoidance technology and can’t afford to have your injuries treated, we can get you to doctors who will treat you without charging you for treatment until your case is over. We have a 30+ year track record of success that doctors know about, and that’s why they give our clients this great deal.
We have been helping those injured in auto accidents since 1990 and have recovered over $750,000,000 for our clients. Our vast experience in representing clients just like you will allow us to recover the most compensation possible on your behalf.
Call us today for a free consultation, text us from this page or fill out this page’s free case evaluation form if you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident involving a collision avoidance system. We can help you recover financial compensation for medical bills, lost earning capacity, lost wages, pain, suffering, wrongful death and more. Call us today.
How Do Collision Avoidance Systems Work?
These systems utilize numerous technologies, like radar, sensors, camera, GPS, lasers and artificial intelligence in order to monitor the surroundings of a vehicle and take action in order to prevent crashes.
Regarding detection, these systems utilize sensors to detect objects, pedestrians and vehicles in the path of drivers. They are also able to monitor blind spots.
Regarding warnings, these systems alert drivers with haptic, auditory or visual warnings. As an examples, cars may beep when getting close to other vehicles.
Regarding braking, some of these systems are able to automatically apply brakes when drivers don’t respond to warnings. Other systems can increase braking efforts when they determine that the response from the driver isn’t sufficient.
These systems may include:
- Assist systems: Assist systems actively assist drivers with collision avoidance. They include automatic emergency braking, electronic stability control and adaptive cruise control. Automatic emergency braking is a common technology which deploys the brakes in scenarios involving imminent crashes. Adaptive cruise control uses laser or radar systems to maintain safe distances from vehicles in front.
- Alert systems: Alert systems warn drivers of possible collisions. They include lane departure warning and blind-spot warning systems. Blind spot monitoring systems use sensors, cameras or radars to detect when vehicles approach the sides of vehicles. They are often synced to turn signals and give auditory warnings when drivers activate turn signals while cars are in blind spots. Lane departure systems use sensors which warn drivers about risks existing in adjacent lanes. A lane departure warning system can warn drivers when they start to drift out of lanes. A forward collision warning system is another example of an alert system – these systems scan the road in front of the vehicle for possible hazards. Rear cross traffic warning systems are another example of alert systems. They monitor the area behind vehicles when vehicles are in reverse and provide alerts when vehicles or pedestrians are behind the vehicles.
- Pedestrian detection: Some collision avoidance systems are able to detect pedestrians as well as provide assistance with braking. A pedestrian detection system can save lives, but it can also cause accidents if it malfunctions.
- Self-driving technology: Vehicles such as Teslas with Autopilot use this technology, which can prevent crashes actively.
- Cooperative collision avoidance system: These systems utilize cooperation between vehicles in order to mitigate collisions.
These systems are able to prevent accidents and reduce accident severity. They can increase highway safety as well as fleet safety for businesses. However, most commercial and passenger vehicles don’t have these systems today. Some collision avoidance systems have been made mandatory in some countries. Other systems are becoming standard via agreements between safety officials and carmakers. It is recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board that more vehicles get equipped with collision avoidance technology.
When advanced driver assistance systems fail, it can result in severe accidents. Call us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident involving collision avoidance technology.
Liability in Collision Avoidance Technology Accidents
Vehicle manufacturers, due to product liability law, may be held liable for auto accidents which are caused by vehicle defects. Most states, including California, impose strict liability upon manufacturers when product defects cause accidents. When manufacturers are strictly liable for accidents, in means they are liable even if they were not negligent in advertising, constructing or designing the product.
There are three types of defects which manufacturers can be held strictly liable for:
- Manufacturing defects: These are defects which occur because something went wrong during the manufacturing process.
- Design defects: Products have design defects if they are defective and dangerous even when they are manufactured and used properly. They are defective by design.
- Failure to warn defects: These are when product manufacturers know or should know that a substantial risk is connected with their product but fail to warn about the risk and/or provide instructions on how to avoid or mitigate the risk.
Some manufacturers of automobiles who have implemented collision avoidance systems have gone through legal woes as a result of claims that crashes have been caused by these systems. As an example, in October 2024, Tesla was sued over the 2023 death of a driver. The lawsuit alleges that Tesla fraudulently misrepresented its Autopilot technology.
Manufacturers of vehicles who implement collision avoidance technology need to go through significant safety testing in order to make sure the systems perform reliably and as they are designed. Manufacturers who exaggerate the capabilities of these systems may face product liability lawsuits based on breach of warranty or failure to warn. Collision avoidance system testing needs to make sure that the systems work in all conditions vehicles will end up encountering, like poor roadway conditions, nighttime scenarios and poor weather conditions.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Crash Avoidance Systems
There are pros and cons to crash avoidance systems.
Benefits of Crash Avoidance Technology
It is shown by data that collision avoidance systems can end up dramatically reducing how many accidents occur. This can save thousands of lives every year. As an example, automatic braking combined with forward collision warnings may reduce injury accident rates by 56 percent. Safety systems like interventions and warnings mostly work as intended, and reduce injuries and accidents.
However these systems have some possible limits and drawbacks which drivers need to understand.
Crash Avoidance System Drawbacks
- Lack of understanding: The majority of these new systems need driver input to occur. Examples include setting lane-centering and adaptive cruise control options. Drivers have to understand how to use them. Thinking vehicles will evade accidents for you despite you not having set your vehicle up properly may lead to crashes.
- Cost: While a vehicle being more safe seems obviously positive, new vehicles’ costs continue to rise. Vehicles can be made more expensive by all of these new technologies and features.
- Repair issues: It is shown by some data that collision avoidance systems may be problematic after undergoing repairs. At times, they need to be replaced or repaired repeatedly in order to work right. It can be complicated to calibrate the systems and not every auto repair shop is up to this task. Drivers could be relying upon systems which aren’t working, or aren’t working properly.
- Distracted driving: Collision avoidance systems may give drivers false senses of complacency. These drivers might think that since their vehicle should warn them about imminent danger, and should sometimes auto-correct in order to maintain safety, they can not pay as much attention to the road. They may become distracted by drinking, eating, operating cellphones or using the radio.
Just because vehicles have collision avoidance systems doesn’t mean they drive themselves. Automation and robotics are making advances in vehicles, but totally self-driving cars aren’t yet here.
Accidents are still the responsibility of humans, even when vehicles are equipped with crash-avoidance and safety features. Drivers still need to stay alert and always pay attention. These systems can assist and enhance drivers but shouldn’t be relied upon to handle 100 percent of road safety. It isn’t safe or responsible to completely rely upon collision avoidance systems and warnings to prevent accidents.
Automatic Braking System Defects
There have been many notable recalls of automatic braking systems, including:
Honda Automated Braking System Recall
In 2024, a recall involved unexpected automated braking occurring. The recall involved almost three million vehicles. Complaints have alleged that the automated braking systems may break vehicles even though nothing is in the forward path of the vehicles, increasing crash risks. There were 47 crash reports and 112 injury reports relating to the issue. The recall involved:
- Honda CR-V: Years 2017 through 2022
- Honda Accord: Years 2018 through 2022
Mazda Automated Braking System Recall
In 2024, Mazda issued a recall of around 10,000 2024MY CX-90 vehicles. The automated braking systems may suddenly activate because of false detection of objects while traveling between 10 and 15 miles per hour. The systems may falsely detect reflections of vehicles as approaching objects because the vehicle control modules were improperly programmed, leading to sudden or unintentional braking which could increase read-end accident risks.
GM Automated Braking System Recall
GM recalled around 55,000 2023 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado vehicles in 2024 due to an automatic emergency braking system defect. The defect could cause vehicles to decelerate or stop unexpectedly, increasing collision risks. The defect relates to a front camera module system which could incorrectly identify obstacles, leading to unexpected braking.
Compensation a Collision Avoidance System Lawyer Can Help You Recover
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident involving a collision avoidance system, a lawyer at our firm can help you recover financial compensation for:
Medical Bills
You are probably already facing medical bills if you were in an accident involving collision avoidance technology. In addition, should this accident lead to a need for ongoing treatment, you will probably face more medical expenses in the future. Our firm can help you recover money to compensate you for all past and future medical bills related to the injuries you sustained in the accident.
Lost Wages
If you got hurt in an accident involving crash avoidance technology, you might have been hurt too badly to work for a period of time, or might have had to miss work to get your injuries treated. Our law firm can help you recover money to compensate you for any wages you were unable to earn due to your injuries.
Loss of Earning Capacity
If an accident involving a crash avoidance system left you disabled, this could represent a loss or reduction of your earning capacity which we can help you recover financial compensation for.
Pain and Suffering
When collision avoidance systems fail, it can leave victims with injuries that cause physical pain and mental suffering. We have the experience and know-how to place an accurate value on your pain and suffering and make sure you’re fairly compensated for it.
Property Damage
Our law firm can help you recover compensation for the cost to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident caused by a collision avoidance system.
Wrongful Death
If you have lost a loved one in an accident caused by a defective collision avoidance system, we can help you recover compensation which can help your family avoid financial hardship due to the loss of your loved one. This can include compensation for funeral bills, burial bills, the pain and suffering your loved one went through prior to passing and the medical bills they incurred prior to passing. This can also include compensation for your grieving and suffering as well as the loss of your loved one’s income, household services, companionship, love and spousal benefits.
Time Limit to File a Collision Avoidance System Lawsuit
If you have been injured in an accident involving crash avoidance technology, there is a time limit to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for your injuries. This time limit, known as a statute of limitations, will depend upon the state you live in.
In California, the time limit is usually two years from the date of the accident, although exceptions to this rule apply. For example, when government entities are involved, like in accidents partially caused by dangerous roadway conditions which should have been fixed by a government entity, the time limit is reduced to only six months.
Call us today for a free consultation to find out if you qualify to file a lawsuit. Don’t hesitate. Don’t wait until the last minute even if you know exactly what your deadline is. Calling us today gives us the most time to put together a convincing case for you, collect evidence before it disappears or deteriorates, and make sure any and all paperwork is filed on time.
Filing a Crash Avoidance System Lawsuit
Our lawyers handle cases involving accidents where malfunctioning or defective collision avoidance systems, such as forward collision warning or automatic emergency braking systems, are suspected to contribute to the accidents. We handle cases where people are injured when safety technology, which is intended to prevent collisions, fails, causing collisions.
These are product liability cases, and we have been handling product liability cases for over 30 years. We will skillfully argue that the vehicle manufacturer has a responsibility to produce and design safe vehicles, including the vehicles’ collision avoidance technology.
We will thoroughly investigate your accident scene, perform an examination of your vehicle’s data recorder, and work with experts in order to determine if a collision avoidance system malfunction contributed to your accident.
Once we establish that the accident and the faulty system were linked, we will work to secure financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain, suffering and more. We will argue that a defect existed in the collision avoidance technology because of issues such as unintended braking, delayed activation, incorrect calibration or faulty sensors.
We will handle every aspect of your case for you so all you need to do is focus on your family and recovering from your injuries after your accident.
Call us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one was injured or killed in an accident involving crash avoidance technology. Remember: we won’t charge you anything until and unless we recover money for you. Call us today.
