Arizona stops Self-Driving Car Testing after Fatal Uber Crash

A recent New York Times article reported that the death of a woman by a self-driving has forced the state of Arizona to put the safety of the public before the interests of manufacturers. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey ordered that Uber and other autonomous car makers could no longer conduct safety tests on local public roads. The woman died while she was pushing her bicycle. The vehicle that struck her was manufactured by Uber. The car killed the woman even though a human driver was in the vehicle.

Arizona had enticed Uber and other manufacturers into Arizona by allowing cars to be tested on public roads instead of just private roads. The Governor now recognizes that that enticement was in error. Governor Ducey remarked that the revocation of test driving privileges was necessary because the accident made clear safety was not being prioritized. Arizona had deregulated its safety rules in the hope of bringing new technology jobs to the state. Other companies that were testing their self-driving vehicles in Arizona included Waymoa, a Google offshoot, and Cruise, a General Motors company.

Uber, on its own, had suspended testing due to the accident – in Arizona, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Toronto. The company stated that it is helping investigators.

Governor Ducey was persuaded to order the testing stoppage after reviewing a video from the Tempe Arizona police department. The video showed that both the car and the human driver failed to see the woman. According to the police, the Uber vehicle didn’t slow down. The National Transportation Safety Board, which is also investigating the crash, has yet to release its report.

Liability for self-driving car accidents

The family of the woman who died has the right to bring a wrongful death claim against Uber. The main ground for bringing the lawsuit would be a product liability claim. The key parts of that type of claim are showing that:

• Uber made a defective car – either by bad design or poor workmanship
• The defective car caused the accident which killed the woman
• The family members suffered financial and emotional damages that should be paid to the family survivors

Claims could also be brought on other theories such as negligence. Experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyers would work to show, for example, that Uber’s testing procedures were substandard.

At Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, our Chicago Uber accident lawyers handle the tough cases. We’re not afraid to take on the car manufacturers and parts markers when they fail to protect the public. Technology does have limits. There are safety standards that must be met. If you were injured or a loved one was killed, we’re ready to help. Please phone our experienced attorneys at 312-600-9585 or schedule an appointment by using our contact form.