Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer

As autonomous vehicles become increasingly common on Buffalo's streets, from the Scajaquada Expressway to the Peace Bridge, the legal landscape surrounding self-driving car accidents continues to evolve. At Rosenthal Kooshoian & Lennon, LLP, we understand the complex intersection of technology and liability that self-driving car accidents present to Western New York residents. Contact Rosenthal Kooshoian & Lennon, LLP today for a free consultation and discover how our dedicated self-driving car accident attorneys can help secure the compensation you deserve.

What Are Self-Driving, Autonomous Vehicles?

Self-driving or autonomous vehicles are cars and trucks equipped with advanced technology that allows them to operate with minimal or no human intervention. These vehicles use a combination of sensors (including cameras, radar, lidar, and ultrasonic sensors), sophisticated software, artificial intelligence, and machine learning algorithms to perceive their environment, make decisions, and navigate roads. They continuously process data about road conditions, traffic signals, other vehicles, pedestrians, and obstacles to safely reach their destination.

Autonomous vehicles are typically classified on a scale from Level 0 (no automation) to Level 5 (full automation). Most consumer vehicles with "self-driving" features today operate at Level 2 (partial automation) or Level 3 (conditional automation), requiring driver supervision and readiness to take control. Fully autonomous Level 4 and 5 vehicles, which can operate without human oversight in most or all conditions, are still being developed and tested by companies like Waymo, Tesla, and traditional automakers, with the goal of eventually reducing accidents, improving traffic flow, and providing mobility for those unable to drive.

How A Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer Can Maximize Your Compensation

Our self-driving car accident lawyers employ strategic approaches to secure the highest possible compensation for victims of autonomous vehicle crashes throughout Buffalo and Western New York.

• Technical Evidence Collection: Our self-driving car accident attorneys obtain and analyze critical data logs, sensor readings, and software records that conventional accident cases don't typically involve.
• Multiple Liability Identification: Our self-driving car accident lawyer will investigate all potentially responsible parties, including vehicle manufacturers, software developers, component suppliers, and fleet operators to maximize recovery sources.
• Cutting-Edge Case Building: Our self-driving car accident lawyer team works with autonomous technology specialists to establish how system failures in self-driving vehicles directly contributed to accidents on Buffalo roadways.
• Comprehensive Damages Assessment: Our self-driving car accident lawyers document all economic and non-economic impacts, from medical expenses at Buffalo General to lost wages and diminished quality of life while recovering near Delaware Park.
• Regulatory Knowledge Application: Our self-driving car accident lawyers leverage evolving autonomous vehicle regulations and precedents to strengthen your position during negotiations.
• Strategic Insurance Negotiation: Our Buffalo car accident lawyers counter insurance companies' attempts to minimize payouts by presenting irrefutable technical evidence of autonomous system failures.
• Future Damages Calculation: Our self-driving car accident lawyers accurately project long-term costs of injuries sustained in self-driving car accidents, including ongoing treatment at Roswell Park and potential career limitations.
• Litigation Preparation: While most cases settle, our self-driving car accident attorneys build each case ready for trial, strengthening our negotiating position with insurers.
• Manufacturer Accountability: We hold autonomous vehicle companies accountable for design flaws, programming errors, and inadequate safety protocols that endangered Western New York drivers.
• Consumer Protection Advocacy: Our self-driving car accident lawyer team applies consumer protection laws when self-driving vehicles fail to perform as advertised on Buffalo's highways and neighborhood streets.

Our self-driving car accident lawyers at Rosenthal Kooshoian & Lennon, LLP combine local knowledge of Western New York with advanced understanding of autonomous technology to secure the compensation you deserve after a life-altering collision with a self-driving vehicle.

Financial Compensation You May Be Entitled to After a Self-Driving Car Accident

As your self-driving car accident lawyers, Rosenthal Kooshoian & Lennon, LLP fights to secure every form of compensation available under New York law for victims of autonomous vehicle collisions throughout Buffalo and the surrounding communities.

• Medical Expenses: Compensation covering all healthcare costs, including emergency treatment at Erie County Medical Center, surgical procedures, hospital stays, medication, physical therapy, and long-term rehabilitation services.
• Lost Income: Recovery for wages lost during your recovery period, as well as diminished earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous position at Larkinville, the Medical Campus, or elsewhere in Western New York.
• Pain and Suffering: Monetary damages for the physical pain and emotional distress experienced following an autonomous vehicle accident, which may be substantial in cases involving severe injuries on the I-190 or Niagara Falls Boulevard.
• Property Damage: Funds to repair or replace your vehicle and any personal property damaged in the self-driving car accident, ensuring fair market valuation rather than depreciated offers from insurance companies.
• Diminished Quality of Life: Compensation for the reduced enjoyment of life's activities, whether you can no longer bike along the Outer Harbor, attend Sabres games at KeyBank Center, or participate in family events without pain or limitation.
• Emotional Distress: Recovery for psychological impacts such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, or fear of travel following traumatic autonomous vehicle collisions at busy intersections like Delaware and Hertel or Main and Transit.
• Wrongful Death Benefits: Compensation for surviving family members when a self-driving car accident results in the tragic loss of a loved one, including funeral expenses, lost financial support, and loss of companionship.
• Punitive Damages: In cases involving particularly reckless conduct by autonomous vehicle manufacturers or operators, additional compensation may be awarded to punish wrongdoers and deter similar future behavior.
• Loss of Consortium: Damages for the negative impact on your relationship with your spouse or partner due to serious injuries sustained in a self-driving car accident near Buffalo's neighborhoods or surrounding suburbs.
• Future Medical Costs: Projected compensation for ongoing medical needs, including future surgeries, medication, assistive devices, home modifications, and long-term care requirements resulting from autonomous vehicle injuries.

Our self-driving car accident attorneys at Rosenthal Kooshoian & Lennon, LLP work diligently to calculate and document the full extent of your damages, ensuring that settlements or verdicts reflect both current losses and future needs after an autonomous vehicle collision in Western New York.

Why Self-Driving Car Accidents Are Different

At Rosenthal Kooshoian & Lennon, LLP, we understand that autonomous vehicle collisions present unique legal challenges compared to traditional car accidents on Buffalo's roadways, requiring specific knowledge that general auto accident attorneys may not possess.

• Complex Liability Determination: Self-driving car accidents involve potentially responsible parties beyond just the drivers, including vehicle manufacturers, software developers, component suppliers, and data service providers.
• Technical Evidence Requirements: These cases rely heavily on specialized electronic data, including vehicle logs, sensor recordings, algorithm decision trees, and software version histories that aren't factors in conventional accident cases.
• Evolving Legal Standards: Self-driving car accident lawyers must navigate rapidly changing regulations and legal precedents as courts and legislators work to keep pace with autonomous vehicle technology deployed on Western New York streets.
• Software Defect Analysis: Unlike traditional mechanical failure cases, autonomous vehicle accidents often involve complex software bugs or AI decision-making errors that require technical interpretation and expert testimony.
• Data Privacy Considerations: Self-driving car accidents frequently raise questions about data ownership, privacy rights, and access to vehicle information stored by manufacturers, adding layers of complexity to evidence gathering.
• Multiple Insurance Policies: These accidents typically involve multiple coverage sources, including the vehicle owner's policy, manufacturer warranties, technology company insurance, and potentially commercial fleet policies.
• Human-Machine Interaction Failures: Many self-driving car accidents occur during the transition between autonomous and manual control, creating unique questions about warning systems and handoff protocols not present in standard vehicles.
• Comparative Negligence Challenges: When autonomous vehicles and human drivers share Buffalo's roadways from the Peace Bridge to Transit Road, determining the percentage of fault between human judgment and machine decision-making adds significant complexity.
• Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: Self-driving car accident attorneys must evaluate whether security breaches or remote interference contributed to accidents, an entirely novel consideration compared to traditional collision cases.
• Regulatory Compliance Issues: Autonomous vehicle manufacturers must meet both traditional safety standards and emerging AI governance requirements, creating additional avenues for establishing liability that don't exist in conventional accident cases.

Common Accident Cases Involving Self-Driving Cars

At Rosenthal Kooshoian & Lennon, LLP, our self-driving car accident lawyers have represented Buffalo residents in various types of autonomous vehicle collisions, each presenting unique technical and legal challenges that require specialized attention.

• Sensor Failure Accidents: Autonomous vehicles rely on cameras, radar, and lidar that can malfunction in Western New York's heavy snow conditions, causing the vehicle to miss obstacles, pedestrians crossing Elmwood Avenue, or traffic stopped on the Kensington Expressway.
• Control Transition Problems: Many crashes occur during the handoff between autonomous and manual driving modes, particularly when drivers traveling along the I-90 corridor are distracted or unprepared to take control when the system suddenly disengages.
• Software Glitch Collisions: Programming errors in autonomous driving systems can cause unexpected braking, acceleration, or steering maneuvers, resulting in crashes on busy streets like Niagara Street or Delaware Avenue when the vehicle behaves unpredictably.
• Mapping Database Errors: Self-driving cars depend on accurate map data, and when this information is outdated or incorrect, vehicles may follow dangerous paths through construction zones near Canalside or misinterpret lane markings on newly reconfigured Buffalo streets.
• Traffic Signal Misinterpretation: Autonomous vehicles sometimes fail to properly recognize or respond to traffic signals, particularly in complex intersections like those surrounding the Medical Campus, leading to dangerous right-of-way violations.
• Weather-Related Failures: Self-driving systems often struggle in Buffalo's challenging winter conditions, with snow covering road markings and ice affecting stopping distances, creating hazardous situations along Route 5 and other exposure-prone corridors.
• Cybersecurity Breaches: Though rare, hacking incidents targeting autonomous vehicles have occurred, giving malicious actors control over critical vehicle functions and potentially causing accidents throughout connected urban environments.
• Multi-Vehicle Autonomous Crashes: As more self-driving vehicles share the road, we've seen complex scenarios where multiple autonomous systems interact poorly, creating cascading failures and multi-vehicle pileups on major highways surrounding Buffalo.
• Pedestrian Detection Failures: Self-driving car accident attorneys frequently handle cases where autonomous systems fail to detect pedestrians in low-light conditions or unexpected locations, particularly in busy areas like Allentown or near Sahlen Field.
• System Override Conflicts: Accidents occur when human drivers attempt to override autonomous systems during perceived emergencies, but the vehicle's software resists these interventions, creating dangerous conflicts in vehicle control.

Who is Liable for Self-Driving Car Accident Injuries and Damages?

At Rosenthal Kooshoian & Lennon, LLP, our self-driving car accident lawyers conduct thorough investigations to identify all potentially liable parties following autonomous vehicle collisions on Buffalo's streets, from the Scajaquada corridor to the neighborhoods of South Buffalo.

• Vehicle Manufacturers: Automotive companies producing self-driving vehicles may bear liability when design defects, inadequate testing protocols, or system integration failures contribute to accidents on Western New York roadways.
• Software Developers: Companies creating the AI and algorithmic systems that power autonomous vehicles can be held responsible when programming errors, faulty decision-making logic, or inadequate safety parameters cause crashes near Buffalo landmarks like Canalside or Delaware Park.
• Component Suppliers: Manufacturers of sensors, cameras, radar units, and other hardware components used in self-driving systems may share liability when these parts malfunction or fail to perform as specified in various Western New York driving conditions.
• Map and Data Providers: Organizations supplying the critical mapping data and infrastructure information that autonomous vehicles rely upon can bear responsibility when outdated or inaccurate data leads to navigation errors and subsequent collisions on Buffalo streets.
• Vehicle Owners: Despite automation, owners maintain certain responsibilities and may share liability particularly in Level 2 or 3 autonomous vehicles that require human supervision while traveling through areas like Elmwood Village or along the waterfront.
• Fleet Operators: Companies operating autonomous taxi or delivery services must ensure proper maintenance and monitoring of their vehicles, facing liability when operational negligence contributes to accidents throughout Buffalo and surrounding Erie County communities.
• Software Update Providers: Entities responsible for over-the-air updates to autonomous driving systems may be liable when these updates introduce new bugs or when critical safety updates are delayed or improperly implemented.
• Infrastructure Maintenance Authorities: Government agencies and contractors responsible for road maintenance, signage, and markings can share liability when infrastructure deficiencies confuse autonomous systems navigating roads from the Peace Bridge to Transit Road.
• Cybersecurity Providers: Companies providing security systems for autonomous vehicles may bear responsibility in the rare cases where hacking or unauthorized access leads to accidents or system failures in connected urban environments.
• Human Drivers: In mixed-autonomy traffic situations common throughout Buffalo, human drivers of conventional vehicles who interact dangerously with self-driving cars can bear partial or complete liability for resulting collisions.

Common Causes of Self-Driving Car Accidents

At Rosenthal Kooshoian & Lennon, LLP, our self-driving car accident lawyers have identified numerous recurring factors that contribute to autonomous vehicle collisions throughout Buffalo and Western New York's unique urban and suburban landscapes.

• Sensor Limitation Failures: Autonomous vehicle sensors struggle with Buffalo's heavy lake effect snow, dense fog near the waterfront, and intense glare from sunlight reflecting off Lake Erie, leading to critical detection failures and subsequent accidents.
• Software Algorithm Defects: Programming flaws in the decision-making systems of self-driving cars can cause them to misinterpret traffic patterns on complex interchanges like the 33/90 junction or fail to properly prioritize safety in emergency situations.
• Map Database Inaccuracies: Outdated or imprecise mapping data fails to reflect recent construction projects, lane reconfigurations, or temporary closures in rapidly developing areas like the Medical Campus or Larkinville, causing navigation errors and collisions.
• Communication System Breakdowns: Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication failures prevent autonomous cars from coordinating with other vehicles or receiving critical traffic signal data at busy Buffalo intersections.
• Human Handover Complications: Accidents frequently occur during the transition from autonomous to manual control, particularly when drivers traveling on the I-190 or Route 5 aren't adequately prepared to take over when the system unexpectedly disengages.
• Unexpected Road Conditions: Self-driving systems trained on data from other regions often struggle with unique Western New York road features, potholes after harsh winters, or irregular infrastructure throughout Buffalo's historic neighborhoods.
• Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: Hacking incidents targeting autonomous vehicle systems can compromise steering, braking, or acceleration functions, creating dangerous situations throughout Buffalo's connected transportation network.
• Sensor Maintenance Issues: Dirty, damaged, or improperly calibrated sensors fail to accurately detect pedestrians in Elmwood Village, bicyclists along the Outer Harbor, or obstacles on roadways throughout Erie County.
• Edge Case Scenarios: Autonomous systems encounter situations during Buffalo events like concerts at KeyBank Center or festivals at Canalside that weren't included in their training data, leading to unpredictable responses and potential accidents.
• System Override Conflicts: Critical accidents occur when self-driving cars resist or misinterpret human override attempts during perceived emergencies, creating dangerous control conflicts near high-traffic areas like the Galleria Mall or University at Buffalo campuses.

Major Companies Producing Self-Driving Cars

As self-driving car accident lawyers representing Buffalo residents, Rosenthal Kooshoian & Lennon, LLP maintains comprehensive knowledge of the major manufacturers and technology companies developing autonomous vehicles that may be involved in accidents throughout Western New York.

• Tesla: This electric vehicle manufacturer's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving technologies are among the most widely deployed consumer-facing autonomous systems, with many Tesla vehicles operating on Buffalo roadways from Delaware Avenue to the I-90 corridor.
• Waymo: Google's self-driving car division operates one of the most advanced autonomous fleets in the country, with vehicles that use sophisticated lidar and camera systems that may eventually navigate through Western New York's challenging winter conditions.
• General Motors/Cruise: GM's autonomous vehicle subsidiary has deployed self-driving taxis in several cities, using technology that could soon appear on Buffalo streets from the Elmwood Village to South Buffalo neighborhoods.
• Ford/Argo AI: Though Ford's partnership with Argo AI ended in 2022, the automotive giant continues autonomous vehicle development through its BlueCruise system, which may be involved in accidents on highways surrounding Buffalo.
• Toyota/Woven Planet: The Japanese automaker's autonomous vehicle division is developing advanced driver assistance systems and fully autonomous technologies that operate in various conditions similar to those found throughout Erie County.
• Apple: Though secretive about its autonomous vehicle program, Apple continues developing self-driving technology that could eventually appear in vehicles navigating Western New York's urban and suburban environments.
• Aurora: This autonomous driving technology company partners with major automakers to integrate self-driving capabilities into commercial and passenger vehicles that may operate on Buffalo's expressways and neighborhood streets.
• Motional: Formed through a partnership between Hyundai and Aptiv, Motional develops autonomous systems designed to function in varied environments, including conditions similar to Buffalo's seasonal weather challenges.
• Baidu/Apollo: China's leading autonomous vehicle platform is expanding globally, with technology that could eventually operate on vehicles throughout New York State's highway systems and urban centers.
• Zoox (Amazon): Amazon's autonomous vehicle subsidiary is developing purpose-built self-driving cars without steering wheels, presenting unique legal considerations should these vehicles become involved in accidents near Buffalo commercial districts.

As self-driving car accident attorneys, our team at Rosenthal Kooshoian & Lennon, LLP stays current with each manufacturer's autonomous systems, helping us efficiently identify liability factors and technical failures when these vehicles are involved in collisions throughout Buffalo and Western New York.

Get Buffalo's Trusted Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyers On Your Side

If you've been injured in a self-driving car accident in Western New York, don't navigate this complex legal terrain alone. The technology and laws surrounding autonomous vehicles continue to evolve, but your right to fair compensation remains constant. Contact Rosenthal Kooshoian & Lennon, LLP today for a free consultation and discover how our dedicated self-driving car accident attorneys can help secure the compensation you deserve.

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Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer FAQs

How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a self-driving car accident in New York?

Under New York's statute of limitations, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, this timeframe can be shorter in certain circumstances, such as when filing claims against government entities or if a fatality occurred. We recommend contacting our self-driving car accident lawyers as soon as possible after an autonomous vehicle collision to preserve evidence and ensure all deadlines are met.

What evidence is unique to self-driving car accident cases?

Self-driving car accidents require specialized evidence including vehicle data logs, sensor recordings, software version history, over-the-air update records, and internal diagnostic information. Our self-driving car accident attorneys work with technical specialists to properly request, preserve, and analyze this crucial digital evidence before it can be altered or lost.

Can I still recover damages if I was partially at fault in a collision with a self-driving car?

Yes. New York follows a "pure comparative negligence" rule, meaning you can recover compensation even if you were partially responsible for the accident, though your percentage of fault will reduce your recovery. Our self-driving car accident lawyers can help minimize your assigned percentage of fault when an autonomous vehicle's system failures contributed to the crash.

Are self-driving car accident settlements typically higher than traditional car accident cases?

Self-driving car accident settlements often involve larger compensation amounts due to the complexity of the cases, the potential involvement of large technology companies and manufacturers, and the novel legal issues they present. Our firm's understanding of both Buffalo's local court system and autonomous vehicle technology helps maximize settlement values for these complex cases.

How do insurance companies handle claims involving autonomous vehicles?

Insurance companies are still adapting to self-driving technology and often lack clear policies for handling these claims. Many insurers attempt to delay or deny these complex claims, especially when the vehicle was operating in autonomous mode. Our self-driving car accident attorneys have experience countering these tactics and holding insurance companies accountable for fair compensation.

What happens if a self-driving car's software update caused my accident?

If an over-the-air software update contributed to your accident, the company responsible for the update may be liable for damages. Our firm investigates the timing and content of recent updates, change logs, and known issues to establish a connection between software changes and the collision that occurred on Western New York roadways.

Do self-driving car accident cases typically go to trial?

While most self-driving car accident cases settle before trial, manufacturers and technology companies may be more likely to litigate to avoid setting precedents. Our self-driving car accident lawyers prepare every case as if it will go to trial, ensuring we maintain leverage during settlement negotiations while being fully prepared for courtroom litigation if necessary.

How are self-driving car accidents investigated differently?

Investigating autonomous vehicle accidents requires specialized technical knowledge beyond traditional accident reconstruction. Our team works with automotive technology experts to analyze AI decision-making processes, sensor performance in Buffalo's varied weather conditions, and software responses to identify exactly what went wrong in the moments before the collision.

What if my self-driving car accident involved a commercial autonomous vehicle?

Commercial autonomous vehicles like self-driving taxis, trucks, or delivery vehicles involve additional liability considerations, including fleet management practices, maintenance records, and commercial insurance policies. Our self-driving car accident attorneys have experience handling cases involving both personal and commercial autonomous vehicles throughout Western New York.

How will New York's no-fault insurance system affect my self-driving car accident claim?

While New York's no-fault system provides initial coverage regardless of who caused the accident, these benefits are often insufficient for serious injuries. Our self-driving car accident lawyers can help you pursue claims beyond the no-fault system when your injuries meet New York's "serious injury" threshold, allowing us to seek full compensation from all liable parties involved in the autonomous vehicle collision.