Pitfalls of Automotive Technical Advancements

Car Accident Statistics

In one recent year, over 34,000 people died in auto accidents in the United States.

In the same year, over 7 million auto accidents took place.

One person dies from a fatal car accident every 14 minutes.

Most Common Car Accident Causes

Speeding

Driving under the influence

Negligent or risky driving

Future of Car Technology

Partially self-driving cars may perform the bulk of tasks, but humans intervene in certain driving conditions.

Fully autonomous cars may make human intervention unnecessary for all tasks at all times.

Positive Effects of New Auto Technology

Decreased traffic congestion: Autonomous cars could prevent many traffic jam patterns.
Decreased pollution: With cars not stuck in traffic as long, smog and exhaust pollution could lessen.
Fewer car crashes: Common causes of car crashes are not easily replicable with programmed, autonomous driving.
Increased commute comfort: With drivers taking a metaphorical backseat, commute time could shift focus to driver comfort and entertainment.

negative Effects of New Auto Technology

A prominent fatality in Arizona took place as a result of an Uber self-driving car, signaling the technology still poses safety issues.
Cybersecurity concerns after Chinese hackers used security flaws to trick an auto-pilot Tesla into opposite direction of traffic.
Driving aides could make motorists more dependent and less engaged in driving, which could pose a hazard when human intervention is necessary.
Hundreds of thousands of people who drive for a living face unemployment.
Autonomous vehicles could increase traffic if more commuters shift from public transit to self-driving taxis or rideshare vehicles.
Ethical questions remain about how a self-driving car should “choose” between protecting its occupants versus others on the road.

Featured FAQ

How do I get the most money for my case?

Evidence is essential in order to get top dollar for an injury case. This means there must be proof of who was at fault for the accident and that the accident caused your injuries. Police reports and witness statements go a long way to proving fault while detailed medical records from qualified doctors (many times orthopedics or neurologists) are used to show the cause and extent of the injuries. We work to build a solid case in order to seek maximum compensation for our clients’ injuries.

Is there a benefit to being represented by a lawyer?

Most of the time in an accident injury situation, an insurance company will be your opponent. Insurance companies are very skilled at denying or minimizing injury claims – that’s how they make money. Insurance adjusters regularly deny claims that should be paid, or they offer only a small percent of the fair value of a claim. Our goal is the opposite. We develop a settlement package presenting our client’s case that often can result in our client receiving 10 to 20 times more compensation than what the insurance adjusters might offer for their injury claim. In such case, even after legal fees, our clients can net more money in their pocket. Even better, we work on a completely contingent basis, so there are no legal fees unless we are successful in collecting compensation for our clients.

Should I talk to the insurance company?

Do not talk to anyone at the insurance company. This includes their insurance adjusters and defense lawyers. Insurance companies frequently record phone conversations during which they ask leading questions designed to produce testimony that they can use to deny your case. If we are your lawyers, we will do the talking for you so you do not fall into the insurance company traps that are designed to decrease the value of your claim.

How do I pay my medical bills?

Medical bills can be paid through various manners such as health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Personal Injury Protection insurance funds, deferred billing, and letters of protection. Depending on all of the facts surrounding your case and the insurance companies involved, we produce a strategy that we believe will best benefit our clients. Also, even if our clients do not have access to health insurance, we can assist them with getting medical care that is paid at the end of the case – which means no upfront medical bills.

How do I collect my lost income?

Even if an injured person is not able to work after an accident, insurance company tactics are to disagree and assert that the person could work so the insurance companies can deny the claim for lost income. It is important to have a qualified doctor’s medical documentation that proves the inability to work for a certain period of time due to an injury. We work with our clients’ doctors and employers to prove the medical reason for not working and the calculation of lost earnings. This frequently results in a fight with the insurance company, but we believe that with solid evidence we are ultimately able to win the fight and collect our clients’ lost income.