Indiana Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyers

Hensley Legal Group has what it takes to hold everyone who played a role in your Indiana self-driving car accident to account.

• Trusted by Clients and Respected by Peers – We have earned the trust of our clients and the respect of our peers, with over a quarter century of success and honors from Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers.
• Every Aspect of Your Case Handled – From uncovering the truth behind your self-driving car accident to securing the compensation you deserve, Hensley will handle every aspect of your case.
• Representation at No Risk – You won’t have to pay a dime unless we win, so there is no risk involved when our firm represents you.

It sometimes feels like we’re living in the future, a feeling that is only enhanced by the so-called “self-driving” cars that corporations like Waymo have begun rolling out in markets throughout the country. Though completely driverless vehicles aren’t currently permitted on Indiana’s roads, a number of cars and trucks in the state are capable of operating with a significant amount of autonomy, and ones that literally drive themselves may not be far behind.

Yet like with many advances that promise to make us safer, the truth is that self-driving technology may actually put us at risk by creating an opening for a reckless driver to point the finger elsewhere in the wake of a collision. However, you won’t have to deal with the consequences of a self-driving car accident alone if you get in touch with Hensley Legal Group, PC, a dedicated Indiana personal injury law firm whose experienced attorneys have been fighting on behalf of the wrongfully injured since 1998.

Hensley was recently named one of the Best Law Firms in the United States by Best Lawyers®. Its Indiana car accident attorneys have also been honored with inclusion in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Super Lawyers, America’s Top 100 Attorneys, and the National Trial Lawyers’ lists of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers and the Top 40 Under 40, and they would be just as honored to provide you and your family with top-notch legal assistance.

To learn what a skilled Indiana self-driving car accident attorney can do for you, schedule a free consultation by calling us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form today.

What Is a Self-Driving Car?

While few Hoosiers at this moment are likely to come across a vehicle with no driver whatsoever, certain models in common usage in Indiana feature semi-autonomous technology, a mixture of hardware and software that could allow them to navigate busy streets with minimal guidance.

The extent to which a vehicle can operate by itself is ranked on a scale of 0 to 5. Whereas “Level 0” autonomy encompasses traditional cars and trucks that are totally controlled by their drivers, “Level 5” applies to vehicles that can react appropriately to complications in even the most heavily congested stretch of I-65 in downtown Indianapolis.

But the vast majority of self-driving cars in Indiana are equipped with Level 2 technology, like Tesla’s Autopilot system, which can help them detect other vehicles are objects and stop or swerve to avoid crashes but otherwise demands that their drivers be prepared to intercede at all times.

Who Is at Fault for a Self-Driving Car Accident?

Given that this is probably the first period in automotive history when it may not be immediately clear who or what was in charge of a car at the time of a collision, how exactly do we determine who is at fault for a self-driving car accident?

Regardless of the technology that may be on board, the individual behind the wheel still bears the ultimate responsibility when a self-driving car accident takes place in Indiana, though others might be responsible as well. Depending upon the circumstances, the potential defendants might include the:

• Owner of the car (if separate from the driver)
• Business deploying the car commercially (if separate from the owner)
• Car’s mechanic
• Manufacturer of a malfunctioning car or driving system
• Government agency with jurisdiction over a poorly built or maintained roadway

In some instances, multiple defendants may be liable for the same Indiana self-driving car accident, and each of them must be pursued within the time allotted by law, known as the Statute of Limitations. According to section 34-11-2-4 of the Indiana Code, a civil “action…for injury to person or character…must be commenced within two (2) years after the cause of action” for most auto accidents, whether self-driving or not. This gives you a narrow window in which to file a lawsuit or resolve your claim, and your challenges may continue to grow in the face of stiff opposition from multi-billion-dollar conglomerates if you are alleging that a defective vehicle or component was a factor.

Nevertheless, you can rest assured that our tenacious Indiana self-driving car accident lawyers won’t ever let a regulatory hurdle or an obstructionist legal tactic stand between you and the compensation you deserve.

Important Steps to Take After a Self-Driving Car Accident

It isn’t easy to think clearly after any kind of accident, but there are important steps you should take after a self-driving car accident to better protect yourself and any personal injury case you might have, such as the following:

• Move to a safe location – To prevent a second accident from occurring, move to a safe location before you attempt to do anything else.
• Alert the authorities – Dial 911 to alert the authorities if police and emergency personnel do not show up on their own. Be sure to tell the responding officer everything that happened so that an accurate report will be produced.
• Shoot photos and videos – Don’t put your phone back in your pocket without shooting photos and videos of your surroundings, as they could be invaluable in assigning blame and cataloging your damages, and capture anything that indicates what system was installed in the car that hit you.
• Seek treatment – Doubt could be cast on the relationship between the self-driving car accident and your injuries if you don’t seek treatment quickly, preferably from paramedics on site or at the closest emergency room.
• Exchange information – Prior to leaving the scene, try to exchange some basic information with anyone involved in the accident and anyone who witnessed it, such as:
  • Name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • Email
  • Insurance details
  • Vehicle year, make, and model
  • License plate
• Notify your auto insurance company – Promptly notifying your auto insurance company could keep you in compliance with the terms of your policy and let you access such benefits as reimbursement for towing, rentals, repairs, and physician visits.
• Stay away from other insurers – On the other hand, it may be wise to stay away from the insurers for the other parties, who could exploit any verbal mistakes you make to undermine your claim, at least until you can…
• Talk to an attorney – A seasoned Indiana self-driving car accident lawyer can go over the facts leading up to your accident and start laying a rock-solid foundation for your case.

How Hiring Hensley Can Make a Difference

Self-driving cars may be the newest thing, but there is nothing new about the harm inflicted in a self-driving car accident. Very soon, you could be overwhelmed by escalating expenses and simultaneously unable to earn the funds to meet them, but our Indiana self-driving car accident attorneys can make a difference.

If you hire Hensley, we will carry out a comprehensive investigation to identify the root causes of your self-driving car accident and everyone who may have contributed to it, then establish valid claims and/or file suit against them before the Statute elapses.

Additionally, our Indiana self-driving car accident lawyers will act swiftly to amass the evidentiary materials required to shore up your case, such as:

• Police reports
• Citations and dispositions
• Witness statements
• Event Data Recorder (EDR) logs
• Phone records
• Driving and servicing histories
• Accident reconstruction and forensic analysis
• Testimony from experts in autonomous technology

Upon securing irrefutable proof of the defendants’ misconduct, we will negotiate exhaustively with their insurance carriers for a settlement that reflects the entirety of your damages, including your:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Psychological trauma
• Impaired mobility
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Diminished quality of life
• Loss of consortium

And if we do not receive an offer that is worthy of your claim, we are not afraid to go to trial for a verdict that is, unlike many of our competitors, who rarely see the inside of a courtroom.

We realize that you might be reluctant to spend more money after spending so much already, but you should know that Hensley works on a contingency basis. This means that you won’t owe us anything unless our Indiana self-driving car accident attorneys win your case.

A successful outcome may not be automatic in the aftermath of a devastating crash with a self-driving car, but our firm vows to do everything necessary to make you whole again.

Reach Out to Our Indiana Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyers

Hensley Legal Group has been fighting on behalf of the seriously injured since 1998. If you are struggling to get back to normal after being hurt by an autonomous vehicle in Indiana traffic, reach out to our Indiana self-driving car accident lawyers to explore the remedies that may be available to you.

You can call us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form for a complimentary case review with an accomplished Indiana self-driving car accident attorney now.