As you may know, Gary Wickert recently appeared on a national Ringler Radio program, hosted by Larry Cohen. The program, titled “Driverless Car Litigation”, focused on the ever-changing intersection between the exploding industry of self-driving vehicles and litigation. The latest innovations in driverless cars were discussed, along with their likely impact on the insurance industry and underwriting. Even trial lawyers will have to adapt to the changing face of automobile accidents and injuries that involve self-driving vehicles. “The future starts today, not tomorrow,” Pope John Paul II famously said. He was right. Driverless cars – more appropriately known as “autonomous vehicles” – are here. To listen to the podcast, click HERE. To read the article discussed in the radio broadcast, entitled “Driverless Car Litigation – The World of George Jetson Has Arrived!” – as posted on the CPCU website, click HERE.
As a follow-up to this interesting area of future subrogation potential, new legislation has just been introduced in Congress regarding driverless cars. H.R. 3388, or the “DECAL Act,” was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in late July and was immediately considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill aims to change the rules for highly automated vehicles (HAVs), and contains a savings clause for common law preemption, but fails to properly protect statutory causes of action. Trial lawyers’ organizations, such as the American Association for Justice (AAJ), are working to educate Congress about the importance of preserving remedies for injured consumers. We will keep you updated as this potential legislation makes its way through the sausage-making process in Washington, D.C.
If you have any questions regarding this article or subrogation in general, please contact Gary Wickert at gwickert@mwl-law.com.
