Louisiana is one of the earlier states to enact laws allowing so-called “autonomous vehicles” to operate on its public roads. The laws relate to autonomous commercial motor vehicles. There are two types of autonomous commercial vehicles approved for operation in Louisiana – those that are completely self-driven, with no human involved, and those that are remotely piloted (somewhat like a drone but operating on the road).

Certification for Autonomous Commercial Vehicles

Louisiana requires autonomous commercial vehicles to meet federal motor vehicle standards. The vehicle must also be designed to fail safely; in other words, if the autonomous driving system becomes disabled, the vehicle must automatically achieve what's called a “minimal risk condition,” meaning that it must put itself into a state that will “reduce the risk of a crash.” Owners of autonomous commercial vehicles must also carry at least $2 million in liability insurance. The owner or operator must also certify to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development that the autonomous vehicle meets the state's requirements for these types of vehicles.

Autonomous Commercial Vehicle Accidents

If an autonomous commercial vehicle is involved in an accident “while the automated driving system is engaged,” it must remain at the scene just as human drivers are required to do in most cases. The owner or operator of the vehicle must report the accident to law enforcement and provide “all relevant information.” This requirement applies whether the vehicle is completely driverless or operated remotely.

Liability in Autonomous Vehicle Crashes

Louisiana does not have a specific law that changes how liability is determined if an autonomous vehicle is involved in a crash while on the road, whether that vehicle is a commercial vehicle or a personal vehicle.

Like any vehicle accident case, deciding who is liable will depend on a variety of factors, including the testimony of the human driver involved in the crash, witness testimony, local camera coverage of the accident area, examination of any failed vehicle parts, and analysis of the wreckage and the accident area.

Unique to autonomous vehicles, however, the liability determination may also involve a review of the autonomous vehicle's software, its navigation system, recorded video stored by the vehicle or the vehicle's operator, “black box” type information collected by the vehicle for the moments leading up to the crash, and in the case of a remotely-piloted video a review of the remote driver's actions leading up to the accident.

The Delsa Law Firm, LLC, Can Help if You're in an Accident With an Autonomous Vehicle

While autonomously operated vehicles may be relatively new, the concepts that determine liability in an autonomous vehicle case are not. If you've been involved in a crash with an autonomous vehicle, don't assume that you'll automatically be held responsible simply because you're a human. Autonomous vehicles make mistakes, and their owners and operators can be held liable when that happens.

At the Delsa Law Firm, LLC, we've helped drivers all across Louisiana recover for injuries and damages they've suffered in car and truck accidents caused by “the other guy” – and we can help even when “the other guy” is an autonomous vehicle. Call us today at (985) 882-1222, or use our contact link to schedule a confidential consultation. Our office is conveniently located in Slidell, just off of I-12, close to the intersection of I-10, I-12, and I-59.