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No-Fault Insurance: Driverless Cars and The Hidden Costs for Convenience

No-fault insurance is a type of car insurance that pays for the policyholder’s medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of who caused the accident. This type of insurance is becoming increasingly relevant in the age of driverless cars, as the question of fault in an accident involving a self-driving vehicle is not always clear.

Advantages of a No-Fault Insurance System

No-Fault as an insurance scheme is controversial as it limits the amount of accountability a driver causing a collision would have. In most aspects of life, if you cause harm to another party, then you are responsible for correcting that harm. No-fault does not follow that general practice. Other issues about no-fault can be read about in more detail here. However, one of the main perceived advantages of a no-fault insurance system is that it can help to speed up the claims process in the event of an accident. Since the insurance company is not required to determine who was at fault, the process of determining liability and paying out claims can be simplified. This can be particularly beneficial in the case of an accident involving a driverless car, as the technology is still relatively new, and the question of fault may be difficult to determine.

Another potential advantage of no-fault insurance is that it can help to reduce the number of lawsuits related to car accidents. Since the insurance company is responsible for paying out claims regardless of fault, there is less incentive for policyholders to sue each other in order to recover damages. This advantage hasn’t been studied extensively and depends on the jurisdiction’s legislation. It is conceivable that there would be no change in the number of lawsuits.

For more information on No-Fault insurance and what it could mean for Albertans, please visit FAIR AB.

The Disadvantages of a No-Fault Insurance System

While no-fault insurance may seem like a convenient option for those looking to insure their driverless cars, it is important to consider the drawbacks of this type of coverage:

One of the main disadvantages of no-fault insurance is that it can limit the amount of compensation that a policyholder can receive. Since the insurance company is not required to pay out damages for pain and suffering, policyholders may be left with significant medical expenses that are not covered by their insurance. This can be a significant problem for those who are involved in more serious accidents, such as those involving permanent injury or death.

Another disadvantage is that no-fault insurance may not provide adequate coverage for more serious accidents. This can be a problem for those who are involved in accidents involving driverless cars, as the technology is still relatively new and the question of fault may be difficult to determine. As a result, policyholders may not be able to receive the full amount of compensation that they are entitled to.

Additionally, no-fault insurance can lead to increased costs for policyholders. Since the insurance company is responsible for paying out claims regardless of fault, there is less incentive for policyholders to sue each other in order to recover damages. However, this can lead to higher insurance premiums for policyholders, as the insurance company must spread the cost of claims across all policyholders.

Despite the potential advantages of no-fault insurance, such as speeding up the claims process and reducing the number of lawsuits, it is important to consider the drawbacks before opting for this type of coverage. Policyholders should carefully evaluate their coverage options and consider the potential risks and limitations of no-fault insurance when insuring their driverless cars.

Driverless Cars and the Current At-Fault Insurance Framework

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has noted that current auto insurance policies under provincial legislation assume that human error is the main cause of motor vehicle accidents, which has historically been true 90% of the time. However, as technology takes over more driving, accidents will be caused more frequently by product malfunctions. This shift in responsibility from humans to technology will result in many injured parties having to go through product liability litigation to seek compensation, which is more complex and takes longer to resolve than traditional motor vehicle liability claims. This will result in delayed compensation for individuals injured in accidents involving autonomous vehicles (AVs).

To accommodate AVs and their drivers, IBC recommends a single insurance policy covering both driver negligence and automated technology, a data-sharing arrangement with vehicle manufacturers, vehicle owners, and insurers to determine the cause of a collision, and new federal vehicle safety standards for AV technology and cyber security. These changes will affect personal injury lawyers, who will need to acquire knowledge of AV technology and stay up to date on developments in its use. They may also need to expand their expertise to include product liability.

Conclusion

As driverless cars become more prevalent on the roads, the question of liability in the event of an accident becomes increasingly complex. Under traditional auto insurance policies, the driver is typically held liable in the event of an accident. However, in the case of a driverless car, determining fault can be difficult. Is it the fault of the driver who may have been in control at the time of the accident, the manufacturer of the vehicle, or the software developer?

This has led to a “limbo” state in which the question of liability in accidents involving driverless cars is not clear. The insurance industry is currently struggling to adapt to this new reality, with many companies hesitant to insure driverless cars without a clear understanding of how liability will be determined in the event of an accident.

The lack of a clear framework for determining liability in accidents involving driverless cars is a significant challenge for the insurance industry. Without a clear understanding of who will be held liable in the event of an accident, many companies are hesitant to insure these vehicles. As the technology of driverless cars continues to evolve, it will be important for policymakers and the insurance industry to work together to find a solution that balances the need for adequate coverage with the need to keep costs down for policyholders.

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