There’s no denying that technology is rapidly changing every day – so quickly, that it can be difficult for the law to keep up. Personal injury lawyers are keeping their eyes open to how this new technology will have legal implications.
Despite the fact that technology is created to make individuals’ lives easier, that is not always the impact that it has. Sure, the insane amount of information readily available at our fingertips, and the ability for AI to give us the information we want on demand is convienent, but there are also cases in which certain technology can increase the risk of harm.
From hoverboards catching on fire, to drones moving freely and rapidly through the sky, to self-driving and self-parking vehicles, the danger of these inventions could have wide consequences for personal injury law claims.
Hoverboards
Despite the novelty of the hoverboard, a two-wheeled, electric, self-balancing scooter, which rose to holiday gift fame in 2015, it has become most well known for it’s safety risks. In July 2016, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 501,000 of imported ones; they had not been certified as safe.
Although hoverboards made headlines for their faulty batteries causing the device to catch fire, the seriousness of their risk was brought to the forefront of public attention in March 2017 when one caused a house to catch fire, killing two children in the process.
Drones
The sale of drones, unpiloted, aerial vehicles, tripled in 2015, reaching a total of $200 million. But in 2016, the FAA received 159 monthly reports of flying too close to aircrafts, or even coming into contact with people. In 2017, the safety risks that these products pose became even clearer when a drone fell from the sky at a public event, causing minor injuries to four people. These events also established a lot of unanswered questions. If someone is struck by one of these unmanned objects, who exactly is to be held responsible?
Autonomous Vehicles
One of the most widely discussed inventions in the media is now the autonomous vehicle. They are in fact, one of the most anticipated inventions of the entire 21st century, and with so much interest, companies continue rushing to get them up and running. Google’s self-driving vehicles, known as Waymo, have already been launched in four cities, driving a total of 2 million miles. But while they seem to be great in so many ways, they log 9.1 crashes per one million miles. By comparison, regular vehicles see 1.9 crashes per one million miles. They are five times more likely to crash than these traditional cars, and passengers are four times as likely to be injured. Though they may help to prevent many risks, such as drunk driving, they also pose many risks, such as technical issues or even hacking.
If you or a loved one has been injured by one of these new technologies, you should not have to pay the price. At Cariati Law, our top personal injury lawyers will handle your case for free – you pay nothing until we do. Contact one of our Toronto Personal Injury Lawyers at 905-629-8040 today!