The Rise of Driver-Assist Technology and Georgia Product Liability Law

Driver-assist systems (ADAS) are more common on Georgia roads than ever, changing how many of us face everyday traffic jams and highway commutes. Unlike fully self-driving technology, which operates the vehicle with little or no driver input (Level 4 or 5 on the SAE scale), driver-assist features depend on a human behind the wheel (Levels 1 or 2).

These tools are designed to help drivers, but they are not replacements. Using this technology can sometimes lead to accidents, and you may need to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit.

Examples of driver-assist technology

Driver-assist technology is increasingly common in today’s vehicles, with the primary goal of supporting drivers and preventing crashes. Some well-known examples of these advanced features include:

Adaptive cruise control

This system automatically adjusts your speed based on the distance to the car ahead, slowing down or speeding up as needed to maintain a safe following distance.

Lane-keeping assist

Lane-keeping helps steer the vehicle back into its lane if it starts to drift without signaling. This technology uses cameras to monitor lane markings.

Automatic emergency braking (AEB)

AEB detects sudden hazards or stopped vehicles up ahead and can apply the brakes if the driver doesn’t react quickly enough to avoid a crash.

Traffic-jam assist

When traffic starts to slow down, traffic-jam assist can automatically brake and speed up once traffic starts moving again. This can make the commute a bit less exhausting for drivers stuck in traffic.

Hands-free highway systems

This technology allows limited hands-off driving by using advanced sensors to control speed, steering, and distance. However, drivers are always expected to stay alert and be able to take over immediately if needed.

While these technologies make daily driving easier and reduce certain risks, confusion and malfunction can lead to dangerous situations. When an injury involves this kind of technology, figuring out what went wrong and who is responsible isn’t easy. There are so many moving parts that overlap with each other, making a lawyer essential if you’re injured in this situation.

How these features can lead to accidents

Problems with these tools can leave drivers, passengers, or even bystanders at serious risk. Understanding common risks is important. Below are some of the ways accidents can occur.

False sense of security

Many drivers mistakenly believe these features make their car fully self-driving. When people become too relaxed, distracted, or disengaged from driving, they may react too slowly if an unexpected issue arises on the road or with the vehicle.

Sensor or software malfunctions

If sensors unknowingly stop working correctly or software doesn’t respond how it’s supposed to - for instance, failing to see a pedestrian or recognize a stopped car - accidents can happen unexpectedly, and the user might not have a chance to fix the situation.

Confusing warnings and controls

Some systems may send unclear beeps, lights, or alerts that confuse the driver instead of assisting them. This means a driver may become distracted or may not be able to act in time to prevent an accident.

Defects in the technology

Beyond a simple malfunction, actual defects in how the hardware or software was designed and built can make the system unreliable from the start. Features might engage at the wrong moment, fail altogether, or give the driver alerts and instructions that aren’t safe.

When tragic outcomes result from faults with advanced driver-assist systems, the responsibility may lie with multiple parties - the driver who made a mistake, as well as the company that manufactured the vehicle or the software used for these tools.

Who can be liable in a Georgia ADAS crash?

When an advanced driver-assist system is believed to have contributed to a crash in Georgia, figuring out who is responsible is often complicated. Here are some of the parties that could be responsible:

Vehicle manufacturer responsibility

The company that builds the vehicle has a lot of control over how these technologies work together. They decide on the system’s design, test when and how it operates, set up user controls and alerts, and decide how software updates get sent to customers.

If a poor choice is made in how the tools interact or the settings for when they should and shouldn’t work, or a defect occurs and they simply don't work as intended, the automaker may be held legally responsible.

Parts and technology suppliers

Not all the technologies inside your vehicle come just from the manufacturer. They rely on other companies that provide the individual sensors (like cameras, radar, or lidar), steering or brake components, and pieces of software that help the system run.

In many cases, when a technical component like a malfunctioning brake, camera, or a software error contributed, the supplier and automaker could share in the blame.

Mapping companies

Some ADAS systems depend on outside maps or pathway-planning tools created by third parties. If the map is outdated, wrong, or poorly designed for detection, these software mapping companies might also be partly at fault. However, these are rare situations and can be difficult to prove. In such instances, it is important to have a knowledgeable attorney who knows how to prove this case.

Dealerships and sales representatives

Even though the dealer doesn't build the car, they could still potentially be responsible if something goes wrong, leading to a car accident. Dealers may be liable in limited circumstances, such as negligent misrepresentation, failure to perform updates, or breach of warranty, but they are generally not strictly liable for manufacturing defects (unless the manufacturer cannot be sued). For instance, sometimes car shops don’t complete necessary software updates, sensor calibrations after an oil change, or warn you about important new safety orders.

Failure to inform you about critical updates or limits on features, or overpromising what these tools can do, could lead the dealer to hold some responsibility.

This type of technology is complicated, which also complicates these cases. Gathering the right evidence and placing fault in the right place takes skilled legal representation.

If you’ve been injured and you believe one of these components is to blame, we’re here to help. We have over 20 years of legal experience and have recovered more than one hundred million dollars for our clients. When you need help during this difficult time, we’re in your corner. Contact us to schedule a free case consultation as soon as you are ready to learn more about your options.