A new law is needed so people injured by driverless cars can gain access to collision data held on the vehicles which might help them secure compensation, lawyers say.
The Department for Transport (DfT) is consulting as it develops safety regulations for self-driving vehicles as the technology advances.
Most newer cars have some semi-automated driverless features, such as lane assist or cruise control, but there are also vehicles capable of driving themselves entirely.
“As driverless, or automated vehicle technology forges ahead, it is paramount that the law keeps pace so if people are injured and a driverless vehicle is to blame, they can seek redress,” said Gordon Dalyell, from the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) which has responded to the DfT’s consultation.
“If someone is injured through no fault of their own, and a driverless car is involved, they must be allowed to see any data held on the vehicle as it could be vital to their claim for compensation, which will support them through their injury. The data might show there have been safety concerns or failings, for example,” he said.
“The proposals being drawn up say that companies, such as manufacturers, which will hold data on these vehicles should have a duty to disclose the information to insurers and regulators, which is right. But this same duty of disclosure must also apply for injured people and their legal representatives,” Mr Dalyell explained.
“It must be shared so injured people are not left to fight huge companies for access to data that could be vital to proving a driverless car caused them harm,” he added.
APIL also wants any data which might be needed for a compensation case to be retained and protected from being wiped as it could prove to be vital evidence.