Safety technology in a DC car accident is vital. Safety technology may save the lives of your friends, family, and yourself. This technology improves incrementally every year. Not only can it save your life if you are in an accident, but it can prevent the accident entirely. This is particularly important in urban environments like Washington, D.C. Downtown DC presents challenges to all drivers. Navigating complex routes in DC if unfamiliar with the roads can be difficult. Some streets allow you to drive down them during certain parts of the day but not others. And while safety technology may not be able to prevent all types of DC car accidents, it certainly can for some.
In busy urban streets in DC, whether in Georgetown, K Street, Navy Yard, Northeast DC, or anywhere else in the District, there are many obstacles to anticipate and be aware of. Commuters, tourists, policy-makers, bikers, pedestrians, and scooter riders travel in DC. Some know where they are driving, while others do not. Some rush to get to the next important meeting, while others take in the views of the monuments and memorials. Sometimes, anticipating the actions of each of these many actors on the streets is impossible. This is when accidents occur, even if it is not your fault. Advanced safety technology can aid any driver. Particularly as we age, safety assistance is even more valuable. It is always welcomed, even if you do not believe it is necessary.
While you may not believe you must wear your seatbelt for a 5-minute drive to the store, it is better to have it. Here, we define safety technology in a DC car accident and discuss the legal implications involved.
We believe the more safety technologies your car has, the better off you will be. While some are more effective at preventing accidents than others, even an incremental positive difference is desirable. But here, we will discuss the most helpful safety technologies we have observed in our practice.
When it works, automatic emergency braking is one of the most effective and beneficial car safety technologies. Automatic emergency braking systems use sensors and cameras to monitor the vehicle’s proximity to others on the road. Unfortunately, these cameras and sensors do not always work. Some systems use lasers, while other systems use other technologies. Regardless of the method, no car manufacturers claim that their emergency braking system works 100% of the time. If incorrect, it can cause you to break at a perilous time. For example, what if you are merging into another lane, and your car automatically brakes, believing you are in an emergency? That is the worst possible scenario, as your safety technology took a reasonably safe situation and put you in a dangerous one.
On the other hand, automatic emergency braking safety technology in a DC car accident can be a lifesaver in preventing rear-end collisions. This is particularly useful on busy city streets such as Washington, D.C. We are known to have some of the worst rush hour traffic in the nation. In rush hour traffic, there is a lot of speeding up and sudden stoppage. These sudden stops can be dangerous, particularly for distracted drivers.
This is another critical safety technology in a DC car accident. When working correctly, this technology will vibrate the steering wheel to alert the driver that they are drifting into another lane. A driver may not even realize a driver is beside him in his blind spot. Or, the driver may be fatigued from a long, tiresome drive. Whatever the case, unknowingly departing a lane, even just a few inches or feet over the dotted white line, is a frequent occurrence. You cannot drive more than a few miles without seeing several drivers creeping over the yellow line or white lane markers. While a lane departure warning system will not completely eradicate this behavior, it will reduce the number of times it happens.
The issue is that not enough cars have this standard. Car manufacturers charge extra for these technologies; not all consumers deem it valuable enough to pay extra for this safety technology. Consequently, Washington, D.C. still sees its fair share of sideswipe car accidents.
For those unfamiliar with adaptive cruise control, it is similar to autonomous driving if you stay in one lane on the highway. It can also be viewed as an evolution of the traditional cruise control systems that have been standard in cars for decades. You can instruct your car not to go above a certain speed yet still slow down to stop from hitting the car in front of you. But these technologies are imperfect. Particularly on I-495, but also on many of the highways in DC, the lanes are not always clearly painted. When you are driving around a curve, you still need to steer. It is only the acceleration and braking that are automatic.
Another issue regarding adaptive cruise control is the permissible gap between your car and the vehicle in front of you. Adaptive cruise control may allow you to get within one car length of the vehicle in front of you. While they may sound safe, if you drive 60 miles per hour, more time is needed to intervene if the technology fails. And no technology is perfect. You can think of a time in the last few months when you had to restart your iPhone or computer. The difference there is your life is not at stake. While this safety feature sounds beneficial, it should not be relied upon. If you decide to use it, remain vigilantly focused on the road.
Safety technology in a DC car accident protects those fortunate enough to use the most advanced technologies and impacts everyone else on the road. Thus, the more people who have these technologies available, the better. Studies have consistently shown that safety technologies like those discussed above have reduced accidents. However, there are many anecdotes of people who come to rely on these technologies and consequently get into accidents of their fault. The car manufacturers almost always present disclaimers, placing liability on the driver and instructing the driver to remain alert while behind the wheel, despite the presence of a safety technology.
The impact of safety technologies extends beyond other drivers. Pedestrians are well-served by these technologies.
The legal implications of safety technology in a DC car accident are vast. There are implications for insurance premiums. The safer a person drives, the lower their premiums will be. At some point, it is theorized that the car manufacturer will eventually be liable for the damages suffered by a victim of their technologies instead of the driver. While that day is not yet here, it is worth looking out for as it will shape the legal landscape for DC car accidents.
The trusted DC accident attorneys at Gelb & Gelb, P.C. have 70 years of experience handling car accident cases in the District. If you have questions about liability for safety technology in a DC car accident, contact our office today for a free consultation.
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