The Future Of Tort Law In The Age Of Autonomous Vehicles And Emerging Technologies
- IJLLR Journal
- Apr 4
- 1 min read
Rishabh Sharma, LLM, MATS University, Raipur
ABSTRACT
The rapid advancement of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and emerging technologies presents significant challenges for traditional tort law frameworks, which were designed to address human-centric liabilities. This research focuses on the growing intersection of tort law and AV technology, emphasizingtheshortcomingsin existinglegalframeworksaddressingfault and liability when accidents occur amongst autonomous systems. Liability issues are also a focus of the study, which emphasizes the difficulties of separating product liability and negligence, of distributing responsibility across manufacturers, software developers, and operators (and whether companies can avoid liability by contracting out algorithms), and of underlying ethical dilemmas that result from algorithmic decision-making.
Utilizing an interdisciplinary methodology, the paper explores case law studies (notably, the incidents involving Tesla’s Autopilot) and compares jurisdictional responses (including Germany’s black box requirement, and proposed U.S. reforms such as the implementation of strict liability against manufacturers). It even broadens the analysis to other new technologies, AI, robotics and drones, emphasizing necessary legal adaptation to deal with their complexity and autonomy.
Proposed reforms incorporate adopting strict liability for manufacturers, setting clear performance standards, and promoting international coordination of regulation. The research further analyzes the potential impact of AVs on the insurance landscape, predicting a decline in personal auto insurance and calling for new frameworks of risk assessment. That research ultimately advocates for legal and policy changes that can balance innovation with accountability,, ensuring that tort law remains effective in safeguarding rights and promoting safety in an increasingly automated world.
Keywords: autonomous vehicles, tort law, product liability, emerging technologies, legal reforms, artificial intelligence, insurance.
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