Driver Assist Features Aren’t Always to Blame for Car Accidents

Modern vehicles come with a variety of driver assist features that are designed to keep you in your lane and at a safe following distance. However, the use of these tools doesn’t mean that you can’t be involved in a car accident. Depending on the facts of a case, there is a chance that you could be liable for the crash even if a feature didn’t work as it was supposed to.

Driver Assist Features Don’t Replace Your Own Judgement

A driver assist feature is designed to help you see more of the road or make it easier to take evasive actions if road conditions suddenly change. However, you should never take your eyes or mental focus off of the road at any time or for any reason. If an accident happened because you weren’t paying attention to road conditions, you could be liable for an accident that occurred because you were distracted.

What If a Driver Assist Feature Doesn’t Work Properly?

Let’s say the lane assist feature on your vehicle didn’t alert you to the fact that the car was drifting over into the next lane. While you could argue that the feature didn’t work as intended, it doesn’t negate the fact that you weren’t in control of your vehicle. The same argument would likely be used against you if you claimed that other features failed to work as advertised prior to an accident.

What to Do After an Accident

If you are involved in a car accident, you should stay at the scene until the police arrive. An officer can take your statement and compile a report that can be used during settlement talks or during a personal injury trial. Personal injury lawyers may be able to help you obtain a favorable outcome in your case.