Rethinking Insurance and Liability in the Transformative Age of Autonomous Vehicles

📖 The Scoop

The potential benefits of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology are described in media reports almost daily. Many new model vehicles on U.S. roads include aspects of AV technology such as lane-changing alerts, forward collision warning, and blind spot warnings. As fully AV technology begins to be deployed in more vehicles in the United States, we will enter a time of transition for the auto insurance industry. The liability regime that currently underpins auto insurance, which is based on individual driver liability, may soon change to reflect a greater emphasis on the liability of the manufacturer of an AV. On July 14, 2017, the RAND Institute for Civil Justice held a workshop, "Rethinking Insurance and Liability in the Transformative Age of Autonomous Vehicles" in San Francisco, which brought together stakeholders including insurers, reinsurers, plaintiff's attorneys, defense attorneys, automotive industry representatives, regulators, and consumer representatives. The discussion focused on the implications of AV technology for insurance and liability regimes as the industry enters a time of transition. The workshop addressed key uncertainties and challenges for the existing liability and insurance landscapes and explored how these systems might address any potential disruptions. These conference proceedings should be of interest to policymakers and regulators who are grappling with new and emerging technologies, and other stakeholders with an interest in the implications of AV technology for insurance and liability regimes.

Genre: Business & Economics / Insurance / Automobile (fancy, right?)