Trial Lawyers Lobby Against Autonomous Vehicles
The article argues that trial lawyers, through the American Association for Justice, have been lobbying against autonomous vehicle (AV) legislation for nearly a decade, despite growing evidence that AVs are substantially safer than human drivers. Citing Waymo data from over 220 million miles driven, the article reports 94% fewer serious injuries, 82% fewer air bag deployments, and 93% fewer pedestrian injuries compared to human driving. The author contends that trial lawyers oppose AVs because they profit heavily from litigating the $180-220 billion annual auto insurance payout system. The article advocates for a UK-style insurance model (Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018) where a single insurer covers the vehicle regardless of driver, victims are compensated directly, and manufacturers face costs through insurer subrogation. This system, the author argues, would reduce transaction costs and improve safety deterrence compared to tort litigation.
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