An operations manager for Uber’s self-driving trucks division emailed the company’s top executives, claiming that the vehicles were routinely in accidents. This email occurred just days before a self-driving vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian. The manager claims that the problems lie both with problems in the technology and partially because of the behavior of the operators.
The operations manager sent out the email to the head of Uber’s autonomous vehicle unit, six other executives, and lawyers for the company. The email claimed that several of the drivers were not “properly vetted or trained”. He also warned that the vehicles were being damaged almost every other day and hitting things every 15,000 miles. He also described incidents in which a car drove on a sidewalk and a near-accident. The email was sent on March 13, which was only days before a fatal collision in Arizona in which a self-driving car hit and killed a pedestrian.
After the accident, Uber suspended all of its tests. The accident is still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. It was revealed in June that the individual inside the car was watching videos just before the accident occurred.
Many companies rush to introduce new products on the market, such as autonomous vehicles, before they are ready and safe for the public. If you have been harmed by a consumer product or a company, you have the right to compensation. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles personal injury attorney at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.