Federal safety inspectors have been looking into details of a Tesla car accident that was driving in autopilot mode. The woman’s car crashed into a fire truck at a high rate of speed. Details about the collision are still being discussed as the driver admitted to being distracted by her cell phone while driving. However, she apparently explained that while she was the operator of the vehicle, she wasn’t in fact driving at the moment of impact since she had engaged the autopilot mode. The manufacturer of the car has explained that the driver must always remain vigilant and in control of the vehicle, even when the autopilot is turned on. The driver must maintain his or hands on the wheel and eyes must remain on the road in order to avoid road hazards and make corrections. The woman suffered accident injuries that were relatively minor. They included an ankle injury with a broken bone. However, the force of the collision could have also caused a neck and back injury or other serious life-threatening injuries, according to experts. This is not the first time a Tesla car was involved in a motor vehicle accident while in autopilot mode. A car crash involving an Apple engineer killed the driver in another case. Officials from Tesla also blamed that deadly accident on driver error, saying that the operator was a distracted driver. A New York accident injury lawyer notes that a great deal of risk is involved with the use of automated cars. The responsibilities of the car manufacturer and a potentially negligent driver will require in depth analysis. Further discussion about this autopilot car versus fire truck accident can be seen here.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Marc van der Chijs [License]