Unmanned Vehicles and US Product Liability Law
Stephen S. Wu · Journal of Law Information & Science · 2012
Unmanned vehicles may someday become commonplace in transportation, in industry, and for a wide variety of applications. Just as automobiles and trucks displaced the horse, unmanned vehicles may become the mainstay for transporting cargo, and autonomous vehicles may displace human-driven automobiles and trucks. When unmanned and autonomous vehicles become commonplace, the legal system will need to address liability arising from the accidents that will occur with the use of these vehicles. With its sophisticated system of product liability statutes, doctrines, and guidance, the law of unmanned vehicles in the US may have worldwide influence on the scope and nature of unmanned vehicle liability.