The family of the woman who was killed by a self-driving Uber car has reached a settlement with the company. Uber will be protected by the settlement to disclose the details of its self-driving tech to the public. It will also prevent a high-profile discussion and legal decision of who is at fault when a human is hit by a self-driving car. Elaine Herzberg, 49, was hit by an Uber’s self-driving car at 40 MPH on March 18 around 10 PM.
Her death occurred when she was walking her bicycle on a confusing intersection. This incident spurred a statewide suspension of the company’s self-driving tests. The company has started conducting its self-driving tests somewhere else. Toyota and Nvidia have also suspended their self-driving efforts until the results of the inquiry of the accident come out.
Herzberg’s death caused a lot of damage to the company’s repute. Uber has been trying to regain the trust of the public. According to Cristina Perez Hesano, the legal aspect of the case has been solved. Hesano is an attorney with the firm of Bellah Perez in Glendale, Arizona, who was retained after the death of Herzberg. The terms on which the settlement was made have not been made public. Hesano said that Herzberg’s daughter and husband will not make any statement on the matter.
Whatever the settlement and agreement was, Uber has been spared a trial which could have made the essential key components of the self-driving technology a public record. Similarly, the question that who was at fault when a self-driving car hits a human will also not be argued on in the court.
Lets hope it gives solace to the victim’s family as well!
