SELF-DRIVING DISCLOSURE: Lawyers call for legal reform to access driverless vehicle data in injury claims
- Perry Richardson
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 22 hours ago
Lawyers have called for new legislation to ensure people injured in collisions involving driverless vehicles can access onboard data needed to support compensation claims, as the Department for Transport (DfT) continues developing safety regulations.
The intervention comes as the DfT consults on the future regulatory framework for automated vehicles, with industry adoption accelerating from semi-autonomous features such as lane assist and adaptive cruise control to fully self-driving systems.
Gordon Dalyell, speaking on behalf of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), said current proposals do not go far enough in guaranteeing access to critical collision data for injured parties. “As driverless, or automated vehicle technology forges ahead, it is paramount that the law keeps pace so if people are injured and a driverless vehicle is to blame, they can seek redress,” he said.
Dalyell warned that while draft proposals require manufacturers and other companies holding vehicle data to disclose information to insurers and regulators, the same obligation should extend to claimants and their legal representatives. “If someone is injured through no fault of their own, and a driverless car is involved, they must be allowed to see any data held on the vehicle as it could be vital to their claim for compensation,” he said.
Lawyers urge government to extend disclosure duties as self-driving regulations take shape
He added that access to such data could reveal potential safety failings or system errors, which may be central to determining liability in incidents involving automated driving systems. Without formal rights to access this information, injured parties could face legal challenges when pursuing claims against large manufacturers or technology firms.
APIL is also calling for mandatory data retention rules to prevent potentially crucial evidence from being deleted. The organisation argues that safeguarding collision data will be essential as disputes increasingly hinge on software performance and system behaviour rather than driver actions.
The DfT consultation is ongoing, and it remains unclear whether the final regulatory framework will include provisions granting direct access to vehicle data for individuals pursuing compensation claims.
