You rely on your car’s safety technology to spot dangers you might miss. These systems can detect nearby road users and warn you of a crash risk. However, some detection systems may have trouble identifying motorcycles, which could delay a warning or response before a collision.
If a flaw in your car’s detection system contributed to the crash, the manufacturer may share responsibility due to a product defect.
How the system could be defective
A detection system’s failure to identify a motorcycle does not automatically mean your car has a defect. However, it may raise questions about whether it:
- Failed to identify a crash risk
- Responded late after detecting a crash risk
- Lacked adequate warnings about known system limits
- Malfunctioned
Vehicle data and software records may show how the system reacted before the collision. Investigators may compare this information with recall records and the condition of the damaged car to identify a possible system failure.
What information may matter
If you suspect the safety system failed, vehicle data may show how it reacted before the crash. Software records may also identify the system version in use.
Recall records and the damaged car may reveal a defect that contributed to the motorcycle crash. This evidence can show whether the detection system worked as intended.
When the car may share the blame
A motorcycle crash may appear to result from driver error at first. But if your car failed to detect the rider, the safety system’s performance may reveal another cause of the collision.
Minnesota law can assign fault to more than one party. A defect in the detection system could place part of the responsibility on the manufacturer if the technology contributed to the crash.