Self-Driving Car Crash: Who Pays if Algorithms Are at the Wheel?

Overview

The January 2024 ban on Chinese and Russian technology in connected vehicles isn’t just a national security measure—it’s triggering a fundamental transformation in auto insurance liability models. As connected and autonomous vehicle technology rapidly evolves under these new constraints, insurers face an unprecedented question: when algorithms control vehicles, who bears responsibility for accidents?

In this essential episode of Between the Lines with Elizabeth Blosfield, industry experts reveal how the traditional “insure the driver” model is giving way to a complex web of liability involving manufacturers, software developers, and component suppliers—all further complicated by the mandated transition away from certain foreign technologies by 2027 (software) and 2030 (hardware).

What You Will Learn  //

• The New Liability Matrix: How responsibility is shifting from drivers to a complex ecosystem of OEMs, software providers, and hardware manufacturers
• Regulatory Impact on Claims: How the foreign technology ban accelerates the need for new claims assessment frameworks when algorithms are involved in accidents
• Data Access Challenges: Why determining fault will require unprecedented cooperation between insurers, automakers, and technology providers
• Contract and Supply Chain Implications: How early termination clauses and force majeure provisions will become critical as manufacturers scramble to replace banned components
• Strategic Positioning: Practical approaches for insurers to navigate this liability shift while maintaining competitive products

Don’t be caught unprepared as this regulatory shift transforms the fundamental relationship between carriers, policyholders, and vehicle manufacturers. Join us to develop the strategic roadmap your organization needs during this pivotal transition in auto insurance.

Who’s in This Episode  //