header-logo header-logo

05 December 2019 / Karishma Paroha
Issue: 7867 / Categories: Features , Profession
printer mail-detail

Automated vehicles: liability, intangibles & satellite litigation

12725
Karishma Paroha outlines FOIL’s response to the Law Commissions’ joint consultation on automated vehicles
  • Limitation, interpretation and application: ensuring the safe deployment of driving automation.

The Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission (the Law Commissions) have now published two joint consultations on automated vehicles.

The first paper published in November 2018 focused on safety assurance, civil and criminal liability, including contributory negligence as defined within the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 (AEV 2018), and data retention (see ‘Automated Vehicles: A joint preliminary consultation paper’). The Law Commissions also considered manufacturer’s liability, focusing on product liability under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (CPA 1987). The second paper, published in October 2019, focused on passenger services (see ‘Automated Vehicles: Consultation Paper 2 on Passenger Services and Public Transport’).

In April 2019, EU commissioner Violeta Bulc said that by 2030 ‘we will have the new generation of vehicles that will be fully automated’. However, the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL) has warned that there are currently too many

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Daniel Burbeary, Michelman Robinson

NLJ Career Profile: Daniel Burbeary, Michelman Robinson

Daniel Burbeary, office managing partner of Michelman Robinson, discusses launching in London, the power of the law, and what the kitchen can teach us about litigating

Sidley—Jeremy Trinder

Sidley—Jeremy Trinder

Global finance group strengthened by returning partner in London

Joelson—Jennifer Mansoor

Joelson—Jennifer Mansoor

West End firm strengthens employment and immigration team with partner hire

NEWS
A seemingly dry procedural update may prove potent. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ this week, Stephen Gold explains that new CPR 31.12A—part of the 193rd update—fills a ‘lacuna’ exposed in McLaren Indy v Alpa Racing
The long-running Mazur saga edged towards its finale as the Court of Appeal heard arguments on whether non-solicitors can ‘conduct litigation’. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School reports from a packed courtroom where 16 wigs watched Nick Bacon KC argue that Mr Justice Sheldon had failed to distinguish between ‘tasks and responsibilities’

The Court of Appeal has slammed the brakes on claimants trying to swap defendants after limitation has expired. In Adcamp LLP v Office Properties and BDB Pitmans v Lee [2026] EWCA Civ 50, it overturned High Court rulings that had allowed substitutions under s 35(6)(b) of the Limitation Act 1980, reports Sarah Crowther of DAC Beachcroft in this week's NLJ

Cheating in driving tests is surging—and courts are responding firmly. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth of De Montfort Law School charts a rise in impersonation and tech-assisted fraud, with 2,844 attempts recorded in a year
As AI-generated ‘deepfake’ images proliferate, the law may already have the tools to respond. In NLJ this week, Jon Belcher of Excello Law argues that such images amount to personal data processing under UK GDPR
back-to-top-scroll