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NLJ this week: Automated vehicles, issues to consider & the Commissioners’ report

03 June 2022
Issue: 7981 / Categories: Legal News , Technology , Personal injury , Insurance surgery
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What does the future hold for driverless cars? Writing in this week’s NLJ, Lucie Clinch, covers the Law Commissions’ report on automated vehicles, including issues of responsibility, liability, safety and data retention

Who is the ‘driver’, when does ‘handover’ take place, and what constitutes ‘self-driving’? Clinch also looks at the thorny issue of contributory negligence. She notes the lack of clarity on uninsured automated vehicles, writing ‘users may fail to insure or to include a “self-driving” addition in their insurance policy.

In an incident involving an uninsured AV, there would be no easy route to compensation as the direct right of action against the insurer would not apply.’ 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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