Prosecutors: Uber Isn't Criminally Liable for Self-Driving Car Death

No Basis

On March 18, an Uber in self-driving mode struck and killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona.

Uber reached a settlement with the pedestrian's family within weeks, but there was still a lingering chance the company could face criminal charges for her death.

Now, it doesn't seem like that will happen. On Tuesday, prosecutors said they found "no basis for criminal liability" for Uber — possibly setting a precedent for future litigation involving autonomous vehicles.

Uber Cleared

Tempe is in Maricopa County, but because the county had an existing relationship with Uber, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office (MCAO) asked the Yavapai County Attorney's Office (YCAO) to review the case to avoid any conflict of interest.

On Tuesday, the YCAO made public a letter it sent to the MCAO.

"After a very thorough review of all the evidence presented," wrote the YCAO, "this Office has determined that there is no basis for criminal liability for the Uber corporation arising from this matter."

Uber could still be forced to pay damages through a civil lawsuit, however, according to NPR .

Driver Liability

Uber itself might not be criminally liable for the pedestrian fatality, but Rafaela Vasquez — the Uber safety driver who police say was watching a television show on her phone around the time of the accident — might be.

The YCAO recommended in its letter that the MCAO have an expert analyze video of the accident to determine "what (and when) the person sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle would or should have seen that night given the vehicle’s speed, lighting conditions, and other relevant factors."

According to a police report obtained by Reuters in June, Vasquez could face a charge of vehicle manslaughter for her involvement in the accident.

Legal Woes

Self-driving cars are still in their technological infancy, and perfecting the tech behind them is just one hurdle to mainstream adoption — society will also need to address a host of related issues, including determining who's liable if a self-driving car is involved in an accident.

Given that Uber still relies on safety drivers to prevent accidents like the one that took place last year, it's not hard to see why prosecutors might choose to press criminal charges against the driver and not the company.

But one day there likely won't be a driver behind the wheel. Would Uber have been criminally liable if that had been the case? And what if a company's self-driving car relies on tech created by another company — do they share responsibility for any accidents?

Right now, there are far more questions about self-driving cars than answers, so there's a chance the ultimate legal outcome of this first fatality involving an autonomous vehicle could shape how we respond to future cases when they almost inevitably crop up.

READ MORE: Uber Not Criminally Liable in Fatal 2018 Arizona Self-Driving Crash: Prosecutors [Reuters]

More on Uber: Uber Settles with Family of AV Crash Victim