Modern vehicles have become rolling networks of software, sensors, and real-time data. Today’s base models run more lines of computer code than early space shuttles, and the same technology that delivers lane departure warnings and automatic emergency braking can, when it fails, set off a cascade of system-wide consequences that leave drivers and courts alike struggling to assign blame.
Edward Susolik, Managing Partner and CEO of Callahan & Blaine, PC, was recently featured in the Epoch Times in a piece examining the trade-offs of software-driven vehicles and what happens when those systems fail. As a personal injury attorney who has handled some of Southern California’s most complex catastrophic injury cases, Ed offered a perspective on what vehicle software failures mean in practice for injured drivers and the legal system.
Ed Susolik in the Epoch Times
The April 2026 Epoch Times article, “Vehicles Are Increasingly Software-Driven: The Trade-Offs of More Tech,” explored how automakers are layering complex systems into modern cars at a pace that often outstrips practical safety testing and regulatory oversight. Ed was quoted throughout the piece, providing commentary from the personal injury side of the equation. His words capture the tension at the heart of the issue:
“While there are some truly fantastic safety benefits to these newer cars with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warnings, and backup cameras, there is a more complex and darker side to the software in these vehicles. If it malfunctions, there are huge consequences for everyone.”
Ed also explained how a fault in one system can ripple into others, and why that complexity creates new liability questions: “This creates new questions about who is at fault when accidents happen. It could be the driver, the software company, or the vehicle manufacturer.”
What Software Failures Mean for Injury Cases
The rise of software-defined vehicles is generating a new class of catastrophic injury cases in California. When a vehicle’s autonomous or semi-autonomous systems contribute to a crash, determining fault requires examining multiple parties at once: the driver, the automaker, and potentially the third-party software developer whose product failed. According to the NHTSA’s 2024 Annual Recalls Report, more than 29 million vehicles were recalled in the United States in 2024, with a growing share tied to software defects affecting safety-critical systems like rearview cameras and automatic braking.
Ed noted in the article that software-related recalls can affect entire production runs simultaneously, meaning millions of vehicles may be on the road with unresolved safety issues before a fix reaches most owners. Pursuing a self-driving car accident liability claim or any case involving a defective vehicle system demands a legal team with the litigation depth to take on automakers and software developers who come prepared to shift blame to the driver.
Read the Full Article
The complete Epoch Times article covers the broader landscape of software-driven vehicles, including rising ownership costs, the pace of software recalls, and perspectives from automotive analysts and engineers. Ed’s full commentary appears in the “Hidden Risks” section.
Contact Us to Submit Your Potential Case
Callahan & Blaine, PC is a Southern California litigation firm with 40 years of experience and 29 senior trial attorneys who have handled some of the most complex personal injury cases in the state. Managing Partner Edward Susolik has been recognized as a Top 100 Super Lawyer in Southern California every year since 2009. Our record includes a $934 million jury verdict, the largest in Orange County history, as well as a $50 million personal injury settlement and a $28 million trucking accident settlement.
If you were injured in a vehicle accident involving a software malfunction, a defective safety system, or a semi-autonomous driving feature, our team may be able to help you pursue the parties responsible. Reach out through our contact form to submit your potential case for review.
