Strict products liability doctrines governing autonomous driving algorithms (FSD/Waymo) that execute split-second harm-allocation trade-offs in unavoidable crash geometries.
Under Restatement (Third) of Torts § 2(b), a product is defective in design when the foreseeable risks of harm could have been reduced by the adoption of a reasonable alternative design. For autonomous driving algorithms confronting unavoidable collisions, programmed trajectory decisions that minimize aggregate impact while prioritizing occupant safety over pedestrian safety invite severe design defect claims.
