[stefan_]

Someone didn't "suddenly walk in front of the car". The time they stepped into the road, you were still half a mile away.

Time to learn some new favourite german words. The first would be Sichtfahrgebot; you may only drive as fast as you can see. If your stopping distance exceeds your vision, you are driving too fast for conditions. This is doubly obvious with autonomous vehicles.

The other is Betriebsgefahr. It was your decision to drive a multi-ton vehicle with enough power for the electricity needs of a city block. She was walking, you were driving - you introduced the vast vast majority of the risk and it was your choice that is responsible for the lethal injuries. For this mere fact, you bear a significant percentage of the fault, always.

[jessaustin]

Definite points in the German language's favor! Betriebsgefahr in particular is a concept that should be more salient in drivers' minds.

[mcguire]

So, in Germany, all vehicle-pedestrian incidents result in civil and criminal penalties?