Self-Driving Car & Robotaxi Accident Lawyer in California
Self-driving cars and robotaxis are on the road, and when one is involved in a crash, the usual question of 'which driver was at fault' changes. Responsibility can shift to the technology company that operates the vehicle, the manufacturer, or a component maker — and these cases involve extensive vehicle data. We handle California autonomous vehicle and driver-assist crash claims. Se habla español.
Were you hurt in an autonomous vehicle accident?
Start with a quick, confidential case review — about two minutes, no cost, no obligation.
What to do after an autonomous vehicle accident in California
Get medical care right away, and call the police so there is an official report — note whether the vehicle was operating autonomously, and the company (Waymo, Cruise, or another) if you can tell. Photograph the vehicle, any markings, sensors, and the scene, and get names and numbers for any human safety operator and witnesses. If you were a robotaxi passenger, save your trip record in the app. These vehicles record extensive data, so it is important to act quickly to preserve it, and be careful about recorded statements before you have advice.
How we handle your California autonomous vehicle claim
You focus on healing; we handle the rest. We identify who is responsible — the company operating the vehicle, the manufacturer, or a component or software maker — because with a self-driving car there may be no at-fault human driver in the usual sense. We move quickly to preserve the vehicle's data and sensor logs, work with the right experts, and pursue the substantial coverage these companies carry. Every AV matter starts with a free, confidential review. Se habla español.
Why work with Woods Law Group
Autonomous vehicle cases are new, technical, and defended by well-funded technology and auto companies with their own experts. Having your own attorney who will preserve the data and marshal experts levels the field. We take these cases on a contingency basis for clients we represent, which means no fee unless we recover, and we advance the costs. You get straight answers, real communication, and a firm that treats your recovery as the priority.
How much is my autonomous vehicle accident case worth? →
Common autonomous vehicle accident cases we handle in California
- Who Is Liable For An Av Crash
- Robotaxi Passenger Injuries
- Hit By An Autonomous Vehicle
- Software Sensor Failure
- Driver Assist Crashes
- Pedestrian Cyclist Hit By Av
- Av Data Evidence
- Settlement Value
Dealing with the insurance company
California deadlines and fault rules
California is at the center of autonomous-vehicle testing and robotaxi service, and the law here is evolving. The deadline to file most injury claims is generally two years, with a shorter deadline for government claims. California follows pure comparative fault. AV operators are regulated and generally required to carry substantial insurance, and a crash may involve product-liability and negligence theories against the company and the maker — not just an at-fault driver.
- Filing deadlines (statute of limitations)
- Comparative fault in California
- Claims against a government agency
- Evidence that builds your claim
California injury law: deadlines, fault and caps
California injury law shapes your case in a few specific ways worth knowing early.
- Filing deadline: You generally have two years from the date of the injury to file — and only about six months to put a government entity on notice before you can sue.
- Fault: California follows pure comparative negligence, so you can still recover even if you were partly — or mostly — at fault, with your recovery reduced by your share of the blame.
- Damage caps: An ordinary California injury case has no cap on damages; medical-malpractice claims are the main exception.
- Uninsured drivers: California sets minimum auto-insurance limits and uninsured/underinsured-motorist rules that affect what coverage is available.
Free tools and guides
- Autonomous Vehicle accident FAQs
- Settlement & deadline calculators
- Free downloadable guides
- Checklists
- Calculators & estimators
- Side-by-side comparisons
- Questions & answers
Articles
Frequently asked questions
Who is at fault when a self-driving car crashes?
It depends on how the crash happened. With a fully autonomous vehicle, there may be no at-fault human driver in the usual sense, and responsibility can shift to the company operating the vehicle, the manufacturer, or a component or software maker. Sorting that out is central to these cases.
I was hurt in a driver-assist (like Autopilot) crash. Who is responsible?
With partial-automation systems, a human driver is generally still responsible for the vehicle, so the driver may be at fault — but the maker can also share responsibility if the system was defective or marketed misleadingly. Both may be worth pursuing.
How much does an autonomous vehicle accident lawyer cost?
We handle these cases on a contingency basis for cases we take, which means no fee unless we recover, and the initial review is always free. These cases are expensive to build, and we advance the costs. Cost should never stop you from finding out where you stand.
Ready to find out where you stand?
The case review takes about two minutes. It's free and confidential, with no obligation.