Self-Driving & Autonomous Vehicle Accident Claims in California
Self-driving and driver-assist vehicles are on the road, and crashes involving them raise questions ordinary accidents do not. When there is no human driver — or the technology failed — figuring out who is responsible takes a different approach.
Who is responsible when software drives?
In a self-driving crash, responsibility may not rest with a driver at all. Depending on what happened, the company operating the vehicle or the maker of its technology could be responsible. These are newer legal questions, and the answers depend heavily on the facts.
The data tells the story
Autonomous and driver-assist vehicles record large amounts of data about what the system saw and did. That data can be crucial to understanding a crash — but it is controlled by the company, so preserving and obtaining it is an important early step.
This is an evolving area of law
Because this technology is new, the rules are still developing. That is a reason to work with someone paying attention to how these claims are handled, not to assume the usual playbook applies. Your injuries, however, are as real as in any crash.
How we help
We investigate what failed, identify who may be responsible, and work to preserve the vehicle's data. The review is free and confidential. Se habla español.
How much is my car accident case worth? →
Frequently asked questions
A self-driving car hit me — who do I sue?
It depends on what happened. Responsibility might rest with the company operating the vehicle, the maker of its technology, or another party. These are new legal questions, so an early investigation matters.
Is there evidence in a self-driving car crash?
Usually a great deal — these vehicles record extensive data about what the system detected and did. Because the company controls that data, preserving and obtaining it is an important step.
Are these cases different from normal car accidents?
Yes. The technology, the parties involved, and the evolving law make them more complex, though your right to recover for real injuries remains. It helps to have someone familiar with how these claims work.
California law — what people ask
How long do I have to file an injury claim in California?
Generally two years from the date you were hurt. If a government entity is involved — a city vehicle, a public road, a public hospital — you usually have to present a formal claim to that agency within roughly six months before you can sue at all, which catches people out far more often than the two-year date.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault in California?
Yes. California uses pure comparative negligence, so your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault rather than barred — even if your share turns out to be the larger one. There is no cutoff percentage that ends a claim here.
Does California cap what I can recover?
Not in an ordinary injury case. Medical-malpractice claims are the main exception, where non-economic damages are limited by a cap that steps up over time. For most claims — car crashes, falls, defective products — there is no statutory ceiling.
What if more than one person was responsible?
California splits the analysis: defendants can be jointly responsible for your economic losses such as medical bills and lost income, while non-economic damages like pain and suffering are apportioned to each defendant by its own share of fault.
The driver who hit me had no insurance. What now?
Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage is usually the answer, and it commonly applies to hit-and-run collisions as well. Check every policy in the household, not only the one covering the car you were in.
Will the jury hear that my health insurance paid my bills?
Generally not. California follows the collateral source rule, so a wrongdoer does not get credit for insurance you paid for. How your medical damages are measured is a separate and often contested question.
Injury law in California
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.
Related car accident types
California injury law
This is general information about California injury law, not legal advice. Every case is different.
Hurt in a crash you didn't cause?
A quick, confidential review can tell you where you stand — about two minutes, no cost, no obligation.