Self‑Driving & Autonomous Vehicle Product Liability
When a self‑driving vehicle or autonomous rideshare car malfunctions, the consequences can be catastrophic. Victims are often left wondering whether the human driver, the vehicle manufacturer, the software company, or the rideshare service is responsible.
Kent | Pincin helps victims of defective, dangerous, and malfunctioning self‑driving vehicles pursue justice and compensation under product liability and personal injury law.
How a Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
Who is liable in an accident involving autonomous vehicles (AVs) or self-driving cars? The issue of product liability addresses who bears responsibility when it is the vehicle’s hardware or software that causes injury or damage. As AV technology shifts operational control from humans to complex systems, the usual and traditional negligence and strict products-liability theories are being tested.
Plaintiffs may pursue claims for defects in design, manufacturing, or failure to warn, while regulators and manufacturers emphasize safety standards and data reporting. Federal guidance and safety standards from agencies, such as NHTSA, shape expectations for design, testing, and incident reporting, which, in turn, influence liability arguments.
As self-driving cars rely on complex interactions between human and machine, legally defining defectiveness is more complicated than in traditional vehicles. Our team at Kent | Pincin is committed to helping injured parties identify liability, protect their rights, and seek maximum compensation from at-fault parties.
Why Self‑Driving Crashes Are Different
Traditional car crashes usually involve human error like speeding, distraction, or drunk driving. In contrast, autonomous and semi‑autonomous vehicle crashes often involve complex interactions between hardware, software, sensors, and human supervision.
Understanding these differences is critical because they determine whether your case is primarily a negligence claim against a driver, a product liability claim against a manufacturer or tech company, or both.
- Self‑driving systems may fail to recognize pedestrians, cyclists, or stopped vehicles.
- Over‑the‑air software updates can introduce new defects or fail to fix known issues.
- Rideshare fleets using autonomous vehicles add another layer of corporate responsibility and insurance complexity.
Common Causes of Self-Driving Car Accidents
As more and more people use self-driving cars as personal cars or for ridesharing, accidents are expected to rise.
Some of the common causes of self-driving car accidents include:
- Sensor and hardware failures: Self-driving cars depend on cameras, radar, LiDAR, and other sensors. When those sensors malfunction or fail to detect hazards correctly (such as other vehicles, pedestrians, or road debris), the vehicle may misjudge its surroundings. This can lead to a devastating crash.
- Software glitches or system errors: Complex algorithms govern navigation, object recognition, and decision-making in autonomous vehicles. Software bugs or unanticipated software behavior can cause the car to brake suddenly, misinterpret traffic conditions, or fail to respond appropriately to obstacles.
- Inadequate human intervention or hand-off failures: Many self-driving or semi-automated vehicles still require a human driver to monitor the system and intervene when needed. Some crashes occur when the system prompts for a takeover but the human driver is unprepared or fails to react in time.
- Complex or unusual traffic and environmental conditions: Autonomous systems may struggle with unpredictable scenarios such as poor weather, unclear road markings, pedestrians entering the road unexpectedly, construction zones, or unconventional traffic patterns. In these situations, sensor data and programming might not suffice.
Collisions caused by other drivers or road users: Even when the autonomous vehicle functions properly, accidents can still occur. Reckless or inattentive human drivers, pedestrians, or cyclists are the usual culprits.
Who Is Liable in Self-Driving Vehicle Crashes?
Liability in autonomous-vehicle collisions can fall on multiple parties depending on the cause of the crash. These parties include:
- Manufacturers like Waymo and Tesla may be liable under strict product-liability or negligence laws when a defect in vehicle design, construction, or integration of sensors or automated controls causes a crash.
- Software developers or AV system providers may be responsible when programming errors, flawed algorithms, or failed updates cause the vehicle to misjudge traffic conditions or react incorrectly.
- Vehicle owners or operators can share liability if they fail to maintain the vehicle, ignore required updates, or neglect to intervene when the system demands human oversight.
- Rideshare or fleet operators (such as companies deploying self-driving cars like Alto and Waymo) may be liable when they control maintenance, deployment, or system updates. A Waymo accident lawyer from our firm can provide the legal support you need during this confusing time.
In complex AV crashes, determining liability often depends on whether the harm resulted from a defect, a software failure, improper maintenance, or misuse. This underlines the importance of careful investigation in any autonomous vehicle accident involving personal injury.
What Types of Compensation May Injured Parties Claim
If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a self-driving car accident, you may be able to seek compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses: You may recover costs for emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical treatment.
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity: Compensation may include income lost during recovery and any long-term reduction in earning ability.
- Property damage: Victims may seek reimbursement for vehicle repairs or replacement and other damaged personal belongings.
- Pain and suffering: This may cover physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life following the crash.
- Permanent disability or impairment: Severe injuries may justify additional damages for lasting functional limitations.
Damages related to defective autonomous system claims: If faulty sensors, software errors, or system malfunctions contributed to the accident, victims may pursue compensation tied to the defect’s role in causing harm.
Evidence in Self‑Driving Product Liability Cases
Autonomous vehicle claims often turn on technical data and digital evidence. Kent | Pincin can work with appropriate experts to preserve, analyze, and present this material, including:
- Event data recorder (black box) information
- Logs from the automated driving system, cameras, radar, lidar, and other sensors
- Software updates, safety bulletins, and internal communications about known defects
- Fleet safety records, training materials for human operators, and remote monitoring protocols
- Crash scene evidence, surveillance video, and eyewitness testimony
Because companies may move quickly to control or overwrite data, contacting a lawyer as soon as possible after a crash can be critical.
What to Do After a Self‑Driving Vehicle Crash
If you were involved in an incident with a self‑driving or autonomous vehicle, taking a few key steps can help protect your health and your legal options:
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- Get medical care immediately
Even if symptoms seem minor at first, prompt evaluation helps protect your health and documents your injuries. - Report the crash
Make a police report and ensure the officer notes whether the vehicle was operating in autonomous or assisted‑driving mode, if known. - Preserve evidence
Take photos or video of the scene, damage, and visible injuries; collect witness contact information; and keep any communications from the manufacturer, rideshare company, or insurer. - Do not accept quick settlements
Early offers may not account for future medical needs or the complexity of product liability issues. - Speak with a lawyer experienced in complex injury and product cases A knowledgeable attorney can evaluate potential product defects, corporate liability, and the best strategy for your claim.
- Get medical care immediately
Types of Self‑Driving Vehicle Cases We Handle
Kent | Pincin represents people injured in a wide range of autonomous and semi‑autonomous vehicle incidents, including:
- Crashes involving privately owned self‑driving or “autopilot” vehicles
- Collisions with autonomous rideshare or robotaxi services (such as self‑driving ride‑hail fleets)
- Pedestrians or cyclists struck by vehicles operating in self‑driving or assisted‑driving modes
- Rear‑end or intersection crashes caused by sudden, unexpected braking or acceleration by the automated system
- Lane‑change, merge, or freeway collisions tied to sensor or software failures
- Multi‑vehicle pileups where a self‑driving vehicle triggered or worsened the crash
Even if the vehicle was marketed as “driver assist” rather than fully autonomous, product defects or misleading safety claims can still support a product liability case. And even when you think that you did not sustain major injuries, make sure that you get checked by a doctor following an accident. Your autonomous vehicle accident attorney can use all the medical records as well as police reports to prove that you’re entitled to compensation.
Why Choose Kent | Pincin to Handle Your Autonomous Vehicle Accident Case
New technologies often come with novel challenges, and self-driving cars are no exception. If you or a loved one was injured by a self-driving car, it is crucial to get legal support promptly. We are a boutique firm dedicated to helping individuals stand up to powerful corporations, insurers, and employers. The firm’s experience in personal injury, product liability, and complex civil litigation allows it to navigate the unique challenges of self‑driving vehicle cases.
Clients work directly with attorneys throughout the litigation process, receiving individualized attention and support, not a one‑size‑fits‑all approach.
When pursuing a self‑driving or autonomous vehicle product liability claim, Kent | Pincin can:
- Investigate the crash, including obtaining technical data and corporate records
- Coordinate with appropriate experts in vehicle dynamics, human factors, and software or sensor technology
- Identify all potentially responsible parties and applicable insurance policies
- Negotiate with manufacturers, rideshare companies, and insurers
- Prepare your case for trial when a fair settlement is not offered
The firm handles these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients do not pay attorney’s fees unless there is a recovery.
Serving Clients Across California, Nebraska, and Wisconsin
Self‑driving and autonomous vehicle technology is already being tested and deployed in cities and communities across these states. Kent | Pincin provides product liability and personal injury representation for individuals injured in:
- Privately owned self‑driving vehicle crashes
- Autonomous rideshare and robotaxi incidents
- Other defective vehicle and dangerous product cases
The firm offers relationship‑driven legal advocacy designed to reduce your stress, help you understand your options, and pursue the outcome you need to move forward.
Talk With a Self‑Driving Vehicle Product Liability Lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured in a crash involving a self‑driving or autonomous vehicle—whether privately owned or part of a rideshare fleet—Kent | Pincin is ready to listen, evaluate your case, and explain your legal options.
Call us today at 310-376-0922 (California) or 608-999-4954 (Wisconsin) to request a free consultation with our car accident lawyers. Contacting a lawyer promptly can help preserve critical evidence related to the incident.