Self-driving cars are becoming more common with each passing year. There were around 830,000 Tesla vehicles with self-driving technology on the road in 2022, and that doesn’t even account for the other auto manufacturers equipping their vehicles with this futuristic-sounding technology. 

While these innovative vehicles are exciting, they’re far from perfect. There have already been numerous traffic accidents, personal injuries, and road fatalities involving self-driving cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that almost 400 self-driving car accidents occurred over the course of 11 months in 2022, 273 of which were Teslas. 

As these vehicles become increasingly commonplace, it’s not surprising that many people wonder who’s responsible for self-driving car accidents. In this blog, we answer the question, “Is the owner of the car liable for an accident?” and discuss the various parties who may be financially responsible. 

When Is the Driver Responsible for a Self-Driving Car Accident?

Drivers owe a duty of care to others on the road. They must follow all traffic laws and avoid causing collisions or pedestrian accidents. A person sitting behind the wheel of a self-driving car must still follow this duty of care. 

When it comes to an accident caused by a car driving without a driver, the person sitting behind the steering wheel still has a responsibility to comply with the law and avoid collisions. Even with self-driving features, these cars are not fully autonomous, and it’s a driver’s responsibility to regain control of the vehicle and prevent it from causing harm. 

Consider that a self-driving car runs a red light. If a traffic officer sees the event, they will pull over the driver and will likely give them a ticket. Even though the self-driving car ran the red light, it was still the driver’s responsibility to stop the vehicle. This is also the case when it comes to traffic accidents. The driver is still liable if their self-driving car makes a mistake. 

Can an Auto Manufacturer Be Liable for Self-Driving Car Accidents? 

Although motorists are usually responsible for self-driving car accidents, there are situations in which the manufacturer could be partially or wholly liable. If there was an error in the manufacturing process and this issue caused an accident, the manufacturer could be held responsible.   

For example, the estate of a deceased child recently filed a lawsuit against Tesla over its Autopilot technology. The lawsuit alleges that Tesla’s self-driving vehicle drove off the road suddenly due to its flawed Autopilot and lack of safety features, leading to the child’s tragic death. The lawsuit against Tesla has not yet concluded, so it remains unclear whether they’ll be deemed liable. 

What Other Parties Could Be Responsible for My Accident? 

In addition to drivers and auto manufacturers, other parties may be partially or wholly liable in self-driving car accidents. For one of these parties to be responsible, they need to have been negligent in some way, and their negligence needs to have caused or contributed to the auto accident. 

Parties that could be liable include:

• Vehicle Parts Manufacturers: A vehicle parts manufacturer may be liable if they produce a faulty component that causes a crash. 

• Vehicle Software Developer: Like an automaker or vehicle parts manufacturer, a software developer may be liable for a collision if they produce defective software that results in an accident.  

• Vehicle Repair Shop: If a vehicle repair shop works on a car and either fails to fix an issue or creates a new maintenance problem that causes an accident, they may be liable. For example, you may take your vehicle to a mechanic to repair your brakes. If your brakes fail shortly after and cause an accident, the repair shop may be liable. One crucial note is that this is not the case if the repair shop informed you that they were unable to fix the issue with your car. Instead, that would be your fault for driving the vehicle despite its maintenance issue. 

• Distributor: A self-driving car distributor may be liable if they damaged a car while transporting it to a dealership, causing unknown defects that later result in a crash. 

• State or Local Government: Government entities are responsible for street maintenance, signs, and other key parts of public roads. The entity may be partially or wholly liable if it neglects to fix a maintenance issue that then contributes to or causes an accident. 

Recovering Compensation After a Self-Driving Car Accident

If you were involved in a self-driving car accident, you can file a claim against the responsible party to recover compensation for property damage, medical bills, and other losses.

It’s important to contact an experienced attorney to help you through the claims process because they can identify all parties responsible for your damages. They can also assist you by helping you gather evidence and negotiate your settlement to maximize your compensation. 

For seasoned car accident lawyers in Indiana, contact Poynter & Bucheri Accident Recovery Attorneys at Law. We’ll help you recover the full compensation you deserve for your accident. 

You can schedule a FREE case review today by calling 1-800-265-9881, or you can schedule your review online here.