Who Pays When a Self-Driving Car Hits You in Riverside?
You’re stopped at a light on the 91 freeway. A car rear-ends you. The driver wasn’t watching the road because the car was driving itself. So who do you call? Who do you sue?
The answer is not as simple as it used to be, but one thing is clear: you still have the right to pursue compensation.
Self-driving technology changes who may be responsible, not whether you have a claim. If you have been hurt in a crash involving an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle in Riverside or anywhere in the Inland Empire, a personal injury attorney can help you identify the liable parties and determine what your case may be worth.
At Knez Law Group, LLP, our personal injury attorneys in Riverside help car accident victims understand their options and fight for the compensation they deserve. Call us at 951-742-7681 or fill out our confidential contact form to schedule a free consultation.
Self-Driving Cars Are Already on Inland Empire Roads
As of 2026, the California DMV had received 978 Autonomous Vehicle Collision Reports, and more than 40% of new vehicles sold in the state now come equipped with some form of driver assistance technology.
You may have already shared the road with one.
- Tesla vehicles running Autopilot or Full Self-Driving features.
- Waymo robotaxis are operating in parts of Southern California.
- Amazon-owned Zoox vehicles are being tested in California and Nevada.
These vehicles handle steering, braking, and acceleration, sometimes without any human in the driver’s seat. And when they fail, the injuries can be serious.
Who Is Actually Responsible After a Self-Driving Car Crash?
This is the hardest question in any autonomous vehicle case, and the answer depends on how the vehicle was operating at the moment of impact.
Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems are Level 2 driver-assist technology. The car can steer and brake, but the human driver must stay alert and ready to take over.
If a crash happens because the driver handed control entirely to the system, that human may still be to blame. If your crash involved a vehicle like Waymo’s Level 4 systems, the manufacturer or the software itself may be held liable.
In either case, you may be looking at claims involving:
- The vehicle manufacturer for a defective design or software failure
- A fleet operator who deployed the vehicle
- Another driver whose actions contributed to the crash
California’s product liability laws allow victims to hold manufacturers accountable when a defective product causes injury. You do not have to prove the company was careless, only that the product was defective. That standard can be a powerful tool in self-driving car cases, and it is exactly the kind of claim a personal injury lawyer with real litigation experience is built to handle.
California Just Made It Easier to Hold Manufacturers Accountable
California signed AB 1777 into law in September 2024. Under AB 1777, if a vehicle operating in autonomous mode runs a red light or commits a traffic infraction, the manufacturer receives the citation, not the person in the seat.
California is no longer treating autonomous vehicles as a futuristic experiment. The state is holding companies accountable in real time.
What Can You Recover After an AV Accident?
If a self-driving vehicle caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, future care, lost income, pain and suffering, and property damage. In cases involving a fatality, surviving family members may also have a wrongful death claim.
California’s comparative fault rules allow you to recover damages even if you share some responsibility for the crash, though your award may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Evidence in self-driving car cases differs from a typical car accident claim. Sensor data, software logs, and fleet communications may all be critical to proving what happened. That evidence can disappear quickly if it is not preserved early in the process.
Contact Our Riverside Car Accident Lawyers
If you or someone you love was injured in Riverside, San Bernardino, or anywhere in Southern California by a self-driving or semi-autonomous vehicle, get legal advice now. As a personal injury law firm that handles car accident cases throughout the Inland Empire, Knez Law Group, LLP knows what it takes to build a strong claim against well-funded technology companies. Our lawyers work closely with clients from day one to protect their rights and preserve critical evidence.
This is the kind of case where having a personal injury law firm with real trial experience in your corner makes a difference.
If a self-driving car injured you or a family member, Knez Law Group, LLP is ready to help. Our personal injury law firm represents accident victims throughout Riverside and the surrounding Inland Empire. Call us at 951-742-7681 or fill out our confidential contact form to schedule a free consultation.
Matthew J. Knez graduated from the University of Redlands in California with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing. He then pursued his law degree at the University of La Verne College of Law in Ontario, California, where he earned various awards, including the CALI Award in Torts, and was on the Dean’s List. During his time in law school, Mr. Knez was a member of the Justice and Immigration Clinic, working with individuals seeking asylum in the United States from countries where they faced persecution or threats of persecution. Additionally, he was an Associate Editor for the Law Review and published an article on California family custody move-away cases. Learn more here.