WHEN ROBOTS CRASH — Who’s Liable in a Driverless Car Accident
The rise of driverless cars isn’t science fiction—it’s California reality
From autonomous Ubers in San Francisco to AI-controlled delivery vans in Silicon Valley, self-driving vehicles are already sharing the road with us. But with cutting-edge innovation comes an urgent legal question: Who’s at fault when a driverless car crashes—or gets hacked?
At R23 Law, our California Consumer Protection Attorneys are at the forefront of litigation involving vehicle automation. If you’ve been injured by an autonomous vehicle, don’t assume the tech shields them from blame. You still have the right to recover compensation, and we know how to hold all responsible parties accountable.
Yes, Driverless Cars Can Be Hacked
The first question we get: “Can someone really hack into a car?” The answer is absolutely yes. Modern vehicles—especially autonomous ones—rely on complex systems that connect to the internet, cloud data, wireless networks, and onboard AI platforms.
Features like:
Lane-departure sensors
Adaptive cruise control
Emergency braking
Collision avoidance
GPS-based navigation
…are all vulnerable to interference. A hacker doesn’t have to sit behind the wheel to cause a crash—they just need a digital doorway.
Liability in a Self-Driving Crash Isn’t Just About the Car
Let’s say an autonomous vehicle crashes into you. Who’s to blame? The answer isn’t as simple as pointing to a driver—because there may not be one.
Liability in these cases may fall on:
The vehicle’s owner or operator
The manufacturer (Tesla, Waymo, Cruise, etc.)
A software provider or third-party vendor
A cybersecurity failure or product defect
Under California law, manufacturers and companies can be held responsible if a design defect, sensor malfunction, or lack of oversight contributed to the collision.
Human Oversight Still Matters—Even in a Driverless World
Even though self-driving cars can “think,” the law still requires human supervision. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) maintains that every vehicle on the road must have an attentive operator, even if it’s capable of full automation.
So if the vehicle failed and the human failed to intervene? That’s a double layer of liability. R23 Law’s attorneys investigate all aspects—mechanical, technical, and human—to determine where fault lies.
When Driverless Tech Fails, R23 Law Holds Them Accountable
These aren’t normal car crash cases. When an autonomous vehicle is involved, R23 Law brings in technical experts, subpoena internal software logs, and collaborates with cybersecurity consultants to:
Determine if a hack or unauthorized system access occurred
Assess whether manufacturer negligence was involved
Identify software or hardware failures
Establish product liability or breach of duty
We don’t stop at the surface—we dig deep into the data and build a strong case from the ground up.
What to Do If You’re Injured by a Self-Driving Vehicle in California
Whether you were hit by a delivery bot in Los Angeles or a rideshare robotaxi in San Jose, you need to act quickly to preserve your legal rights:
Get medical treatment and document all injuries
Call law enforcement and get a police report
Take photos of the vehicle, scene, and damage
Write down anything unusual (no driver, odd driving behavior, etc.)
Contact R23 Law immediately
Our California autonomous vehicle injury lawyers will step in and take control of the case—so you can focus on recovery.
The Future Is Here. So Is Our Legal Strategy.
Driverless cars are still cars—and people still get hurt. At R23 Law, we don’t let automation excuse negligence. Whether it’s a crash caused by AI error, hacking, or human failure, we will aggressively pursue the compensation you’re owed.
Call today for a free consultation with one of R23 Law’s California Consumer Protection Attorneys. We serve clients throughout California and represent victims injured by emerging technology, corporate negligence, and unregulated innovation.
