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Who may be responsible
With no one behind the wheel, the usual question of which driver made a mistake turns into a question about the vehicle and the company running it. The company that operates the car, its insurer, and sometimes other drivers on the road may all be part of the claim. Fault is still decided by the evidence of what happened.
Some test vehicles carry a human safety driver. If an employee was in the car and working, the rule that an employer is generally liable for an employee driving on the job, called respondeat superior, may come into play. California uses pure comparative fault, so if another driver or you shared the blame, the recovery is split by those shares.
Crash reports the company must file
California DMV regulations require autonomous vehicle manufacturers testing on public roads to give the DMV a report of every crash in California. Since the DMV’s revised rules took effect on April 28, 2026, manufacturers file the full federal crash report, within the federal deadlines, through the DMV’s electronic Collision Reporting Template. Before that, they filed form OL 316 within 10 days.
You also have your own reports. The police agency that wrote the collision report must release it to anyone with a proper interest, such as a driver involved or an injured person, for a fee no greater than its actual cost. If you were driving and the crash caused an injury or more than $1,000 in damage, you must file an SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days.
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The car records a lot
Self-driving cars carry cameras and sensors, so the company may hold video and data showing the seconds before the crash. That can help or hurt either side, and it is the kind of evidence that should be saved early. A lawyer can send a written request asking the company to keep all video, sensor and trip data from your crash.
Your own evidence still matters. Photos of the car, its markings, any vehicle number on the body and the scene help identify the exact vehicle. Witness names and phone video from people nearby can fill gaps. Write down what the car did, such as braking, turning or stopping, while it is fresh in your mind.
What to do now
Call 911 if anyone is hurt and wait for police. Get medical care the same day if you can. Take photos of all the vehicles, the street, any signals, and your injuries. If the car has a help button or phone number on it, note it, and write down what the company’s support staff tells you, with the time.
Keep bills, receipts and pay records. Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement to the company or any insurer before you talk with a lawyer. In California, an injury lawsuit must generally be filed within two years, and a property damage suit within three years. Waiting makes it harder to get the car’s data.
How Beverly Law can help
We can ask the operator to keep its video and data, get the police report, and deal with the insurers on your behalf. You owe no fees or costs unless we win. Call (310) 552-6959 or use the form on this page to talk with our team about the crash and what comes next.
Self-driving crashes share many steps with other crashes, from the police report to the insurance claim and the medical bills, so these pages may help too: what to do when a crash was not your fault, how to get a police report in California, pedestrians hit by a car, and Uber accident claims.
Common questions
Can you sue Waymo after a crash?
A claim can be brought against the company that operated the vehicle when the evidence shows the car caused the crash. The company’s video and sensor data often show what happened. A lawyer can request that data and work out who else, if anyone, shares responsibility.
Do self-driving car crashes get reported?
For vehicles being tested on public roads, yes. California DMV rules require manufacturers testing autonomous vehicles to report every crash in California to the DMV. Since April 28, 2026, they file the full federal crash report through the DMV’s electronic template. You should also call police and get the report.
Who do I contact after a Waymo crash?
Call 911 if anyone is hurt and wait for police. Use any help button or phone number on the car to reach the company, and note what they tell you. Then report the crash to your own insurer with the basic facts and talk with a lawyer.
What if I was a passenger in a self-driving car?
Passengers can be hurt too, and the company’s insurance and records are central to that claim. Get medical care, save the trip receipt and any app messages, and take photos. A lawyer can review the coverage and the deadline, which is generally two years in California.
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Car and truck accident lawyer — Beverly Law
If you were hurt in a car or truck crash in California and Washington, talk to a personal injury attorney. Free, confidential, English or Spanish. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
Related pages
Amazon Delivery Van Accident · Amazon Truck Accident in California · Do Amazon Delivery Vans Have Cameras? · FedEx Truck Accident · UPS Truck Accident · All car and truck accident questions
Sources
- Cal. Code Regs., tit. 13, § 227.54 (formerly § 227.48, renumbered and amended eff. Apr. 28, 2026); Cal. Veh. Code § 38750
- CACI Nos. 3700, 3701, 3720; Cal. Civ. Code § 2338
- Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804, 828-829; CACI No. 405
- Cal. Veh. Code § 20012
- Cal. Veh. Code § 16000(a); DMV form SR 1 (Rev. 6/2025)
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 338(c)(1)
Important: This page is general information about California and Washington law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Last reviewed: November 5, 2026.