Ohio Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer

Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyers in Ohio

Entirely driverless vehicles are likely to increase in popularity. And if you suffer injuries in a collision with an autonomous vehicle, knowing how to hold the right party accountable for your damages is important.

The Ohio self-driving car accident lawyers at Kisling, Nestico & Redick are among the state’s premier auto accident attorneys. We can help you collect the compensation you deserve after an accident. Call us today at 1-800-HURT-NOW for a free, no-risk consultation.

Autonomous Car Accidents in Ohio

utonomous vehicle (AV) technology is still developing, and crashes involving these vehicles often involve a combination of software failure, human oversight, and product malfunction. Common accident types include:

• Rear-end collisions caused by sudden stops or faulty object detection

• Pedestrian & cyclist accidents due to sensor or decision-making errors

• Intersection crashes triggered by misjudged traffic flow

• Software glitches or cyberattacks that disable safety systems

• Self-parking incidents involving property damage or injury

Whether your injury involved a partially automated system (like Tesla Autopilot) or a fully autonomous vehicle, KNR can help uncover the cause and pursue accountability.

Who’s Liable in a Self-Driving Car Accident?

As of 2023, there are few, if any, state and federal regulations regarding autonomous vehicles. That is likely to change, but in the meantime, self-driving cars must follow the same rules other motorists must follow. When accidents occur, the same rules of liability also generally apply.

Unlike traditional accidents, AV crashes may not involve obvious driver negligence. Liability could fall on a wide range of parties, including:

• The human operator or vehicle “attendant”

• The manufacturer of the vehicle or AV system (e.g., Tesla, Waymo, GM)

• Third-party parts suppliers or developers (LiDAR, radar, AI software)

• Maintenance shops or safety inspectors

• Government entities responsible for road conditions or signage

Our team investigates every potential source of fault to pursue compensation from all responsible parties—whether the crash was due to a design flaw, defective code, poor road maintenance, or human error.

Self-Driving Cars & Insurance

Those that drive autonomous vehicles are not required to carry additional insurance beyond the Ohio mandatory minimum. However, the state may implement more comprehensive coverage requirements as more car accidents involving self-driving vehicles occur.

Is the Driver or Car ‘At Fault’?

If you are involved in a collision with a self-driving car, the individual or entity responsible for the car can be held accountable. For example, while most car accidents are caused by driver negligence or misconduct, human error is not generally involved in self-driving car accidents.

Instead, technical defects such as faulty software or sensors may be the cause. When this happens, you may have the right to pursue a product liability claim against vehicle designers, manufacturers, parts suppliers, or other third parties.

Evidence in Self-Driving Car Accident Claims

In most car accident claims, the burden of proof is on the victim to introduce evidence that shows the defendant is responsible. However, in collisions involving self-driving cars, negligence can be different since a person isn’t usually in control at the time of the accident.

But just because a self-driving car hits you does not mean the vehicle itself was defective or otherwise responsible for causing the crash. The driver is generally still responsible for the vehicle’s safe operation. And if dangerous road conditions contributed to the accident, you may even have other parties who share the blame.

Like other motor vehicle collisions, the potential parties who could be held accountable in an autonomous vehicle accident include:

• Other negligent drivers
• AV manufacturers
• Government agencies and municipalities
• AV part designers and distributors
• Self-driving car dealerships
• Auto maintenance workers and safety inspectors