Los Angeles Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer

Were you hit by a Tesla, a Waymo, or another self-driving car in Los Angeles? Who pays your medical bills, how long do you have to act, and was the car at fault or the person behind the wheel? J&Y Law handles self-driving car crashes across Los Angeles County, and we can start reviewing your case today. Call (877) 735-7035 for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win money for you.

J&Y Law has recovered tens of millions of dollars for injured clients across California. Our attorneys already track the issues unique to self-driving crashes, including black-box data requests and manufacturer recalls.

Robotaxis Have Changed the Risk on Los Angeles Streets

Los Angeles is one of the largest robotaxi markets in the country. Waymo alone runs an estimated 500 to 700 vehicles across a roughly 80-square-mile service area stretching from Santa Monica to Downtown LA, and that expansion has come with more reported crashes.

Crash reports filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show 268 Waymo-involved crashes in Los Angeles between July 2021 and late 2025, and new incidents keep surfacing. A Waymo rolled a car in Koreatown in May 2026. Another crashed into parked cars in Echo Park in January 2026. A two-car crash in Pico-Union hospitalized two people in July 2026.

Tesla vehicles add another layer of risk. In December 2025, the California DMV ruled that Tesla misled drivers by calling its systems “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving Capability.” The cars cannot actually drive themselves. A human driver must stay alert and ready to take over at all times. That finding can strengthen your claim. If a driver reasonably believed the car could handle a hazard alone, Tesla’s own marketing may become evidence in your case.

Reporting data reviewed by personal injury firms shows that many Waymo crashes involve another driver hitting the Waymo, not the other way around, so the technology is not automatically to blame when a crash happens. Every self-driving case still comes with a paper trail: sensor logs, recall notices, and regulatory findings that can help build your claim, whether the self-driving car caused the crash or was hit by someone else.

Call (877) 735-7035 to talk through what happened in your crash.

Identify Every Party Who Can Be Held Liable

Several parties can share the blame after a self-driving car crash, and more than one is often responsible at once.

The human driver. Every self-driving system sold to consumers today, including Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving, is a Level 2 driver-assist system under the SAE International standard. The driver must stay alert and ready to take over at any moment. If a driver was distracted, over-relied on the system, or failed to step in before a crash, that driver can be held liable just like any negligent driver.

The vehicle or software manufacturer. Claims against manufacturers usually rely on product liability law, not ordinary negligence. Under California law, you generally need to show two things: the vehicle or a part was defective, and the defect caused your injury. You do not need to prove the manufacturer was careless. California Vehicle Code Section 24011.5 also bars manufacturers from marketing driver-assist features in a way that would make a reasonable person believe the car can drive itself. A violation of that law does not limit the manufacturer’s liability for negligence or a defective product.

Component and software suppliers. Vehicle manufacturers often buy sensors, cameras, and driving software from outside companies. If a third-party hardware or software supplier’s part caused or contributed to your crash, you may have a claim against that supplier as well as the vehicle manufacturer. California product liability law applies to every company in the chain of distribution, including dealerships, so you are not limited to a single defendant.

The robotaxi operator. Fully driverless vehicles, like Waymo, run under permits from the California DMV and the California Public Utilities Commission. When one of these vehicles causes a crash, the company that operates it can be held liable, much like any rideshare company or commercial fleet owner.

A government entity. Poor road design, faulty signage, or a construction defect can confuse a self-driving car’s sensors. When that happens, the city or county agency in charge of that road may share liability. Claims against a government entity move on a much shorter clock: you must file within six months of the crash under California Government Code Section 911.2, compared to the two years allowed for most other car accident claims in California.

More than one of these parties can be responsible for the same crash. Our attorneys pull vehicle data, DMV and CPUC incident reports, and manufacturer recall records to find out exactly who should pay. See how we build Tesla and Waymo accident claims.

Recover Damages After an Autonomous Vehicle Crash

A self-driving car case can cover the same losses as any serious crash, and the losses are often severe. That includes your emergency care and ongoing treatment. It includes lost wages if you cannot work, plus the cost of future care for injuries that never fully heal. Self-driving crashes have caused traumatic brain injuries and, in a small number of cases nationwide, deaths. If your family is facing one of these outcomes, you may have a wrongful death orcatastrophic injury claim. These claims can include permanent disability, lost future income, and pain and suffering. J&Y Law calculates the full value of your claim before we talk settlement with any insurer or manufacturer.

Get Answers to Common Questions About Self-Driving Car Claims

Is a self-driving car accident always the manufacturer’s fault? No. It depends on the facts of your crash. The driver, the manufacturer, a robotaxi operator, or a government agency can each be responsible. More than one party is often involved at once.

How long do I have to file a claim in California? Most personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the crash under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. If a government entity contributed to the crash, you must submit a formal claim within six months instead, or you may lose your right to sue.

Does California law treat every driver-assist feature as a self-driving car? No. Under California law, a vehicle only counts as a true autonomous vehicle when it can drive without a human actively controlling or monitoring it. Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving, along with most driver-assist systems on the road today, are Level 2 systems. They still require an attentive driver in the seat.

Do I still need a police report if the car was self-driving? Yes. The police report is your starting point. Your attorney also needs to preserve sensor data, dashcam footage, and any DMV or CPUC incident filings before they get lost or overwritten.

Should I talk to the manufacturer’s insurance company on my own? Not without legal advice first. Anything you say to an adjuster, especially about who was controlling the car, can be used against your claim later.

What does it cost to hire J&Y Law? Nothing upfront. We work on contingency. You pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover money for you.

Talk to a Los Angeles Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer Today

Evidence like sensor data can disappear fast in a self-driving car claim if no one acts to preserve it. Call or text (877) 735-7035, or fill out a free case evaluation form, and let J&Y Law start protecting your claim today. You pay nothing unless we win.