Maison Law represents victims injured in autonomous vehicle accidents in California. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in an autonomous vehicle, Maison Law can help you get the compensation you need. Our law firm has reviewed common glitches still occurring in these vehicles, and we understand the insurance policies of these major motor vehicle companies.
The Autonomous Vehicle Accident Lawyers at Maison Law are dedicated to protecting your right to compensation and will help you get your life back on track after an unfortunate injury. Get the legal help you need today and contact Maison Law for a free consultation.
How a Lawyer Helps Injured Autonomous Vehicle Accident Victims
Autonomous vehicles are a new technological advancement in the transportation world. And like all new technology, there will be hiccups that result in things going wrong. For example, in San Francisco, according to USA Today, a Waymo hit a child in a school zone while transporting other students to school. So, in a situation like this, how can a lawyer help?
Victims injured in an autonomous vehicle accident often suffer severe injuries, which require extensive medical treatment and time off work/school to recover. In cases like the one listed above, victims can be left with major injuries, leaving them and their families with astronomically high medical bills and an uncertain financial future. And that’s where a lawyer can help.
The Autonomous Vehicle Accident Attorneys at Maison Law can help you and your family recover financial compensation to prevent an accident like this from ruining your lives. Major car companies have a team of lawyers to protect them, but where here to fight them on your behalf. By partnering with us, we can provide you with the following legal services:
- Investigating and determining wrongdoing or recklessness: Trucking accidents are complicated due to the number of victims and liable parties involved. There will be several people to get statements from, and some parties may only be discussing their involvement through their attorneys.
- Collecting and preserving key evidence: Trucking logs, street cameras, dash cams, and witness statements are all key points of evidence for your case. Our lawyers will take the proper legal steps to obtain this information and strengthen your claim.
- Communicating with insurance companies and other attorneys: With trucking companies and drivers having insurance, it is recommended to have an attorney speak to the insurance adjusters on your behalf. Oftentimes, insurance companies will attempt to trick you into taking part of the blame or get you to say something that hurts your claim. Our attorneys will protect you from liability and your right to fair compensation.
- Proving liability: with several parties being involved, any number of them could have caused or contributed to the incident. This makes determining and proving liability challenging. Our attorneys will assign a team of investigators to determine the cause of the accident, identify all liable parties, and hold those responsible for compensating you for your damages.
Regulations for Autonomous Vehicles in California
The California DMV offers full details about autonomous vehicle regulation in California. But here is a brief overview of how California State regulates autonomous vehicles allowed on the road:
- DMV Permits: Required for testing (with or without driver) and deployment. Currently, Waymo has one of the broadest driverless approvals in California.
- CPUC Permits: These permits are required by autonomous vehicle companies for charging passengers in robotaxis. Waymo is the most advanced in commercial operations; others are in pilot or planning stages.
- Comprehensive Testing: Heavy testing is required and is currently underway in San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, with expansions headed to San Diego. Uber plans to launch its own robotaxi service in the Bay Area in late 2026 using Nuro/Lucid tech.
Steps You Should Take After an Autonomous Vehicle Accident in California
A car accident can be life-altering, which is why it is important to make sure you take the necessary steps to get your life back on track. At Maison Law, we recommend taking the following steps to ensure you have a strong case after being injured in an autonomous vehicle accident:
- Collect Medical Records: Even if your injuries seem minor, they can manifest into something much worse weeks later. So, it is recommended to check in with a doctor and get a record of your injury. An MRI or an X-ray can reveal substantial damage that you might not be aware of. These documents will be essential to building a strong case.
- Get a Police Report: Failing to alert the police does not help your case, especially if the case comes down to your word over the person responsible for your injuries. A police officer will file an accident report and may even assign blame based on their assessment. A police report is critical evidence in any claim and will play a key role in ensuring you are fully compensated.
- Gather Evidence: You should document the accident as thoroughly as possible. Take pictures of the property where the accident occurred. Take a video of yourself recounting the accident while it is still fresh in your mind.
- Collect Eye Witness Statements: if there are any eyewitnesses, try to get a statement from them. Or, at least, get their names and numbers, as they can testify on your behalf or provide a statement to corroborate your story later.
- Collect General Information: Exchange insurance information with the party responsible for your injuries, and be sure to get their name, phone number, and contact information.
- Contact Maison Law: Our firm is standing by to help car accident victims in California physically and financially recover. Call, text, or email. Our door is always open to the community, and we’d love to help you through this difficult time.
What Info is Needed During a Law Firm’s Intake Process?
The intake process usually starts off with a questionnaire to assess the merits of the case. This questionnaire will provide the law firm with key information to help determine if a case is worth pursuing or not. However, if you’d like to speak directly to an attorney, you can usually set up a brief meeting to discuss the details of your situation prior to answering a questionnaire. The following data is what potential clients will need to begin the intake process with a law firm:
- Employment details: current or former employer, job title, dates of employment, and compensation information.
- Nature of the complaint: type of carelessness that led to your injury (premise liability, car accident, defective equipment)
- Timeline of events: dates of key incidents, formal complaints filed, relevant communications with employer
- Witnesses: names and contact information of potential witnesses to the alleged misconduct
- Documentation: list of relevant documents (x-rays, MRIs, doctor’s diagnosis, physical therapy appointments, workers’ compensation forms)
- Prior legal action: if you’ve filed previous personal injury claims, then the details of your previous case may be relevant to your new case
- Medical information: details about your medical diagnosis and treatment plan
- Social media presence: your injury may be documented online, as well as you discussing the details of your personal injury
Damages Autonomous Vehicle Accident Victims Can Claim
Damages in an autonomous vehicle accident are often extensive, resulting in costly medical bills, missed time at work, and possible permanent damage to your health and well-being. Unfortunately, insurance companies, especially those representing major autonomous vehicle corporations, do not look at your future damages and will often offer a low amount to only cover your immediate expenses. But that’s where Maison Law can help.
We help injured autonomous vehicle accident victims get the maximum amount they’re owed for the following damages:
- Medical expenses for future and present treatment
- Other medical costs needed to facilitate your injuries, such as a wheelchair, crutches, or in-home care
- Pain and suffering, which include trauma, anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life due to the accident.
- Re-vocational training if you’re unable to return to your job
- Damage or destruction to your property
- Loss of income if your injuries prevent you from working
- Wrongful death benefits if a life was lost in the accident
Autonomous Vehicle Accident Liability Law in California
In the case of an autonomous vehicle causing an accident, the corporation that owns the vehicle will most likely be liable for the actions of its vehicles through vicarious liability, which is covered in California’s Respondeat Superior Law, which states:
“The employer or a principal could be held vicariously liable for an unlawful or unjust act of an employee or an agent. For the employer or the principal to be vicariously liable under the respondeat superior, the employer or the agent must commit the wrongful act while working in the scope of the employment agency.”
However, all autonomous vehicle accidents are more complex than your typical accident because several parties can be liable. For that reason, it is important to consult with an Autonomous Vehicle Accident Lawyer at Maison Law to understand your legal options.
Typical Compensation for an Autonomous Vehicle Accident in California
If you’re injured in an autonomous vehicle accident in California, you may be able to receive compensation for your damages. There are three damages you can claim that will have a substantial impact on the amount of compensation you can receive. They include:
- Economic damages: financial damages you incurred due to the accident.
- Medical bills
- Lost Wages
- Loss of future potential earnings
- Loss of property
- Cost of repairs
- Non-economic damages: these are subjective, non-compensatory damages.
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages: these are damages awarded to serve as punishment to the at-fault party.
- Reckless behavior
- Actions performed out of spite
It is important to note that the final settlement amount varies widely depending on the circumstances of each case and the severity of your damages. It is recommended to consult with one of our Autonomous Vehicle Accident Attorneys to fully understand the value of your case.
Get a Free Consultation
Maison Law offers a free consultation to all injured victims in California. Our Personal Injury Attorneys are here to discuss the details of your incident at no cost to you and evaluate if you have an injury claim and the next steps you should take. Everything you discuss with us is protected under attorney-client privilege, even if you decide not to take legal action. For more information, contact us today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
Contact Maison Law | Autonomous Vehicle Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been injured due to an autonomous vehicle in California, the Autonomous Vehicle Accident Attorneys at Maison Law can help. We understand how to deal with insurance companies of major corporations like Waymo, Tesla, Nuro, and Amazon to protect you from liability and your right to fair compensation. Unlike other law firms, we offer a personalized legal plan for your autonomous vehicle accident case and will exercise the full extent of the law to benefit your situation.
See what legal options are available to you by contacting Maison Law today for a free consultation and case review.
