Self-driving cars are changing everything about car accident liability. As more autonomous vehicles hit Kentucky roads, understanding who’s responsible when accidents happen matters for all of us.
The Reality of Self-Driving Technology
What used to be sci-fi is now reality. Big car companies and tech giants are pouring billions into self-driving technology, promising safer roads and less traffic. But there’s a catch—this new tech is creating serious legal problems.
Here’s the thing: car accident law usually focuses on driver mistakes. But what happens when there’s no driver to blame?
Right now, we’ve got “semi-autonomous” cars with fancy features that still need humans watching. When accidents happen with these cars, figuring out fault gets messy. Maybe the driver trusted the tech too much. Maybe the car didn’t warn them fast enough. Or maybe the system was just broken.
How Liability Works with Autonomous Vehicles
Self-driving car crashes can involve multiple responsible parties:
- The sensor manufacturer (if sensors failed)
- The car manufacturer (for choosing bad sensors)
- The software company (if code was faulty)
- Even the car owner (for skipping updates)
Imagine a self-driving car crashes on a rainy day. The brake maker, software developer, car company, and maintenance shop might all share the blame. It’s a liability puzzle where everyone owns a piece.
If a self driving vehicle causes an accident, the driver is still liable for damages to other drivers and pedestrians involved. That said, the liability can also fall onto the car companies. If a self-driving car’s design, manufacturing, or programming causes an accident, the company who created it could be liable. This makes cases way more complicated—lawyers need robotics experts, AI specialists, and computer scientists just to prove what went wrong.
Self-driving cars record everything, and that data could prove exactly what went wrong. But car companies often claim it’s proprietary or trade secrets, so lawyers end up fighting just to access the evidence they need.
Insurance companies are rolling out new policies for software glitches and cyber attacks instead of driver mistakes. Car owners might pay less eventually, but manufacturers need way more coverage for tech failures.
Kentucky’s Self-Driving Car Law
Kentucky allowed self-driving cars when House Bill 7 became law on July 15, 2024. We’re the 25th state to permit them.
To operate a fully self-driving car in Kentucky without a human driver, you must:
- Submit a safety plan to the Transportation Cabinet and Kentucky State Police
- Carry at least $1 million in insurance (10x what regular cars need)
- Have a qualified human driver on board until July 31, 2026 (for vehicles over 62,000 pounds)
Only the state Transportation Cabinet can regulate self-driving cars—local governments can’t ban them or add extra rules.
Responsibility is shifting from “that driver made a mistake” to “something was wrong with the car.” This affects everyone on the road. Self-driving tech might make roads safer, but it’s raising new legal questions that Kentucky is still figuring out.
Got in an Accident?
Whether it involved a traditional car or a self-driving one, you’ve got rights. The team at Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers understands these complex cases and stays on top of Kentucky’s evolving autonomous vehicle laws.
Call us for a free consultation at 888-782-9090 or visit florastuart.com.
