What to Do if You Get in an Accident With a Self-Driving Car in 2025 (Follow These 4 Steps)
Knowing what to do if you get in an accident with a self-driving car will make the process less stressful. You should call authorities, collect information, contact your insurer, and seek legal advice if necessary. Protect yourself in self-driving car accidents with full coverage insurance starting at $84 a month.
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Ty Stewart
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Ty Stewart is the founder and CEO of SimpleLifeInsure.com. He started researching and studying about insurance when he got his first policy for his own family. He has been featured as an insurance expert speaker at agent conventions and in top publications. As an independent licensed insurance agent, he has helped clients nationwide to secure affordable coverage while making the process simpl...
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UPDATED: Mar 11, 2025
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Mar 11, 2025
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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Knowing what to do if you get in an accident with a self-driving car will help make the situation less stressful. Whether you’re the one in the self-driving car or were involved in a self-driving car crash, it is important to call authorities, document the scene, and talk to your insurance company.
In complex accident cases, it is wise to consult a lawyer for assistance in determining fault and navigating damages when filing an auto insurance claim.
Read on to learn more about accidents with self-driving cars and how to protect yourself. If you are interested in finding auto insurance coverage for accidents today, use our free quote tool to find affordable companies near you.
- Step #1: Contact Authorities – Emergency Services, Local Police, etc.
- Step #2: Document Damages and Injuries – Pictures, Reports, & Contact Info
- Step #3: Notify Insurance Company – Call Your Insurance Company
- Step #4: Contact a Lawyer if Necessary – Helpful for Complex Cases
4 Steps to Follow After an Accident With a Self-Driving Car
What happens if you get hit by a driverless car? Accidents with self-driving cars do happen, especially with more autonomous cars like Waymo emerging on the roads in states that allow self-driving cars.
You may be scratching your head over what to do when there is no driver in the car to get information from or if you are at fault when your vehicle and a self-driving car crashed. In both cases, you will follow standard procedures after an accident, such as contacting authorities, documenting damages, and notifying your insurance company.
However, because self-driving car accidents can be complex with assigning fault, it is also prudent to reach out to a lawyer if you are having trouble with your claim after an accident. Our self-driving car accident list of steps details what to do.
Step #1: Contact Authorities
In the immediate aftermath of the accident, move to a safe location, such as the side of the road, if possible. Call emergency services for assistance, especially if there are injuries.
After an accident, you should call law enforcement to come assist with documenting the accident, as well as directing traffic if needed.Brandon Frady Licensed Insurance Producer
Law enforcement documentation will be necessary for most cases involving self-driving cars, especially if there is video surveillance footage, which will help when filing for at-fault accidents.
Step #2: Document Damages and Injuries
It is important to document damages and injuries as thoroughly as possible when you file your insurance claim. Collect as much of the following as possible:
- Photographs and Videos: Record the damages, injuries, and street conditions to show your insurance company.
- Contact Information: Collect the insurance information and contact info of the other party.
- Medical Assistance: Keep track of any medical bills and treatments from the accident.
- Police Reports: Make sure to get a copy of the police report, and check that it includes witness statements if applicable.
If the car is fully autonomous, it can be difficult to know what contact information to collect. In these cases, you will need to collect the manufacturer or company’s details and the license plate. You can file an insurance claim without a police report, but police can assist in gathering contact information and support your claims while the adjuster investigates.
Step #3: Notify Insurance Company
Ideally, you should give your auto insurance company a call within a day or two of the accident. Provide them with all of the accident information you collected, such as police reports, photographs, and contact information.
Be very clear about the role of the self-driving car in the accident, whether you were the one driving it or you were involved in an accident with a self-driving car. A vehicle operating autonomously could impact the claims process by drawing out the investigation process, especially if the self-driving car malfunctioned.
Your insurance company may want to contact the manufacturer in cases where malfunction is suspected, which could make the claims process take longer.
Learn More: If someone hits my car, do I call my insurance or theirs?
Step #4: Contact a Lawyer if Necessary
Who is responsible if a self-driving car causes an accident? Should car companies be held responsible for self-driving car accidents? It can be difficult to determine who is responsible for self-driving car accidents, but companies may be held responsible in some cases for severe manufacturing errors.
It is wise to seek assistance from an experienced lawyer in legal cases involving self-driving cars. Lawyers can help determine comparative negligence in a self-driving vehicle accident.
Whenever there are serious injuries, damages, or disputes regarding fault, you should consult with a lawyer (Read More: How to Dispute an Auto Insurance Claim). They will help protect your interests and navigate the complexity of a self-driving car accident claim.
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The Best Insurance Coverage for Accidents With Self-Driving Cars
Data about self-driving car accident rates vs. human car accident rates is still emerging, and with more autonomous cars on the road, it is more important than ever to protect yourself in case of an accident. Full coverage auto insurance will provide the best protection, whether you are the owner of a self-driving car or want to protect yourself against one.
Below, you can see average full coverage rates versus bare minimum liability rates at popular auto insurance companies.
Liability Auto Insurance vs. Full Coverage Monthly Rates by Provider
| Insurance Company | Liability Only | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
 | $61 | $228 |
 | $43 | $166 |
 | $33 | $124 |
 | $53 | $198 |
 | $30 | $114 |
 | $67 | $248 |
 | $32 | $164 |
 | $39 | $150 |
 | $33 | $123 |
 | $38 | $141 |
 | $22 | $84 |
| U.S. Average | $45 | $165 |
Liability insurance is the cheapest, but it only pays for other people’s accident costs if you cause an accident. Full coverage will pay for your own accident costs in a variety of situations. You may also want to consider carrying umbrella insurance if you are the owner of a self-driving car, as it will help pay legal fees in lawsuits.
The more auto insurance coverage you carry, the better financially protected you will be in an accident. Shopping around at different companies and applying for discounts will help make coverage more affordable while still protecting yourself and your vehicle.
Preparing Yourself for Self-Driving Car Accidents
It is impossible to prevent some accidents from happening, but you can protect yourself in self-driving vehicle accidents by knowing what to do if you get in an accident with a self-driving car and having the proper insurance coverage.
However, while knowing how to handle an accident with a self-driving car will help you with claim filing, in difficult cases where fault is hard to assign to a party or the autonomous car malfunctioned, it is wise to seek out the counsel of an experienced lawyer. They can help you with your self-driving car case and help you reach a fair settlement (Read More: What is a fair settlement for an auto accident?).
Ready to find protection for yourself and your vehicle today? Compare quotes and find affordable companies with our free tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a Waymo gets pulled over?
Wondering what happens if a self-driving car gets pulled over? If authorities pull over self-driving cars like Waymo, the police can issue tickets and can usually speak remotely to the owner.
What happens if you get in an accident with a Waymo car?
If the vehicle stops, there is a button inside the car that you can use to contact support. You should also contact the authorities for assistance.
If a self-driving car hits a pedestrian, whose fault is it?
What happens if you get hit by a self-driving car? It is difficult to determine fault when an autonomous vehicle hits a pedestrian unless there was a clear vehicle error or the pedestrian was acting unsafely.
Authorities and insurance will determine fault, but it may be best to reach out to a lawyer for assistance. If you are worried about pedestrian road safety, read our guide on the safest states for pedestrians.
Have there been any accidents with self-driving cars?
Yes, there have been accidents with self-driving cars driving autonomously, as well as self-driving cars being hit by other drivers at fault. According to the NHTSA, there were 1,353 autonomous vehicle accidents in 2023.
How do self-driving cars avoid accidents?
Self-driving cars use sensors, automatic braking, and other technology to avoid accidents.
Does car insurance cover self-accidents?
Car insurance will cover accidents you caused yourself if you have full coverage that includes collision and comprehensive insurance (Learn More: Collision vs. Comprehensive Auto Insurance Explained).
Will driverless cars affect insurance?
Driverless car insurance rates will cost more to insure, as these vehicles cost more to purchase. If you are looking to buy insurance for your autonomous vehicle, enter your ZIP code in our free quote tool.
What is the most common accident scenario in self-driving cars?
One of the most common accidents is a self-driving car getting rear-ended.
Are there any self-driving cars?
Yes, a common self-driving car you may have heard of is Waymo, which is Google’s self-driving car. Learn more in our article about companies creating self-driving cars.
Who is at fault in a self-driving car accident?
It is difficult to determine fault in a self-driving car accident, which is why we recommend seeking out a lawyer if fault is difficult to determine.
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Ty Stewart
Licensed Insurance Agent
Ty Stewart is the founder and CEO of SimpleLifeInsure.com. He started researching and studying about insurance when he got his first policy for his own family. He has been featured as an insurance expert speaker at agent conventions and in top publications. As an independent licensed insurance agent, he has helped clients nationwide to secure affordable coverage while making the process simpl...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.