Key Takeaways
- Liability in a self-driving crash may shift from the driver to the manufacturer when the automated system controls the car.
- Tennessee treats a fully engaged automated driving system as the driver when deciding vehicle owner liability.
- Fully driverless vehicles must meet federal safety standards and hold Tennessee registration as autonomous vehicles.
- Companies must report crashes to federal regulators when automated systems were active within 30 seconds of impact.
- Tennessee generally gives injured people one year from the crash date to file a personal injury claim.
Self driving car insurance does not follow the same rules as a standard auto policy, because responsibility for a crash can move from the person behind the wheel to the company that built the car. With driverless rides now operating in Nashville, our Nashville car accident lawyers at The Williams Firm hear one question first from people hurt in these collisions: who pays?
When an autonomous system controls the vehicle at the moment of impact, liability may fall on the manufacturer or software developer rather than the driver. The answer turns on the level of automation engaged, whether the human driver failed to take over, and whether a product defect contributed to the collision.
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How Traditional Car Insurance Works Versus Self-Driving Car Insurance
A traditional Tennessee claim asks which driver made the mistake. That driver’s liability carrier pays, and Tennessee’s modified comparative fault rule reduces recovery by any share of blame assigned to the injured person and bars recovery entirely at 50% or more.
Autonomous technology rewrites that starting point. Tennessee Code § 55-30-106 provides that when an automated driving system is fully engaged and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, the system itself counts as the driver for purposes of owner liability. Attention then moves from driving habits to software design, sensor performance, and warnings.
For an injured person, the practical worry is usually the medical bills arriving now. Depending on the policy terms, their own medical payments coverage or uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may help, while the larger liability question works its way toward the company responsible.
Jonathan Williams explains that uninsured motorist coverage is the most important part of any auto policy, because it protects policyholders when the at-fault party lacks enough coverage to pay.Â
Who Can Be Held Liable When an Autonomous Vehicle Causes a Crash?
Liability can rest with the vehicle owner, the human driver, the manufacturer, the software developer, or several at once. Across more than 50 years of combined experience, our Nashville car accident lawyers have seen how rarely fault lands on a single party, and autonomous vehicle claims add more names to that list.
The Vehicle Owner or Driver
Tennessee Senate Bill 2253, now Public Chapter 726, directs officers to mail citations for autonomous vehicle traffic violations to the registered owner. A citation does not decide an injury case, but it creates a record tying the vehicle and its owner to the violation.
Many partially automated systems expect a human to watch traffic and take control, so a driver scrolling a phone while lane assist steers on I-40 may share fault. Insurers look closely for that kind of lapse.
Passengers stand in a different position. A rider in a robotaxi has no control over the car, so fault rarely falls on them. Jonathan often points out that a passenger’s own auto policy can still provide coverage, even when the passenger was riding in someone else’s vehicle.
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The Manufacturer or Software Developer
A technology failure often points the claim toward the company behind it. Tennessee’s Automated Vehicles Act sends these disputes to product liability law and other applicable law. Common theories include:
- Design Defects: Software that misreads pedestrians, cyclists, or lane markings
- Sensor Failures: Cameras or radar that falter in rain, glare, or darkness
Jonathan has handled many tractor-trailer wrecks where onboard cameras and brake data revealed what a driver saw and did. Autonomous vehicles record far more, and preserving that data early often shapes the outcome.
What Tennessee Drivers Need to Know About Self-Driving Cars on the Road
Driverless vehicles share Nashville traffic every day, which makes self driving car insurance a local issue. According to WSMV, Waymo began offering public rides in April 2026 across a 60-square-mile area covering Broadway, 12 South, Midtown, and East Nashville.
Tennessee Code Title 55, Chapter 30 allows these vehicles on public roads with no human driver aboard, provided each one:
- Complies with every applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.
- Can reach a reasonably safe state if its automated system fails.
- Carries Tennessee registration as an autonomous vehicle able to operate without supervision.
A crash with a driverless car also looks different at the scene. There may be no driver to exchange information with, so the operating company’s name and the vehicle number become the key details. Calling the police creates an official account of what happened.
What to Do If You Are Injured in an Autonomous Vehicle Accident
After a self-driving crash, a few early steps protect the claim:
- Get Medical Care: Gaps in treatment give adjusters an opening to argue the injuries are minor.
- Photograph the Vehicle: Capture the company name, fleet number, and visible sensors.
- Stay Off Social Media: Greg Hazelwood warns that posts about the crash can weaken an injury claim.
- Avoid Quick Releases: Sign nothing from an insurer or technology company before speaking with an attorney.
Companies operating these vehicles must report qualifying crashes to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration when the automated system was in use within 30 seconds of impact. That report, along with onboard video and sensor logs, can become central evidence.
Tennessee generally gives injured people one year from the crash to file a personal injury claim, and cases against large companies take time to build.
Injured in a Self-Driving Car Accident? Contact The Williams Firm
Call The Williams Firm at (615)-256-8880 for a free consultation with a team that handles complex crash claims across Middle Tennessee. We will review the evidence, identify every liable party, and pursue fair compensation while your recovery stays the priority. Questions about self driving car insurance deserve clear answers.
When an accident or loss turns your life upside down, you need more than a lawyer—you need a relentless advocate who knows Tennessee and fights for you like family. Jonathan Williams, a born-and-raised Nashvillian, is the owner and managing partner of The Williams Firm. He brings more than 18 years of tenacious litigation experience as a Nashville personal injury lawyer to secure justice and maximum compensation for his clients. Jonathan lives in West Nashville with his wife, Megan, and their young son, Carter. They are anxiously expecting the birth of their daughter inJonathan Williams
