# San Jose Self-Driving Car Crashes: Liability and Evidence

Canonical: https://sanjosecacaraccidentlawyer.com/autonomous-vehicle-crashes/

Reviewed by Andrew Ronald Gillin; reviewed 2026-11-05.

A crash involving a self-driving vehicle calls for a careful look at the vehicle, the system in use, and the people or companies involved.

## Self-driving vehicles versus driver-assistance systems

Driver-assistance systems and driverless operations are not interchangeable. The DMV maintains distinct testing and deployment programs. A commercial passenger trip can also involve other regulatory reporting. Start by identifying the service and operating mode rather than treating every advanced vehicle as legally autonomous.



Sources: [California DMV autonomous vehicle programs](https://qr.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-industry-services/autonomous-vehicles/); [California Vehicle Code](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codesTOCSelected.xhtml?tocCode=VEH)

## Evidence to preserve after an autonomous vehicle crash

Keep the trip details, vehicle identification, photos, and any report number. A lawyer may need to request preservation of vehicle, operator, and service records. Public agency reports can provide context, but they may use different reporting rules and may not contain all of the evidence needed for a particular claim.



Sources: [California DMV autonomous vehicle programs](https://qr.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-industry-services/autonomous-vehicles/); [California Vehicle Code](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codesTOCSelected.xhtml?tocCode=VEH)

## Which agencies publish autonomous vehicle records

For a useful review, keep the following information together. You do not need to enter it on this website.

- The sequence of the crash and what you personally saw.
- Report, witness, photo, and lawful video information.
- Policies, coverage letters, and any release or offer you received.

Sources: [California DMV autonomous vehicle programs](https://qr.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-industry-services/autonomous-vehicles/)

## Court decisions about san jose self-driving car crashes: liability and evidence

### Mitchell v. Gonzales

(1991) 54 Cal.3d 1041, pp. 1049–1053. The court favored a substantial-factor instruction for cause in fact over a confusing older instruction.

Limits: Proof of a careless act alone is not enough. The claimed harm must still be linked to that act.

[Read the opinion](https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/54/1041.html)

## Related resources

- [Car Accident Evidence: Dashcams, Vehicle Data, and Video](https://sanjosecacaraccidentlawyer.com/california-law/digital-evidence/)
- [How to Request a San Jose Car Accident Report](https://sanjosecacaraccidentlawyer.com/san-jose-guide/accident-reports/)
- [California Comparative Fault After a Car Accident](https://sanjosecacaraccidentlawyer.com/california-law/comparative-fault/)
- [Contact GJEL About a San Jose Car Accident](https://sanjosecacaraccidentlawyer.com/contact/)

## Legal and agency sources

- [California DMV autonomous vehicle programs](https://qr.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-industry-services/autonomous-vehicles/)
- [California Vehicle Code](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codesTOCSelected.xhtml?tocCode=VEH)
- [Mitchell v. Gonzales (1991) 54 Cal.3d 1041](https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/54/1041.html)

General information, not legal advice. Examples are hypothetical.