It’s every family’s worst nightmare: getting a phone call that your loved one was killed in a crash involving a self-driving car. You trusted the technology. They trusted the ride. But something went wrong. And now, you're left with grief, questions, and the overwhelming burden of trying to make sense of what happened.

Can you file a wrongful death lawsuit after a self-driving car crash? The answer is yes, and in many cases, you should.

At Witherite Law Group, we’ve seen firsthand how devastating these tragedies can be. And we know how to hold powerful companies accountable when they put profit over safety.

How Wrongful Death Lawsuits Work in Self-Driving Car Cases

A wrongful death lawsuit allows surviving family members to seek justice when a loved one is killed due to another party’s negligence. In a traditional car accident, the blame often falls on a distracted or reckless driver. But with self-driving and driver-assist vehicles, the liability gets more complicated. You might be dealing with:

  • A vehicle manufacturer that failed to install proper safety systems
  • A software developer whose code didn’t respond to a hazard
  • A driver who relied too heavily on automation
  • Or all of the above

Self-driving cars don’t take human error out of the equation — they shift the responsibility. And in some cases, they introduce new types of failure: software bugs, sensor malfunctions, and systems that just don’t perform when lives are on the line.

Why Acting Quickly Matters: Our Rapid Response Team Is Ready

When a crash involving a self-driving car results in a wrongful death, every minute counts. Vehicle data can be lost. Physical evidence can disappear. And you can bet the car company and their legal team are already working on a defense.

That’s why Witherite Law Group’s Rapid Response Team (RRT) is built to move fast, sometimes within hours of a wreck.

We don’t wait for insurance adjusters or excuses. We get to the scene, document evidence, and start protecting your rights right away. Our RRT includes investigators, legal professionals, and support staff who:

  • Visit the crash site to document the scene and preserve key evidence
  • Identify and secure video footage from traffic cameras or nearby businesses
  • Gather black box data and vehicle logs before it’s lost or tampered with
  • Locate and speak to witnesses while their memories are still fresh
  • Coordinate with independent accident reconstruction experts

We also work directly with your family to help manage the chaos after a tragedy — connecting you with support services, explaining the legal process, and making sure your voice is heard from day one.

What We Learned From the Tesla Verdict

A recent Florida case showed exactly how far companies will go to avoid responsibility — and how a dedicated legal team can make all the difference.

In that case, a Tesla in Autopilot mode blew through a stop sign and killed a young woman who had been looking at the stars with her boyfriend. The driver admitted he was distracted. But the jury still found that Tesla's system played a key role in the crash.

It came out that Tesla had denied having critical crash data, even though it was later uncovered by a forensic expert. The jury awarded over $240 million in damages, including $200 million in punitive damages, sending a message to the industry that you can’t hide behind technology when someone loses their life.

This case matters because it shows what’s possible when victims’ families fight back — and win.

Witherite Law Group: A Firm That Fights for Families

Wrongful death cases are about more than money. They're about truth. Accountability. And making sure what happened to your loved one doesn’t happen to someone else. Witherite Law Group brings:

  • Over 20 years of experience handling serious injury and wrongful death cases
  • A tech-savvy legal team that knows how to challenge self-driving systems and their makers
  • Bilingual support, 24/7 availability, and a people-first commitment to your case
  • A strong track record of standing up to big companies, and winning

We don’t get intimidated by billion-dollar corporations. And we don’t let excuses slide when a family has suffered the ultimate loss.

Call a Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you’ve lost a loved one in a crash involving a self-driving or driver-assist vehicle, you deserve answers, and you may be entitled to compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit.

‍Call Witherite Law Group today for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll walk you through your rights, explain how wrongful death claims work in these types of cases, and help you make the right next move for your family.