Self-driving trucks are now on the highways of Texas and other states, which raises safety concerns and legal issues if people are injured in truck accidents.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Self-Driving Truck Accident injury cases in all 50 states. If you were injured in a self-driving truck accident, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Truck Accident Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
UPDATE: Aurora Innovation Launches Autonomous Trucks in Texas
In May 2025, Aurora Innovation made history by becoming the first company in the U.S. to launch a commercial self-driving truck service using fully-autonomous 18-wheelers to carry freight.
For now, Aurora’s self-driving semi-trucks will have a human in the cab to observe operations, but the trucks are designed to perform all driving tasks on their own, using a system of cameras and sensors.
Self-Driving Trucks Expand Commercial Services in Texas
Aurora Innovation is rapidly expanding their self-driving trucking business. In July 2025, Aurora launched nighttime self-driving truck operations in Texas, carrying freight between Dallas and Houston, a 500-mile round trip on the I-45 corridor.
Aurora Opens Terminal in Arizona
Aurora is also expanding into Arizona. In July 2025, Aurora opened a new terminal in Phoenix to carry freight on the 1,000-mile corridor between Fort Worth and Phoenix for Hischbach and Werner.
What Are Self-Driving Trucks?
Self-driving trucks, also known as “autonomous trucks” or “RoboTrucks,” are 18-wheeler semi trucks that are designed to haul freight across vast distances, without a human driver at the wheel.
Instead of a human driver, self-driving trucks rely on a computer system to perform driving tasks autonomously, using data from multiple cameras, sensors, and artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Top Self-Driving Truck Companies in U.S.
Self-driving truck companies includes many familiar names (such as Google or Volvo) and a variety of brand-new startups. For example:
- Aurora Innovation
- Tesla Semi
- Uber Freight
- Waymo Via
- Mercedez-Benz Future Truck
- Daimler Truck North America
- Einride
- Embark Trucks
- Volvo Autonomous Solutions
- Plus.AI
- Locomation
- TuSimple
- Waabi
- Kodiak Robotics
- Gatik AI
- Torc Robotics
- And more
What is the Problem?
If the idea of sharing the road with an 80,000-pound semi-truck at 65 mph makes you nervous, you are not alone. This technology is very new, with startup companies racing to dominate what could someday become a trillion-dollar market for fully-autonomous long-haul big rigs.
For now, the technology is still in its infancy — and if it makes a tiny mistake, the consequence could be a devastating or deadly accident.
Are Self-Driving Trucks Safe?
At highway speeds, there is no room for error. Road conditions can turn extremely hazardous in the blink of an eye. This is why truckers must go through an extensive process to get their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and pass a skill-test before they are allowed to drive.
Unlike human truckers with a CDL and years of experience, self-driving truck technology is still in the early learning-curve phase of development. The technology is new, and it still has a long way to go before it is as safe (or safer) than a human truck driver.
In the meantime, there are serious safety concerns for people on the road. It is only a matter of time before someone is injured or an innocent person is killed in an accident with an autonomous truck.
Who Can File a Lawsuit?
Self-driving truck lawsuits could involve a variety of victims, including:
- People in car accidents with self-driving trucks
- Construction workers
- Emergency first-responders (police, firefighters, etc.)
- Bicyclists
- Motorcyclists
- Pedestrians
- Human “safety observers” in the cab of an autonomous semi-truck that veers off the road or causes a serious accident
Other Legal Issues in Self-Driving Truck Accidents
There could also be other issues with self-driving truck accidents, depending on the scenario. For example, there might be lawsuits involving property damage if an autonomous truck crashes into a building or veers off the road. And especially in Texas, there could be issues with autonomous trucks hitting livestock or cattle on the road.
Truck Accident Lawsuits
Truck accident lawsuits can be complex, but in general, the goal of a lawsuit is to pay compensation to people who were injured by large commercial vehicles, big rigs, semi-trucks, delivery trucks, or fully-autonomous trucks without any human driver behind the wheel.
Unlike a traditional lawsuit involving a truck accident, lawsuits involving autonomous truck accidents will not involve a human truck driver. Instead, these lawsuits will focus on other factors, like the condition of the truck itself, or the safety of the self-driving technology.
Legal Questions in Self-Driving Truck Accident Lawsuits
Each case is unique, but here are a few examples of questions that a lawyer might ask in a case involving a self-driving truck accident:
- Was the accident caused by an autonomous truck that was driving dangerously?
- Were the truck sensors fully functional?
- What about other mechanical issues with the truck, such as defective tires, poorly-maintained braking systems, unsecured loads, etc.?
- Was the self-driving technology adequately tested before it was deployed on public roads and highways?
- If safety issues were discovered, did the company immediately take the trucks off the road until a software update or mechanical repair could fix the problem, or reduce the risk?
- If road hazards or weather conditions were too dangerous to drive — why didn’t the company take the truck offline until conditions were better?
How Can a Lawsuit Help?
Trucking accidents are less common than car accidents, but they are often far more serious, involving severe injuries and/or deaths.
These lawsuits will typically seek a settlement or substantial financial compensation for the victims, including a payout for their medical expenses, pain and suffering, long-term injuries or disability, lost income, wrongful death of a loved one, and other losses.
Do I Have a Self-Driving Truck Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Self-Driving Truck Accident injury cases in all 50 states. If you were injured in a self-driving truck accident, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Truck Accident Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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