EL CAJON, CA, October 05, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Barry P. Goldberg, A Professional Law Corporation is advising East County drivers on how fault works when a self-driving truck causes a crash, now that autonomous big rigs are operating on California highways. The firm's truck accident lawyer in El Cajon, CA represents people injured by commercial vehicles along Interstate 8 and State Routes 67 and 125.

Under regulations the California DMV adopted on April 28, companies can test autonomous trucks over 10,001 pounds. Each must start with a safety driver behind the wheel and log 500,000 miles per phase before moving to driverless operations. Kodiak AI and Aurora have received testing permits, and on September 22, Kodiak began hauling freight between Fresno and Los Angeles. The Teamsters are challenging the rules in Alameda County Superior Court.

"A self-driving truck doesn't change the basic question of who caused the crash. It changes how many companies may share the answer," said Barry P. Goldberg, founder of the firm and a recognized authority on uninsured and underinsured motorist law in California. "The key evidence lives in the truck's software and sensor logs, and the companies on the other side control those records."

Who May Be Responsible

In conventional truck crashes, fault can rest with the driver, the trucking company, the business that loaded the cargo, or the shop that maintained the vehicle. Self-driving trucks add two new layers:

• The safety driver. During testing, a human operator must sit behind the wheel. An operator who fails to take control can share fault with the carrier that employs them.
• The technology company. When an automated driving system malfunctions, injured people may pursue a product liability claim against the company that designed it.

What To Do After a Self-Driving Truck Crash

Injured people should note the company names on the truck and contact a lawyer early, so every company involved receives a letter requiring it to keep its records, including software and sensor logs. Whatever happens with the Teamsters' lawsuit, California law still lets them pursue every party that contributed to the crash.

About Barry P. Goldberg, A Professional Law Corporation

Barry P. Goldberg, A Professional Law Corporation represents injured people across California from offices in El Cajon, Woodland Hills, Valencia, and Simi Valley. Founder Barry P. Goldberg earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School Los Angeles in 1984 and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit, and all California courts. A recognized authority on uninsured and underinsured motorist law, he has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer for 10 consecutive years and holds a "Superb" 10 rating from AVVO. He previously served as a volunteer mediator and settlement officer for the Los Angeles Superior Court. The firm's El Cajon office is located at 270 E. Douglas Ave., Suite 107. Injured drivers and families can contact the firm to speak with a lawyer about their case.

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