Driver assist crashes are drawing new attention as cars take on more of the work of steering and braking. A New York Times report on automation complacency warns that as these systems get better, drivers may trust them too much, stop paying attention, and be caught off guard when something goes wrong.
San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan learned that lesson the hard way. While driving in Palo Alto, Calif., he bent down to pick up a dropped phone, believing his Tesla’s self-driving features would keep the car on a safe path. He later told reporters the system was not engaged. The car veered into oncoming traffic, and the crash left him with broken bones and a concussion. Driving “is a partnership,” Shanahan said. “You don’t just turn it over to a computer.”
Why Driver Assist Crashes Keep Climbing
Federal rules require automakers to report driver assist crashes when a Level 2 system was on within 30 seconds of impact. Those filings, collected under NHTSA’s Standing General Order on crash reporting, show a steady rise for Tesla. The company reported 135 driver assist crashes in March 2026, 207 in May, 209 in June and a record 236 in July, according to an Electrek review of Tesla’s federal filings.
Four of the July driver assist crashes killed seven people, including a rideshare Tesla that turned left into a motorcycle in Maryland. A system being on does not prove it caused a crash. Still, Tesla redacted the crash narratives and software details in each report, which makes it hard for the public to judge what went wrong.
Experts say the risk of driver assist crashes grows as the technology improves. When a system handles the road well most of the time, drivers relax and look at phones or screens. Common mistakes include:
- Taking eyes off the road because the car is “driving itself”
- Using a system on roads it was not designed for
- Reacting too slowly when the system hands control back
- Assuming the car will see every hazard, such as a stopped vehicle or a motorcycle
Who Is Responsible for Driver Assist Crashes?
Under current law, the human behind the wheel of a Level 2 car remains responsible for driving at all times. That means in many driver assist crashes, a distracted driver who relied on the technology can be held liable when they hurt someone. The limits of automated driving features matter here, because no car sold to the public today can safely drive itself everywhere.
Automakers can share the blame, too. If a system failed to work as promised, or if marketing led drivers to believe the car could do more than it can, the manufacturer may face a product liability claim. Several cases involving Tesla self-driving crashes have raised these questions in court.
How Orlando Car Accident Attorneys Handle Driver Assist Crashes
Driver assist crashes often turn on data. The car’s event data recorder, camera footage and telematics can show whether a system was engaged, how fast the car was moving, and whether the driver had hands on the wheel. Skilled Orlando car accident attorneys know how to request and preserve that information before it is overwritten or lost.
Driver assist crashes can involve numerous defendants. A lawyer can sort out which parties may owe you money, whether that is the other driver, their insurer, the automaker or more than one of them. With that evidence in hand, an attorney can seek payment for medical bills, lost income, vehicle damage, and pain and suffering while you focus on healing. Florida limits the time you have to file a claim, so it pays to act quickly after a crash involving driver assist technology.
Call 407-846-2240 for a free consultation with an Orlando car accident attorney at the Martinez Manglardi personal injury law firm. Convenient locations throughout Central Florida, including Orlando, Kissimmee, Apopka, Palm Bay, Ocala, Haines City, and Davenport.
