Liability Questions Arise as Autonomous Vehicles Hit Colorado Roads

Denver drivers should be aware of the legal and safety considerations as semi-autonomous cars and AI-assisted driving technologies become more common.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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As semi-autonomous cars and AI-assisted driving technologies begin to appear on Colorado roads, Denver drivers should be aware of the liabilities that may accompany these promising innovations. While these new tools offer increased safety, they also create new legal questions about who is liable in the event of a collision involving an autonomous vehicle.

Why it matters

The rise of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles on Colorado roads raises important questions about liability and accountability. As these technologies become more prevalent, policymakers and legislators must grapple with how to properly regulate and insure these vehicles to protect both drivers and pedestrians.

The details

Autonomous driving tools often mean safer roadways, but semi-autonomous cars are still involved in collisions, raising legal questions about who's liable for the damages. Fully autonomous, AI-powered 'robotaxis' use remote assistance agents to help in complex situations, while personal cars may have driver assistance systems that stop the vehicle or steer it back into the lane. When these vehicles are involved in crashes, the liability conversation becomes more complex, as experts must consider whether a technology malfunction or misrepresentation contributed to the accident.

  • Waymo announced its Denver launch in fall 2025.
  • A landmark 2025 verdict found Tesla partially responsible for a fatal collision involving its Autopilot technology.

The players

Waymo

An autonomous driving company that is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

Stephen Burg

An experienced Denver accident attorney and award-winning Burg Simpson shareholder.

Jared Polis

The Governor of Colorado.

Mike Johnston

The Mayor of Denver.

Tesla

An American electric vehicle and clean energy company.

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What they’re saying

“I'm excited about the advancement in technology...I think it just needs to be properly regulated so that we're not passing the buck onto the taxpayers, and we're having the same personal responsibility that we all take when we get a driver's license, and we get on the road.”

— Stephen Burg, Experienced Denver accident attorney and award-winning Burg Simpson shareholder (Denver Post)

“Instead of the insurance company, after collecting premiums for years, being required to pay what it owes, immunity and other loopholes allow them to avoid accountability. They keep the money, and the responsibility they should have covered gets shifted onto taxpayers.”

— Stephen Burg, Experienced Denver accident attorney and award-winning Burg Simpson shareholder (Denver Post)

What’s next

Policymakers and legislators are still grappling with many of these questions today as they begin to examine actual cases, such as the landmark 2025 verdict that found Tesla partially responsible for a fatal collision involving its Autopilot technology.

The takeaway

The rise of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles on Colorado roads raises important questions about liability and accountability. As these technologies become more prevalent, it is critical that policymakers and legislators work to properly regulate and insure these vehicles to protect both drivers and pedestrians and ensure that those responsible for accidents are held accountable.