I think this minor accident is actually a good thing for self-driving cars. It sets the expectation that they may not be perfect, and isn't a PR disaster in the way that a fatal accident may have been.
From here, more accidents are able to happen without being huge news stories. Undoubtedly, the first time someone dies in an accident involving a self-driving car, there will still be lots of questioning of the technology, but it won't come as a complete surprise, now that smaller accidents have occurred.
From here, more accidents are able to happen without being huge news stories. Undoubtedly, the first time someone dies in an accident involving a self-driving car, there will still be lots of questioning of the technology, but it won't come as a complete surprise, now that smaller accidents have occurred.