Rideshare Law Office wins support for California victims hurt in accidents involving Waymo One vehicles. Victims may have been inside a self-driving Waymo taxi when it was struck. Victims could have been in their own cars when they were hit by a Waymo vehicle. Please contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation for all California injury victims. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your injury should be worth and how to hold Waymo responsible.
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Waymo Accident?
If you suffer only some very minor injuries or only property damage in an accident involving a Waymo One car, you may not need a lawyer’s help. But when your injuries are serious, like a broken finger or a concussion, it’s a good idea to go over your options with a California Waymo accident lawyer.
When Waymo realizes medical expenses will be high, they rely on insurance adjusters and corporate lawyers to try to get them off the hook for their car’s mistakes. They’ll be looking to shift the blame for an accident to someone else and to downplay how serious your injury is.
A California rideshare accident lawyer fully investigates your accident and collects the evidence necessary to keep rideshare from escaping responsibility. Your lawyer also safeguards you from ending up with too little in support to pay all of your bills. Witness testimony and accident reconstruction data will be used to force Waymo to provide the maximum in compensation available.
What Is a Waymo One Car?
Waymo LLC is a billion-dollar company that makes and maintains autonomous taxi cars. The unique rideshare service is the first company to send cars driven only by computers out onto American streets for public use. People get into a Waymo and may be surprised to find there’s no one behind the wheel.
The company was known for a long time as the Google Self-Driving Car Project. It’s based in Mountain View, California.
The corporation’s website says that “Waymo One” cars are taking ride requests across all of San Francisco and a large chunk of Los Angeles. Riders can hail autonomous cars across 63 square miles of L.A. from Santa Monica to downtown. Waymo One vehicles are also found in Phoenix and potentially soon on streets in Austin, Texas.
The company claims that its automated drivers are reducing accidents, but the computer technology is still prone to mistakes. Reuters posted details of a Waymo car collision with a cyclist in February of 2024. The rider suffered minor injuries. TechCrunch also reported in 2024 that Waymo issued its first recall after two Waymo One vehicles struck the same pickup truck as it was being towed. Thankfully there were no injuries.
Waymo has been testing its self-driving cars for many years and has made significant progress in improving its technology. Throughout this process, they’ve developed several pieces of technology that will hopefully make driverless taxis safer:
- Sensors – Waymo self-driving taxis are equipped with a variety of sensors, including lidar, radar, and cameras, which provide a 360-degree view of the vehicle’s surroundings. The lidar sensors use lasers to create a 3D map of the environment, while the radar sensors and cameras detect objects and other vehicles.
- Computer vision – Waymo’s self-driving technology uses computer vision algorithms to analyze data from the sensors and make decisions on how to navigate the vehicle. The system can identify and track objects, predict their movements, and plan a safe path around them.
- Safety features – Waymo’s self-driving taxis are designed with safety as a top priority. The vehicles are equipped with redundant systems, such as backup power supplies and multiple sensors, to ensure that they can continue operating safely in the event of a component failure.
- Ride-hailing app – Passengers can hail a Waymo self-driving taxi using the Waymo app. The app allows passengers to input their destination and track the vehicle’s progress in real-time. Once the vehicle arrives, passengers can enter the vehicle and begin their journey.
- Human backup driver – Although the ultimate goal is for Waymo’s self-driving taxis to operate autonomously, the vehicles are currently equipped with a human backup driver who can take control of the vehicle if needed.
Until the technology becomes foolproof, Waymo passengers and those outside the vehicle will continue to get hurt in rideshare accidents. It’s a cutting-edge industry, but tried and true California personal injury laws still protect victims when their safety is put in jeopardy by large corporations.
If you are hurt by the negligence of the Waymo company, you should expect full support as you try to recover physically and financially. Unfortunately, that can only happen if the rideshare taxi business accepts the blame for its mistake. You want to make sure you have a legal representative working on your side to gather the proof necessary to force Waymo to do the right thing after an accident.
What Causes Accidents With Waymo Self-Driving Taxis in California?
Just like any other vehicle on the road, Waymo’s self-driving taxis have been involved in their fair share of accidents. However, it’s important to note that the frequency of accidents involving these vehicles is significantly lower compared to traditional vehicles driven by humans. This is likely due to the fact that there are simply fewer of the Waymo vehicles on the road.
At the same time, Waymo has acknowledged that their self-driving technology is not perfect, and accidents can still occur due to a variety of reasons. Some of the possible causes of accidents with Waymo self-driving taxis include:
- Software or hardware malfunctions – Just like any other technology, self-driving technology can experience malfunctions, which can result in accidents. Waymo conducts rigorous testing and monitoring of their vehicles to prevent such malfunctions from happening, but they can still occur.
- Environmental factors – Self-driving vehicles rely on sensors to navigate the roads, and environmental factors such as poor weather conditions, poor lighting, and road construction can affect the accuracy of these sensors, which can lead to accidents.
- Human error – While Waymo’s self-driving technology is designed to minimize the role of human drivers, there are still instances where a human driver may be required to take over control of the vehicle. If the human driver fails to do so in a timely manner, an accident can occur.
- Other drivers on the road – Just like other car accidents, most involving Waymo self-driving taxis have been caused by other drivers on the road. These drivers may be driving recklessly or may not be paying attention to the road, leading to accidents with Waymo’s self-driving taxis.
No matter what causes the accident you’re in, you will likely be dealing with injuries and other damages. Although self-driving taxis are a relatively new entity on the road, the law is still prepared to deal with these accidents.
What Should You Do After a Waymo Self-Driving Taxi Accident?
First and foremost, your health and safety should be your top priority after any car accident. This is especially true if you are involved in an accident with a Waymo self-driving taxi. In those situations, you should take the following steps:
- Check for injuries – The first and most important step is to check yourself and others for injuries. If anyone is injured, call for medical assistance immediately.
- Call the police – Under California law, any car accident must be reported to police. Thus, after an accident with a Waymo self-driving taxi, you’ll need to call the police and report the accident. Even if the accident is minor, it’s important to have a police report for insurance and legal purposes.
- Document the accident – Take photos and videos of the accident scene, including the damage to both vehicles and any injuries. Also, get the contact information of any witnesses.
- Contact Waymo – If you were a passenger in the self-driving taxi, contact Waymo’s support team as soon as possible. They will guide you through the next steps and help with any necessary paperwork.
- Contact your insurance company – If you were driving your own vehicle, contact your insurance company and inform them of the accident. Provide them with all the relevant details, including the police report and any photos or videos.
What Kinds of Things Should I Receive Compensation for After a Waymo Involved Injury?
After you’ve taken the necessary steps to ensure your health and safety, you should strongly consider filing a claim for damages. Our experienced team can guide you through what can be a challenging and complex process, but it’s necessary to recover from your injuries. The damages that are available in such a claim are:
- Medical expenses
- Property damages
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages, in some cases
Like any accident, filing a claim after a Waymo self-driving taxi accident requires a thorough and detailed approach. To that end, seeking the legal assistance of our team can make sure your rights and interests are protected.
Frequently Asked Questions?
How long can I wait to file an injury claim with Waymo after an accident?
In California, you have up to two years after an accident to file a claim. But you shouldn’t wait years to file. Alert your lawyer to your case as soon as you can so your lawyer can access fresh evidence and track down witnesses before they disappear.
What if I can’t afford to pay a lawyer after a rideshare accident?
You can still count on excellent legal representation. Rideshare Law Office doesn’t get paid unless we are successful in earning compensation for you. Then, your lawyer is paid out of the settlement a company like Waymo must provide.
Should I speak to Waymo insurance adjusters and their lawyers?
Only offer basic information. Insurers and corporate attorneys will call and ask you to make a recorded statement about what happened. Decline. They hope that you’ll say something that can be twisted to hurt your injury claim. Refer them to your Rideshare Law Office representative.
Contact a California Waymo Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one sustained a serious injury and the accident involved a Waymo One car, contact us for a free and confidential consultation. Accidents involving Waymo’s self-driving taxis are unique in that they don’t involve another driver. Rather, it involves technology. However, the people behind the programming and the company maintaining the autonomous cars are fully liable for crashes.
Waymo accidents can be complex cases and involve many different insurance companies. An attorney with Rideshare Law Office handles the frustrating claims process and demands the most in compensation possible for your injury. We do this so that victims can ease their worries and focus on healing.
