Know Your Rights & Options After Accidents Involving Waymo’s Self‑Driving Vehicles

When you’re injured in a collision involving a Waymo robotaxi or autonomous vehicle, it may feel overwhelming. These crashes often involve advanced technologies, multiple parties, and complex liability issues. At Hillstone Law, our experienced self‑driving vehicle injury attorneys help navigate the legal maze, so you focus on healing while we handle the rest.

Why Waymo Accidents Are More Complex Than Typical Car Crashes

• Waymo vehicles run on a sophisticated suite of sensors (LiDAR, radar, cameras) and AI systems.
• Crashes may result from software glitches, sensor failures, operator errors, or even third‑party events.
• Multiple entities can be legally responsible: Waymo (as operator), the manufacturer, software developers, safety drivers, and others.

Because of these complexities, immediate legal guidance is crucial after a Waymo crash.

What to Do Right After a Waymo Crash

Taking the correct steps maximizes your ability to recover compensation:

1. Get medical attention promptly, even if injuries aren’t immediately obvious.
2. Document what you remember, location, road conditions, vehicle behavior, any damage.
3. Report the incident to Waymo support if you were a ride‑hail passenger, retain all communication.
4. Notify your own insurance company, share factual info only, and wait for medical review before admitting injuries.
5. Act fast, California generally gives just two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit.

Early intervention helps preserve critical evidence: video logs, crash data, and test results may disappear over time.

Key Data on Waymo Crash Rates

• Between July 2021 and May 2022, there were 367 crashes involving vehicles with automated driving systems. Waymo vehicles were involved in 62 of them.
  Among 98 crashes with severity data, 6 were fatal, 5 caused serious injury, 116 involved another vehicle, and 4 involved vulnerable road users (1 bicyclist and 3 pedestrians).
• Waymo reports its robotaxis logged 25.3 million driverless miles (no human driver) across San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin through July 31, 2024.
  During that time, there were 9 property‑damage claims and 2 bodily injury claims.
• Over 7.1 million rider‑only miles driven by Waymo through 2023, the crash injury rate was just 0.6 per million miles versus 2.8 per million miles for human‑driven benchmarks, a reduction of roughly 80%.
  Property‑damage crash rate was 2.1 per million miles compared to 4.68 for human drivers.
• As of late 2024, NHTSA had logged 835 reports covering 696 incidents involving Waymo vehicles under its general crash‑reporting order.
  By July 2021, NHTSA had already recorded 150 Waymo‑involved crashes, though most did not cause injuries.
• A January 19, 2025 speeding‑related multi‑vehicle crash in San Francisco involving a Waymo robotaxi resulted in one fatality and a dog killed; several people were injured.
• A February 6, 2024 incident in San Francisco occurred when a driverless Waymo vehicle struck a bicyclist; the car reportedly did not see the victim due to a truck blocking its view. The cyclist sustained non‑life‑threatening injuries.
• On February 6, 2025, downtown Los Angeles saw a hit‑and‑run crash where a rogue driver struck a self‑driving taxi, hospitalized three people, and fled the scene. The incident caused two more parked cars to be hit before the suspect fled.

How Sensor & Software Failures Can Cause These Crashes

Sensor issues are often at the core of autonomous vehicle incidents:

• Roughly 25% of all AV system disengagements in California are tied to sensor or software malfunctions.
  LiDAR may fail in reflective environments, radar may misread during bad weather, and cameras can struggle in low light.
• These malfunctions may lead to missed hazards, mistaken distances, and unexpected vehicle behavior, sometimes causing collisions.
• If faulty hardware or system programming is responsible, product liability claims may apply.

Why Choose Hillstone Law for Your Waymo Accident Case

When Waymo technology is involved, legal claims demand both legal acumen and technical understanding:

• We translate complex sensor data and autonomous algorithms into clear legal arguments.
• We push back on lowball insurance settlements, demanding full compensation.
• We work with experts in vehicle technology, data analytics, and human factors to build your strongest case.
• We understand the California laws governing autonomous vehicles insurance requirements, crash reporting, data preservation, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What if I can’t afford legal fees after a Waymo crash?
We operate on a contingency basis, no fees unless we win. Costs are established upfront in writing.

Will my case go to trial?
Most Waymo accident claims settle, but we prepare for trial when insurers refuse fair compensation.

Does my personal auto insurance apply?
If you were driving your own vehicle, your policy may respond. But if a Waymo vehicle caused the crash, its commercial liability insurance typically applies.

Who can be held liable?
Possible parties include:

• Waymo (manufacturer/operating company)
• Software developers
• Safety driver or remote operator
• Other drivers or external third parties

What compensation can I recover?
Injured plaintiffs may recover:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages and future earnings
• Pain & suffering
• Property damage

Timing Matters , Contact Us Early

California law generally allows two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury suit. Evidence, like Waymo’s internal logs, sensor data, or video can disappear quickly. Speaking with us early ensures coverage of crucial timelines and preservation of proof.

Meet Hillstone Law, Your Autonomous Vehicle Injury Specialists

At Hillstone Law, we’re dedicated to:

• Understanding emerging vehicle technologies
• Taking on complex cases involving self‑driving systems
• Serving clients hurt in tech‑involved crashes across California

If you’ve been injured in a crash involving a Waymo vehicle, call us 24/7 for a free, no‑obligation consultation. Hillstone Law is here to protect your rights, pursue fair compensation, and help you move forward. We serve clients statewide, including in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose, Fresno, Sacramento, and beyond.

Summary at a Glance

Topic	Summary
Crash trends (2021–2022)	62 Waymo‑related ADS crashes; several serious/fatal incidents
Miles & claims to mid‑2024	25M+ driverless miles; 2 bodily‑injury, 9 property‑damage claims
Comparative safety (2023)	ADS injury crash rate ~0.6 per million miles vs 2.8 for humans
Major incidents	Cyclist hit (Feb 2024); fatal crash (Jan 2025); LA hit‑run (Feb 2025)
Sensor/software risk	~25% of disengagements due to failure; weather and hardware issues
Legal deadlines	2‑year statute of limitations in California
Liability avenues	Waymo, developers, manufacturers, safety driver, third parties
Your legal support	Technical understanding, expert witnesses, contingency fee model

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Contact Hillstone Law Today

If you’ve suffered injuries or damages in an accident involving a Waymo self‑driving vehicle, don’t wait. Reach out to Hillstone Law now for dedicated legal support tailored to Waymo accident claims so you can focus on recovery while we handle the complexity.