Waymo and Cruise Robotaxi Accidents: Understanding Your Legal Rights

Robotaxi services have moved from science fiction to daily reality in several American cities. Waymo operates commercial driverless ride-hailing services in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and other markets. Cruise, the General Motors subsidiary, launched a commercial robotaxi service in San Francisco before suspending operations in late 2023 following a serious pedestrian incident. Other companies, including Zoox and Motional, have been testing autonomous ride-hailing in various cities.

As these services expand, accidents are inevitable, and they are already happening. If you were injured in a crash involving a robotaxi, whether as a passenger inside the vehicle, a pedestrian, a cyclist, or the occupant of another car, you have legal rights. But pursuing a claim against a robotaxi company is meaningfully different from a standard car accident case.

The Rise of Robotaxis and Their Accident History

Robotaxi companies have logged millions of autonomous miles on public roads, and the safety record has been mixed. While proponents argue that autonomous vehicles will eventually be safer than human drivers, the current track record includes incidents that have raised serious concerns.

One of the most high-profile incidents involved a Cruise robotaxi in San Francisco in October 2023, when a pedestrian who had been struck by a separate human-driven vehicle was then hit by a Cruise autonomous vehicle and dragged approximately 20 feet before the vehicle came to a stop. The incident led to the suspension of Cruise’s driverless operations, an investigation by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and a federal safety probe by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Waymo vehicles have also been involved in numerous collisions and near-miss incidents in the cities where they operate, as documented by independent robotaxi safety trackers. NHTSA has investigated multiple incidents involving Waymo vehicles, including crashes at intersections, collisions with parked vehicles, and situations where the autonomous system behaved unexpectedly in the presence of construction zones or emergency vehicles.

These incidents illustrate that the technology, while advancing, is not infallible. And when a robotaxi is involved in a crash, the legal questions are considerably more complex than in a typical fender bender.

How Robotaxi Liability Differs from Regular Car Accidents

In a traditional car accident, the at-fault driver is the primary target for a liability claim. Their personal auto insurance pays for the damages. With a robotaxi, there is no individual driver to hold accountable. The liability analysis shifts to the companies and technology behind the vehicle.

The Operating Company

When you hail a Waymo or Cruise robotaxi, you are entering a vehicle operated by a corporation. That corporation is responsible for the safe operation of its fleet. If the autonomous driving system fails to perform safely and causes a crash, the operating company may be liable under theories of negligence or strict liability, depending on the state.

Robotaxi companies carry substantial commercial liability insurance policies, often with coverage limits far exceeding those of individual drivers. This can be an advantage for injured parties, as there is typically more insurance available to cover serious injuries. However, these companies also employ experienced legal and claims teams whose job is to minimize payouts.

The Vehicle and Software Manufacturer

If the crash was caused by a defect in the vehicle’s hardware, sensors, or autonomous driving software, the manufacturer may be liable under product liability law. For Waymo, the autonomous system is developed in-house by Waymo (a subsidiary of Alphabet). For Cruise, the vehicles and autonomous systems involved General Motors technology. In either case, a defective product claim looks at whether the autonomous system was unreasonably dangerous due to a design defect, manufacturing defect, or failure to warn.

Shared Liability Scenarios

In many robotaxi accidents, multiple parties may share fault. A software failure may have been compounded by a human driver in another vehicle running a red light. Road construction conditions may have confused the autonomous system in ways the operating company should have anticipated. A sensor component from a third-party supplier may have failed. Identifying all responsible parties requires thorough investigation and technical expertise.

For a comprehensive overview of liability in autonomous vehicle crashes, visit our page on self-driving car accidents.

Passengers, Pedestrians, and Other Drivers: Different Legal Positions

Your legal position after a robotaxi accident depends in part on your relationship to the vehicle at the time of the crash.

If You Were a Passenger

As a passenger in a robotaxi, you were a paying customer of a transportation service. You had no ability to control the vehicle and bore no responsibility for its driving decisions. This generally puts you in a strong legal position. The robotaxi company owes its passengers a high duty of care, similar to the duty owed by common carriers like bus companies and airlines. If the vehicle’s autonomous system caused or contributed to the crash, the operating company may be liable for your injuries.

You may also have accepted terms of service when you signed up for the robotaxi app. These terms sometimes include arbitration clauses or liability limitations. An attorney can evaluate whether those terms are enforceable and how they affect your claim.

If You Were a Pedestrian or Cyclist

Pedestrians and cyclists who are struck by robotaxis have not agreed to any terms of service with the robotaxi company. Your claim is based on the straightforward principle that the company operating the vehicle on public roads had a duty to do so safely. If the autonomous system failed to detect you, misjudged your speed or trajectory, or failed to yield the right of way, the company may be liable.

Pedestrian and cyclist injuries from robotaxi incidents can be severe, as these vulnerable road users have no protection from the impact. The Cruise pedestrian-dragging incident demonstrated the catastrophic potential of autonomous system failures involving pedestrians.

If You Were in Another Vehicle

If you were driving or riding in another car that was hit by a robotaxi, your claim is similar in structure to a standard auto accident case, but the defendant is a corporation rather than an individual driver. You would pursue a claim against the robotaxi company’s insurance, and potentially a product liability claim against the vehicle or software manufacturer, rather than against another driver’s personal auto policy.

What Evidence to Preserve After a Robotaxi Accident

Evidence preservation is critical in robotaxi accident cases because the most important evidence, the autonomous system’s sensor data, decision-making logs, and camera footage, is controlled entirely by the robotaxi company. Without prompt legal action, this data may be overwritten or become inaccessible.

Steps to Take Immediately

Call 911 and seek medical attention, even if your injuries seem minor at first
Photograph the scene from multiple angles, including the robotaxi, any damage, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible sensors or cameras on the vehicle
Note the vehicle’s identifying information, including any fleet number, license plate, and company branding
Record the time, location, and conditions of the accident
Get contact information from witnesses who saw what happened
Save your ride receipt if you were a passenger, as it documents that you were in the vehicle at the time of the crash and provides a digital record of the trip

Steps to Take in the Days That Follow

Do not post about the accident on social media, as defense attorneys routinely monitor social media accounts for statements they can use against you
Keep all medical records and receipts related to treatment for your injuries
Consult an attorney as soon as possible so they can send a spoliation letter to the robotaxi company, demanding that all data from the vehicle at the time of the crash be preserved
File a complaint with NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem to create an official federal record of the incident

The spoliation letter is particularly important. Robotaxi vehicles generate terabytes of sensor data, and companies may have data retention policies that result in automatic deletion after a set period. An attorney’s demand to preserve this data can be the difference between having the evidence you need and losing it permanently.

How Claims Against Robotaxi Companies Are Handled

Claims against robotaxi companies rarely follow the simple insurance adjuster process of a typical car accident. These companies have dedicated legal departments and corporate insurance structures designed to manage liability exposure. You should expect:

Early contact from the company’s representatives, who may attempt to gather information from you or offer a quick settlement before you have consulted an attorney
Disputes over what the autonomous system’s data shows, requiring expert analysis to interpret sensor logs and decision-making records
Arguments that external factors, rather than the autonomous system, caused the accident, such as the actions of other drivers, road conditions, or your own behavior
Potential involvement of multiple corporate entities, as robotaxi operations often involve parent companies, subsidiaries, technology partners, and insurance carriers

Having legal representation experienced in autonomous vehicle cases is not optional in these situations. It is essential.

What Should You Do Next?

If you were injured in an accident involving a Waymo, Cruise, or any other robotaxi service, time is a critical factor. Evidence can be lost, and statutes of limitations apply. Do not wait to explore your legal options.

Request a free case review to connect with an attorney who understands the unique legal challenges of robotaxi accident claims and can help you pursue the compensation you deserve. There is no cost and no obligation.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Injured By Robots LLC is not a law firm. Laws vary by state and may have changed since publication. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for advice about your specific situation.