What Is Waymo’s Accident Rate?

Self-driving cars are touted as the future of safer driving, eliminating human errors and protecting people from injury in car accidents. From the innovative engineers at Alphabet, Inc., the parent company of Google, Waymo self-driving taxicabs are now taking to the streets of Atlanta. If you are asking what Waymo’s accident rate is, then you might be interested in knowing more about the dangers and liabilities presented by self-driving cars.

John Foy & Associates have been serving the Atlanta community for over 25 years and have fought for the rights of many victims injured in car crashes. Contact us to be your Atlanta Waymo car accident lawyer and work to guide you towards a successful case outcome and justice. Let us take a look into accidents involving Waymo self-driving cars and other autonomous vehicle statistics.

Car Accidents Involving Waymo

According to their research, Waymo significantly outperforms comparable human benchmarks over 7+ million miles of rider-only driving, but that does not mean these vehicles are never at fault. For every 2.5 million miles, Waymo vehicles were involved in 1 crash, compared with humans, who were involved in roughly 7 in the same distance. These statistics do show a minimized risk in Waymo’s accident rate.

In Arizona in December 2023, two of Waymo’s vehicles were involved in minor crashes with the same vehicle–an “improperly towed” pickup truck, which caused a mismatch and disorientation of the vehicle’s sensors. After this, Waymo put out a voluntary recall until they could update the software powering their taxi fleet. Another accident occurred when a driverless Waymo car collided with a cyclist, causing non-fatal injuries. 

A California regulator is looking into Waymo’s collision to ensure that regulations governing autonomous taxi companies like these are strict enough. Waymo states that they are committed to safety in all of the pioneering technologies they are creating and working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Association to bring about the safest vehicles possible. Waymo’s accident rate is far lower and has caused less severe or fatal injuries than other autonomous taxi companies, such as Cruise or Uber’s self-driving cars.

Self-Driving Car Accidents

Autonomous vehicles have been touted as safer than humans, which may be true overall, but it does not keep them from causing some horrific injuries. The GM self-driving car company, Cruise, recalled an entire fleet after a robotaxi ran over a pedestrian over 20 feet before pulling over. It took five years to settle the legal saga over Uber’s fatal self-driving car crash, where the human driver who was supposed to provide assistance if the autonomous features failed was charged with negligent homicide and eventually pleaded guilty to endangerment.

Automated vehicles range from where human drivers use advanced driver assistance systems to where automated vehicles drive completely with a human driver available to take over in the event of a malfunction. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Standing General Order on Crash Reporting for Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, there were only 392 crashes involving this type of automation between the dates of June 2021 and May 2022. A vast majority, 273 of these accidents involved a Tesla vehicle with the feature of a semi-autonomous enhanced autopilot system.

Fortunately, for anyone involved in a Georgia car accident involving a self-driving vehicle, owners are required to carry more than double the minimum insurance compared to regular cars under Georgia Law 17 SB 219. Whether you choose to settle with the liable party or pursue a lawsuit, consulting with an experienced attorney is crucial. John Foy & Associates can help you navigate the complexities of Waymo accidents, determine the liable parties, and fight for the compensation you rightfully deserve.

Liability in Self-Driving Car Accidents

Untangling the liability involved in self-driving car accidents can be complicated and raise intricate questions about liability. Unlike traditional car crashes, multiple parties could be liable in a Waymo accident due to shared responsibilities between human drivers and manufacturers. During this initial testing period, Waymo’s vehicles in Atlanta will have human supervisors who are supposed to intervene in case of a crash, which would allow them to be held primarily liable. 

Waymo, however, as the car’s manufacturer, could also be held liable for negligence. The crash could have been due to defective parts or faulty programming, which caused it to drive in a manner that was not originally intended. This combination of liability may be difficult to establish a claim against due to the strength of the parent company, Alphabet Inc./Google, and the resources and legal team they have supporting them.

It is vital to get assistance when presenting a claim or filing a case against large companies. A skilled self-driving car accident lawyer can investigate your case to pinpoint the cause or causes and identify potentially liable parties. They may gather evidence such as accident scene photos, medical records, witness testimony, traffic camera footage, Waymo vehicle data, and accident reports to support your case with the strongest claim possible.

How a Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident with a Waymo vehicle or another self-driving car, working with a car accident lawyer could help. Choose someone who is familiar with the local laws governing self-driving vehicles and the precedents set in personal injury law to ensure that you will have a strong team supporting you throughout the process. At John Foy & Associates, we have been fighting for justice in car accident cases throughout the state of Georgia for the past 25 years and know some of the best ways to present a claim.

We will untangle the liability aspect of your self-driving car accident and work to determine what party or parties should be held responsible. Then, your lawyer will gather evidence to support your claim. This could include accident scene photos, medical records, eyewitness testimony, and data from the autonomous vehicle itself.

We will negotiate for maximum compensation for your injuries and work to ensure that you receive the full amount you deserve for your injuries and losses. If the insurance refuses to negotiate, we are prepared to fight for you in court. Protect your rights by working with a self-driving car accident lawyer.

Speak with a Waymo Car Accident Lawyer from John Foy & Associates Today

Learn more about our firm and the passion we have for fighting for justice on behalf of victims of personal injury, wrongful death, workplace accidents, and defective drugs. We will work to create the strongest possible case for your personal injury claim. Contact us today for a free case consultation to discuss your possible next steps.