⚠️ NHTSA: 3,979+ autonomous vehicle incidents reported, with Waymo operating the largest commercial fleet.
Who Is Liable in a Waymo Self-Driving Car Accident?
Waymo operates fully autonomous vehicles with no human driver—making liability clear: Waymo LLC and its parent company Alphabet Inc. are responsible for crashes caused by their self-driving technology. NHTSA data shows thousands of AV incidents.
Why Waymo Is Liable
- No human driver to share blame
- Waymo controls all driving decisions
- Alphabet/Waymo has deep pockets
- Product liability for software defects
- Negligence for deployment in unsafe conditions
The Cruise Precedent
A Cruise robotaxi struck and dragged a pedestrian in San Francisco, with reported settlements of $8-12 million. California DMV revoked Cruise's permit—proving regulatory consequences for AV failures.
Parties Potentially Liable
- Waymo LLC (AV operator)
- Alphabet Inc. (parent company)
- Vehicle manufacturer (Jaguar, Chrysler)
- Sensor/component manufacturers
- Other negligent drivers involved
Product Liability Theory
Under strict liability, Waymo is responsible for: design defects in autonomous driving software, manufacturing defects in sensors/hardware, and failure to warn about operational limitations.
Filing in Waymo Operating Cities
Waymo operates in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Cases are filed in local courts where the accident occurred.
Settlement Ranges
- Minor injuries: $50,000-$150,000
- Moderate injuries: $150,000-$500,000
- Serious injuries: $500,000-$3M
- Catastrophic/fatal: $3M-$12M+
✅ Injured by a Waymo? Call (773) 839-6086 for a free case evaluation.