Best Insurance Companies for Workers Compensation: Top Picks
- 31 Oct 2025
Waymo’s self-driving cars are becoming more common on California roads, but accidents still happen. If you’ve been hurt in a crash involving a Waymo vehicle, you’re probably wondering who’s responsible and how to get compensation for your injuries.
California law treats autonomous vehicle accidents differently from regular car crashes. These cases involve complex questions about technology, corporate responsibility, and insurance coverage.
At Hicks Law Firm, PC in Orange, California, we’ve handled cases involving self-driving vehicles and understand how these claims work. We know which evidence to collect, how to deal with Waymo’s insurance team, and what your case might be worth. If you’ve been injured, don’t wait to get legal help. Call our Orange County car accident lawyers at 866-HICKS-LAW or (949) 541-9944 for a free consultation.
The government requires companies to report all crashes involving self-driving cars that cause damage or injuries. Through March 2025, Waymo has driven 71 million miles without any human driver in the car.
Most of Waymo’s driving happens in three places: Los Angeles (9.6 million miles), San Francisco (22.9 million miles), and Phoenix, Arizona. These numbers show Waymo is doing serious testing and business operations, not just small experiments.
Here’s what the safety numbers actually show: Waymo crashes cause injuries 78% less often than regular human drivers. They have 79% fewer crashes where airbags go off. And they have 88% fewer crashes that cause serious injuries compared to human drivers covering the same distance.
To put this in simple terms: Out of every million miles driven, Waymo vehicles have 0.9 crashes that hurt someone. Human drivers have 4.0 crashes that hurt someone per million miles.
Almost half of Waymo’s crashes are so minor that the cars barely move when they hit something. These tiny bumps only cause small scratches and dents. The government still makes Waymo report these tiny accidents, even though regular drivers usually don’t call the police for such small crashes.
California law recognizes several parties who might be liable when a Waymo vehicle is involved in an accident:
California has strict product liability laws. This means that you can hold Waymo legally responsible if a defect in its software or hardware caused the accident. Common defects include problems with sensors, cameras, decision-making algorithms, or manufacturing defects. Fortunately, you don’t have to prove Waymo was careless, just that their product was defective and caused your injuries.
If the Waymo vehicle wasn’t properly maintained or if required software updates weren’t installed, the owner might share responsibility. This is more relevant for Waymo’s commercial fleet operations.
Many Waymo accidents are caused by human drivers who rear-end the autonomous vehicles, run red lights, or drive recklessly. These drivers can be held liable under traditional negligence laws.
Some Waymo vehicles still have human safety operators who can take control if needed. If the operator fails to intervene when they should have, they might bear some responsibility.
In rare cases, other parties might be liable, such as city governments if poor road conditions contributed to the crash, or hackers if the vehicle was compromised.
When Waymo vehicles are involved in accidents, the injuries and damages can be just as serious as any car crash. Whether you were a passenger, pedestrian, or in another vehicle, you have the right to seek compensation for your losses. Here are the most common types of Waymo accident cases we handle:
Waymo accident cases are not like typical car crashes. The technology involved, the legal issues, and the corporate defendants make these cases particularly challenging.
We know how to obtain and analyze the technical data that can make or break your case. We understand California’s evolving laws around autonomous vehicles and how they apply to your situation. We have the resources to take on large corporations and their insurance companies.
Most importantly, we work on a contingency fee basis – you don’t pay unless we recover money for you.
If you’ve been injured in a Waymo accident in California, time is critical. Evidence needs to be preserved, witnesses need to be interviewed, and legal deadlines need to be met.
Don’t let Waymo’s insurance company pressure you into accepting a quick settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries and damages. Get the legal help you deserve.
Contact our Orange County car accident attorneys at Hicks Law Firm, PC for a free consultation. There’s no obligation and no cost to speak with us about your accident. Call Hicks Law Firm today at 949-541-9944.
