Injured While Riding in a Waymo? A Passenger's Rights in California

If you were hurt while riding in a Waymo in California, you are in one of the strongest positions an injury victim can be in: as a passenger, you almost certainly weren't at fault — you had no control over the vehicle. Whether you were injured by sudden hard braking, a crash the autonomous vehicle caused, or a collision caused by another driver, liability falls on someone else, and a substantial insurance requirement stands behind your claim.

As a passenger, you're almost never at fault

A passenger doesn't operate the vehicle, so a passenger rarely bears any blame for a crash. That makes for a clean claim in most cases — the real question is usually who to recover from, not whether you can recover. In a Waymo, that means a claim against the company operating the autonomous vehicle, against another at-fault driver, or sometimes both.

Common ways passengers get hurt in an autonomous vehicle

• Hard or sudden braking. An abrupt stop by the self-driving system can throw a passenger forward and cause neck, back, or head injuries even without a collision.
• A crash the autonomous vehicle caused. If the self-driving system caused the collision, the operator — and potentially the maker of the software or sensors — is responsible.
• A crash caused by another driver. If a human driver in another vehicle caused the crash, you have a claim against that driver's insurance, in addition to any coverage on the vehicle you were riding in.

The $5 million coverage requirement

California's CPUC (California Public Utilities Commission) requires companies offering driverless passenger service to carry $5 million in commercial liability insurance. As a passenger, that large coverage pool is available to compensate you when the autonomous vehicle is at fault — far more than the small policy a typical private driver might carry.

When another driver is at fault — the UM/UIM angle

Sometimes the crash is caused by another driver who has no insurance, not enough insurance, or who flees the scene in a hit-and-run. In those situations, uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage can fill the gap. Depending on the facts, that coverage might come from a policy connected to the ride or from your own auto policy if you have one. These layers are easy to miss, and finding every applicable policy is a big part of what an attorney does.

What you can recover

A passenger injury claim can recover your medical bills (past and future), lost wages and reduced earning capacity, and compensation for pain and suffering. Because passengers often don't see an impact coming or brace for it, these injuries can be serious, and the claims substantial.

What to do after the ride

• Get medical attention right away, even if you feel okay — some injuries surface later.
• Report the crash and make sure it's documented.
• Save records of your ride, including the date, time, and route if available.
• Take photos of your injuries and the scene if you can, and get contact information for any other drivers or witnesses.
• Be cautious about giving a recorded statement to any insurer before speaking with an attorney.

The two-year deadline

Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing that deadline usually ends the claim, so it's important not to wait.

The bottom line

As an injured Waymo passenger, you have strong rights and often more than one source of recovery — the operator's substantial coverage, another driver's insurance, and possibly UM/UIM coverage. Mousavi Law Firm serves all of California from our Woodland Hills office, offers a free consultation, and works on contingency — no fee unless we win. A free case review will identify every source of coverage available to you.