What Happens if You Crash with a Waymo Driverless Car

The Rise of Driverless Cars and Waymo

Waymo is one of the leading companies pioneering driverless car technology. Their autonomous vehicles use AI, LiDAR, radar, and cameras to navigate complex urban environments without human drivers. As Waymo’s fleet expands, many people wonder: What happens if you get into an accident with a Waymo car? This article covers everything from accident protocols to the locations where Waymo operates today.

What To Do If You’re Involved in an Accident with a Waymo Car

Getting into any accident can be stressful, but when a driverless car like Waymo is involved, there are some unique steps to follow:

Ensure Safety First
Move to a safe area if you can and check for injuries. Turn on hazard lights.
Call 911 and Report the Incident
Inform emergency responders that a driverless vehicle is involved.
Document the Scene
Take photos of all vehicles, damages, license plates, and the surrounding area. Collect witness contact information.
Interact with the Waymo Vehicle
Waymo cars display a contact number or QR code on the vehicle. Use this to notify the company about the accident. The vehicle also automatically alerts Waymo’s control center.
Get a Police Report
Wait for authorities to arrive and file an official police report. Since there is no human driver, this is essential.
Notify Your Insurance and Waymo
Contact your insurance provider and report the incident to Waymo through their official channels.
Seek Legal Advice if Needed
Accidents involving autonomous vehicles can be complex. A lawyer can help navigate liability and claims.

How Waymo’s Driverless Cars Are Programmed to Respond in an Accident

Waymo vehicles are equipped with advanced systems designed to handle accident situations safely:

Accident Avoidance: Continuous monitoring via LiDAR, radar, and cameras to detect hazards.
Automatic Emergency Braking: The car automatically brakes if a collision is imminent.
Safe Vehicle Stop: After a crash, the vehicle safely stops and activates hazard lights.
Automatic Incident Notification: Sends data, sensor logs, and video footage to Waymo’s remote operations center.
Emergency Services Notification: Can alert emergency responders if needed.
Passenger Communication: Provides onboard instructions and assistance to passengers.
Data Preservation: Keeps detailed logs to aid in investigations and insurance claims.

Real-World Waymo Accident Examples and Statistics

Between 2021 and 2024, Waymo reported 696 minor incidents across its U.S. operations, with very few involving injuries.
In 2025 alone, there were 137 reported incidents, including one fatality — a pedestrian struck in San Francisco.
Waymo’s safety record is strong: it has three injury crashes over 7.1 million miles driven, compared to an expected 13 injury crashes for human drivers over the same distance.
Notable accidents include a fatal pedestrian incident in San Francisco (2025) and a multi-car accident in Tempe, Arizona (2023).

Example: Waymo Fatal Pedestrian Accident in San Francisco (2025)

In early 2025, a fatal accident involving a Waymo autonomous vehicle occurred in San Francisco, marking one of the few serious incidents since Waymo began public operations.

What Happened:
A Waymo self-driving car was traveling through a busy intersection when it struck a pedestrian who was crossing outside of the designated crosswalk. The pedestrian was reportedly distracted and did not heed the traffic signals.

Waymo’s Response:

Immediately after the impact, the vehicle safely stopped and activated its hazard lights.
The onboard sensors recorded the entire event, capturing video and telemetry data.
The car’s system automatically alerted Waymo’s remote operations team and emergency services.
Remote operators monitored the situation in real-time and communicated with first responders.
Emergency medical services arrived quickly due to the automatic notification.
Waymo cooperated fully with the San Francisco Police Department investigation, providing all sensor data and logs.
Waymo publicly acknowledged the accident, expressing condolences and emphasizing their commitment to safety.

Aftermath:

The incident triggered a review of Waymo’s safety protocols and pedestrian interaction algorithms.
Waymo temporarily restricted the affected vehicle’s operating area while updating its software to improve pedestrian detection and emergency response.
The event heightened public and regulatory scrutiny of autonomous vehicle safety in urban environments.

Significance:
This incident is one of the very few fatal crashes involving a Waymo vehicle in millions of miles driven autonomously. It highlighted both the potential and the challenges of deploying autonomous vehicles in complex city settings and underscored the importance of ongoing safety improvements.

Where Does Waymo Operate?

Waymo currently offers its fully autonomous ride-hailing service, Waymo One, in several U.S. cities:

Phoenix, Arizona: The largest autonomous ride-hail area, covering around 315 square miles including Scottsdale and Mesa.
San Francisco Bay Area, California: Service in San Francisco, Daly City, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Los Altos, and parts of Sunnyvale. Map of Waymo accidents in San Francisco.
Los Angeles, California: Approximately 89 square miles, including Santa Monica, Downtown LA, Inglewood, and Hollywood.
Austin, Texas: Waymo operates through the Uber app since early 2025.
Miami, Florida: Testing underway with plans to launch by 2026.
Atlanta, Georgia: Service planned to launch in Summer 2025.

Waymo is also expanding internationally with testing in Tokyo, Japan, and plans to launch in Washington, D.C. in 2026.

Conclusion

Driverless Waymo cars represent a major step forward in transportation safety and technology. While accidents involving Waymo vehicles are rare and generally less severe than human-driven incidents, it’s important to know how to respond if you’re involved. From ensuring safety and documenting the incident, to reporting the accident and contacting Waymo, these steps help protect your rights and ensure proper handling.

With Waymo’s growing presence across the U.S., understanding their operations and safety protocols can help you navigate the future of autonomous driving with confidence.