When a Waymo car hits you, you may be able to sue the company if the accident happened due to hardware or software defects. The most important thing to do after an accident is to document the scene, get medical attention, and secure a personal injury lawyer.
Self-driving cars are still in their infancy, and laws are expected to change as the technology develops and is adopted more widely. A Miami car accident lawyer can help you pursue a claim against Waymo and navigate regulations regarding self-driving car insurance.
What Happens When a Waymo Car Causes an Accident?
When a Waymo car hits something and senses a collision, it sends a signal to its support team, who will verify the accident. If necessary, the Waymo vehicle may continue moving to get off the road and park in a safe place. Waymo support will log all data related to the accident and may summon on-site support.
Steps to Take After a Waymo Accident
The immediate aftermath of a Waymo accident can be chaotic, but you need to take proactive steps to preserve your ability to make a claim for damages. Below are the steps to take when a Waymo car hits you:
1. Call 911
After moving to a safe place and checking yourself for injuries, contact the authorities. The police will generate an accident report, which you can use to prove the time, date, and details of the accident. Police in Florida must document autonomous vehicle collisions thoroughly and can request data from the company for investigations.
2. Document the Scene
The next step is to document the scene as much as possible. Take pictures of any physical vehicle damage and your injuries. You should also make a note of environmental conditions at the time of the crash (e.g., light levels, weather, road conditions, etc.).
Normally, this is the part where you get the other driver’s insurance information. However, since Waymos don’t have drivers, you should record the vehicle make and model and its Waymo ID number. You can also get information from the Waymo representative when they arrive on the scene.
Remember to be careful if you talk to the Waymo representative. Here are some tips for dealing with them:
- Don’t say anything that could indicate an admission of fault.
- Don’t speculate on the causes of the accident and
- Only confirm details that you are certain about.
3. See a Doctor
After documenting the scene, you need to go see a doctor about your wounds. While there, get copies of any relevant medical documentation proving your injury severity. This includes intake forms, imaging results, lab reports, diagnostic test results, doctor’s notes, and discharge paperwork.
You should also keep track of all your medical expenses so you can demand adequate compensation later.
4. Contact a Lawyer
Once you have seen a doctor, you can talk to a lawyer. A lawyer can help gather additional evidence and manage communications with Waymo regarding the accident. A lawyer can negotiate with insurance companies and fight for compensation for your medical bills, lost work income, pain and suffering, and other injury-related losses.
You only have two years to file an injury claim in Florida, so it’s imperative to act quickly. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to gather digital records regarding the accident. A lawyer can expedite the claim timeline and reduce the chance of payment delays.
Can I Sue Waymo After an Accident with One of Its Self-Driving Cars?
You can sue the company when a Waymo car hits you if the accident happened due to hardware/software defects. For example, if there was a software glitch that caused the vehicle to run a red light, the company could be liable under a product liability lawsuit. Similarly, the manufacturer could be liable if the crash happened due to a defective or faulty sensor/camera.
You can also sue Waymo if the accident happened due to negligent company practices. For instance, if Waymo failed to perform maintenance on its vehicles, it could be liable for accidents from mechanical failures. Similarly, Waymo could be liable if it pushed a software update that compromised its systems.
Liability in these cases is extremely complicated, and determinations rely on analyzing the technical aspects of autonomous vehicle design and operation. An experienced car accident lawyer will know what kinds of evidence to gather to prove that Waymo is at fault and can push back against attempts to shift or deny blame.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Miami
Florida’s laws regarding autonomous vehicles and self-driving car accident liability are rapidly changing, and many key questions still lie unresolved. A car accident lawyer can help you understand self-driving car accidents and the process of recovering financial compensation in a lawsuit.
Do you have more questions about what happens when a Waymo car hits you? If so, consider working with a personal injury lawyer in Miami from Blakeley Law Firm. We bring more than 40 years of combined experience to your case. Contact our team online or call today to schedule a free case consultation.
