Can You Sue Waymo for Injury in Pennsylvania?

Waymo – Alphabet’s (i.e., Google’s) self-driving taxi service – expanded operations into Philadelphia in 2025.  While fully autonomous driving has not started as of the writing of this article, it is important to understand how accident cases involving these cars might play out, and whether you can sue Waymo for crashes.

As long as the vehicle has a safety driver or requires a passenger/rider to be in the driver’s seat to possibly take control, the law will consider them the “driver” of the car if circumstances required them to take over.  If that was what caused the crash, the driver might be at fault.  However, Waymo or other companies involved in the manufacturing could be liable if defects or dangers in the programming, auto parts, or other tech caused the crash during autonomous driving.

The law is always developing in this area, so definitely work with our Philadelphia car accident lawyers on your case by calling The Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940 today.

Is There a Driver to Hold Responsible in Waymo Accidents?

If you were in a crash involving a Waymo vehicle, it is possibly a driver’s fault.  This can happen in three situations:

The Other Driver Caused the Accident

If you were hit by another driver and nothing was wrong with your Waymo ride or the self-driving car’s performance, then the other driver would probably be at fault.  Just like in any other crash, you can hold them liable for running red lights, drunk driving, speeding, or other violations that lead to a crash.

Always call a Pennsylvania car accident lawyer for help determining who was at fault, whether you can sue them, and what insurance should cover.

Safety Driver

In its initial expansion into Philly, Waymo had been using safety drivers.  This essentially means that the safety driver is there to take over from autonomous mode if there are any issues.

This driver could be responsible if either of these conditions is met:

• The driver took over control and caused a crash
• The driver should have taken over but did not, thus causing a crash.

Customer Driver

If a customer/rider is in the driver’s seat, then the same rules might apply to them as to a safety driver.  If they should have taken over from autonomous driving and did not, or if they did take over and caused the accident, then they would be at fault.

However, as Waymo’s full self-driving is implemented, a driver might not be expected to take over.  That may bar liability for the occupants unless they took over driving in defiance of the typical standards and caused a crash.

Is Waymo Responsible for Crashes?

Waymo – or its parent company Alphabet (Google) – could be liable for a crash, but only if the things it is responsible for caused the crash.  This would primarily cover accidents where the autonomous driving mode had problems that caused the crash.

These issues could come down to

• Programming errors or glitches
• Patently unsafe designs or commands programmed into the software
• Defective or malfunctioning communication between sensors and software.

On the other hand, other companies might be liable for producing defective or dangerous auto parts or hardware.  For example:

• Companies that manufactured defective brakes or other auto parts could be liable, like in any other car crash.
• Companies that manufacture sensors, cameras, and other hardware could be liable for problems or defects.

FAQs for Self-Driving Crashes and Waymo Accidents in Pennsylvania

Are Self-Driving Cars Allowed in Pennsylvania?

PennDOT rules do allow self-driving technology, but the rules are always changing, and Waymo needs permits to start fully driverless operations in Philly.  As of the writing of this article, it is reported that Waymo has not instituted fully autonomous vehicles without safety drivers on board.

This means that crashes would not be caused by a “driverless” Waymo vehicle quite yet.  By the time the autonomous driving program is fully instituted, Waymo’s self-driving cars should likely have all the proper qualifications to operate on public streets.

Who is the “Driver” in a Driverless Car?

The rules are always changing as new autonomous driving tech emerges.  As it stands, there are different levels of autonomous driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Whether the person in the driver’s seat is considered the “driver” or not typically depends on the autonomous driving level:

1. Driver is responsible, car adds alerts or warnings (e.g., proximity and lane departure warnings)
2. Driver is responsible, car assists with either the speed/brakes, or steering (e.g., cruise control)
3. Driver is responsible, car assists with speed, brakes, and steering (all three)
4. System drives, driver can take over (e.g., most “self-driving modes” on consumer cars)
5. System drives, no driver needed, limited service area (e.g., Waymo’s intended level)
6. System is fully automated everywhere (no current vehicles operate at this level).

Once we get to level 3, there essentially is no “driver” while the autonomous mode is engaged.  If a driver takes over or should take over, they can still be considered the “driver” for fault purposes.

At level 4 (Waymo’s level) and level 5, the person in the car might never face responsibility, depending on how the laws get written and interpreted.  This would put all the blame on the software or hardware.

Does Car Insurance Cover Self-Driving Waymo Crashes?

All cars need insurance, and even fully driverless car services would still have insurance to cover their passengers and other damage they might cause.  Specifically with Waymo, Google does say that Waymo has insurance to cover accidents.

This covers medical bills and other expenses, though you should always work with a lawyer to determine what your case is worth before accepting anything from insurance.  You may have a case for a lawsuit to cover more than insurance is willing to pay.

Can You Sue for Car Accidents in Pennsylvania?

Because we use a choice no-fault system, you cannot sue for every car accident.  If you are covered under a “limited tort” policy, it might not be possible to sue for your car crash unless certain requirements are met.

“Full tort” policies typically allow lawsuits against the at-fault party regardless of those other restrictions.

Call Our Pennsylvania Car Accident Attorneys Today

For help with your case, call The Reiff Law Firm’s Doylestown, PA car accident attorneys at (215) 709-6940.