Self-Driving Taxi Collisions Are Common in California: File an Injury Claim with Adamson Ahdoot Today
When you step into a taxi, the last thing you expect is that there will be no driver. It may sound like fiction, but the truth is that self-driving or robotaxi vehicles are already here. But while driverless cabs are gaining popularity – Waymo’s waiting list in Los Angeles exceeds 50,000 people – their beginnings are off to a rocky start.
In the United States, San Francisco and Los Angeles are two of the few cities that currently have this type of transportation. While Californians have embraced them with enthusiasm, recent tragic accidents have led many critics to question whether their presence has a positive impact.
There are many questions surrounding these autonomous vehicles: What happens in the event of a traffic accident involving a robotaxi? If there is no driver, whose fault is it? Are these self-driving services safe? Could injured victims sue robotaxi companies?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident involving a self-driving cab, contact Adamson Ahdoot. With more than 100 years of combined legal experience, we are a personal injury law firm specializing in auto collisions. Call us today at (800) 310-1606 or submit your request online.
What is Robotaxi?
At a time when technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, autonomous vehicles are at the forefront of innovation. What initially seemed to be for personal use has expanded to include transportation services that autonomously pick up and drop off passengers. That is, without a driver.
The definition of a robotaxi is very simple: a fully autonomous vehicle that provides the same services as a traditional taxi, but without anyone behind the wheel. In other words, it is a transportation system that uses artificial intelligence to follow a programmed route and deliver passengers to their destination. Typically, these self-driving taxi services are requested through an application on a smart device.
History of Self-Driving Taxis
There are many theories and stories about the origin of the first autonomous vehicle. Some claim it happened in late 1926 with a radio-controlled system. However, it was not until 1939 that the concept was officially unveiled. Its creator, Norman Bel Geddes, presented the idea of a driverless electric car at the Futurama exhibition at the New York World’s Fair.
However, the real father of autonomous vehicles is Ernst Dickmanns. This German professor and artificial intelligence expert created the first fully self-driving car. In 1987, he developed technology that allowed a Mercedes-Benz van to drive without a driver on a road with no traffic.
These advances were initially focused on creating driverless cars for people to buy. However, with the help of companies like Waymo and Cruise, they soon began offering autonomous taxi services to the public.
Cruise, owned by General Motors, and Waymo, part of Google’s Alphabet, were among the first to research and experiment in this field. The first tests of taxis operating without a person behind the wheel happened between 2015 and 2018. In 2022, self-driving taxi rides became a reality in San Francisco, California.
How Does a Robotaxi Vehicle Work?
This mode of transportation is designed without a human behind the wheel. It relies on artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies. These range from machine learning, surveillance cameras, safety systems, radar, and sensors, among others.
According to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the Department of Transportation, there are six levels of automated driving. Currently, most self-driving taxi services are typically designed to provide the most autonomous performance.
- Level 0: The driver must be in control of the vehicle, with automation used only to assist in driving.
- Level 1: The driver is still the primary operator of the vehicle, but with systems that facilitate driving tasks such as braking or steering.
- Level 2: The car is capable of performing certain functions, such as turning and acceleration independently. However, it requires driver assistance.
- Level 3. The car is capable of driving, but the driver must be alert to take control at times.
- Level 4. At this point, the level of automation is very high, and the vehicle performs most driving tasks without the need for driver assistance.
- Level 5. A fully autonomous vehicle, ready to operate in any mode and perform any maneuver.
How Many Self-Driving Taxi Companies Operate in California?
Since 2022, Californians have been able to enjoy driverless vehicles that offer transportation services to the public like traditional taxis. Since then, several robotaxi companies have been racing to get their cars on the roads of the Golden State. But, getting there is no easy task. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) imposes strict requirements for tech companies that want to launch robotaxi autos in California.
Under a state law passed in 2012, the department requires companies to contractually prove that the vehicles on the road meet the requirements. Once their products are approved, they must also meet certain standards imposed by the DMV and California regulators based on the type of vehicle they have developed.
Currently, with the suspension of Cruise, the California DMV has only approved Waymo to operate driverless cabs in major cities- although there are others, such as AutoX or Zoox, that operate in limited areas. However, new robotaxi companies such as Tesla or Ford are expected to unveil their services and announce a date for their entry into the market.
Waymo
One of the most popular robot taxi companies is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc, Google’s parent company. It was the first company to conduct road tests in 2014. In 2018, it began testing its fleet of autonomous taxi vehicles in California.
In early 2024, Waymo received the go-ahead to deploy its robotaxis in new areas of California. Regulators at the California Public Utilities Commission approved the Google subsidiary to offer self-driving taxi services in Los Angeles and San Mateo. The expansion is expected to be gradual, starting with streets and later moving to highways. The service also operates 24/7 for the entire area between Santa Monica and downtown Los Angeles.
Waymo has been licensed to operate its self-driving taxis in San Jose and San Francisco since 2021. In fact, the latter city no longer has a waiting list and has just expanded to the entire peninsula, which includes Silicon Valley.
Cruise
Owned by General Motors since 2016, it began its first tests in 2015. It was not until 2020 that Cruise robotaxis began to circulate without a driver.
In June 2022, Cruise received official permission to offer its robotaxi services in San Francisco, California. After a few months, it managed to deploy 100 driverless cabs. In September of the same year, they obtained licenses to operate in other states, such as Austin, Texas. The following year, Cruise got approval to operate its self-driving cabs 24 hours a day in San Francisco.
But in October 2023, the DMV suspended all of its autonomous taxi permits, forcing Cruise to recall more than 950 vehicles. The reason? Numerous incidents and investigations following collisions with its robotaxi vehicles resulted in serious injuries, such as a Cruise pedestrian accident. That incident led to an $8 million settlement after a lawsuit.
Today, the GM subsidiary has restarted some of its driverless taxis, but not in San Francisco. Cruise is slowly resuming operations, restarting its fleet in Texas with human drivers overseeing the rides. As for the latest news on Cruise’s robotaxi cars, the company has announced that it will offer its autonomous taxis on Uber’s transportation platform starting in 2025, in an effort to bring its services back closer to citizens.
All indications are that Cruise will have its entire fleet of robotaxis operating by 2025.
Tesla
Although Tesla is the tech company that has bet the most on autonomous cars, it still does not offer robotaxi services. Although they’ve been promising them for several years, it wasn’t until mid-2024 that Tesla announced their robotaxi vehicles would be unveiled by the end of that year.
So when will the Tesla robotaxi be available? According to regulators, Elon Musk’s company has not yet applied for a driverless cab permit for testing or approval. The development of technology surrounding the vehicle will determine when the service will be ready for the public.
Zoox
The company, which was acquired by Amazon in 2020, has spent the last three years working out the details of its self-driving taxi service. In 2023, it received a permit to operate and serve the public in Silicon Valley. Despite the carefully crafted project, transportation regulators have reported flaws in some of these vehicles. In particular, they warn of driverless taxis that have stopped suddenly and injured motorcyclists in rear-end collisions.
AutoX
Like Zoox, this Chinese tech company has been operating in Silicon Valley since 2022. It is the second company to obtain a permit to provide robotaxis services in California. It is one of the largest autonomous transportation companies in the world.
Other Robotaxi Service Companies
Recently, new technology companies finalized details to get their self-driving cabs on the road. California will soon see new driverless taxis operating in various parts of the state.
In addition to offering passenger transportation services, California also offers the opportunity to test the vehicles. In recent years, as many as seven China-based companies have tested their robotaxis in California. The most notable are WeRide, Apollo Go, Pony.ai, Didi Research America, and AutoX.
Other companies developing self-driving taxi services in California include:
- Motional. Hyundai’s company currently provides service in Las Vegas. Since 2022, it’s had an agreement with Uber to offer robotaxi services for the next 10 years. According to inside sources, the next target is Los Angeles.
- Aurora. One of the leaders in self-driving trucking, Aurora plans to launch its fleet of robotic trucks by the end of 2024. The company has also announced plans to launch a robotaxi service called Aurora Connect in partnership with Toyota.
- Ford. The automaker has taken a step back in the development of its autonomous taxis. The lack of profitability compared to the large investment required has led Ford to focus on Level 3 self-driving.
- Nuro. Although it currently uses autonomous cars for delivery services, Nuro is also working on its own robotaxis. It is currently working with brands such as FedEx, Uber, Kroger, Domino’s, 7-Eleven, and Walmart.
- Uber. In addition to potentially launching its own robotaxis, Uber is currently partnering with companies like Waymo, Cruise, Aurora, and Nuro.
Benefits of Robotaxi
Undoubtedly, introducing self-driving taxi services in California can have a positive impact. According to the Department of Transportation, more than 120,000 people were killed on the nation’s roads in the last three years. In addition, more than 10 million citizens have visited emergency rooms as a result of traffic accidents. More autonomous taxis would reduce the number of cars on the road and thus decrease the number of human-caused accidents. These include alcohol, distraction, and speeding.
Other benefits of the robotaxi include:
- Fewer traffic accidents. Fewer human drivers would be making mistakes behind the wheel. In particular, it would help reduce drunk driving, which kills more than 10,000 people a year in the United States.
- Significantly improved traffic safety.
- Lighter roads and traffic. This would create a more harmonious landscape for residents.
- Reduced emissions. This would contribute to sustainability and improve the quality of life in heavily congested cities.
- Accessibility and efficiency. It would optimize routes and enable safe ridesharing.
- Affordability.
- Quality vehicles in good condition.
Autonomous Taxis Are Also Killing and Injuring People
While all of the above show the benefits, it also leads one to believe that driverless taxis are a safe mode of transportation, the reality is that they have caused many accidents.
Unfortunately, self-driving taxi services are still in development, so they could lead to incidents that could be prevented. How could a driverless cab avoid a chain collision? Will robotaxis be able to avoid a blocked road? What would happen if a pedestrian suddenly crossed the road?
Causes of a Cruise or Waymo Driverless Taxi Accident
Here is a list of possible accidents caused by self-driving vehicles:
- Technical defects. This includes sensors and systems that read and understand the surroundings.
- Weather conditions that affect the operation and accuracy of sensors.
- Software failures due to technical defects.
- Negligence by other drivers or pedestrians. This can include distractions, speeding, or drunk driving.
- Poor road conditions or inadequate signage.
- Cyber attacks.
- Poor maintenance.
Liability for Self-Driving Auto Accidents in California
Self-driving companies face many obstacles. First, they have to deal with technical challenges, regulatory issues, ensuring safety, and getting operating systems up and running. But there is one concern that can be even more difficult to address: an injury accident.
There are several factors to consider when determining liability following a traffic accident involving a driverless vehicle:
- Determine the percentage of fault between the driver and the robotaxi.
- Investigate whether the self-driving vehicle is responsible for the accident due to a defect or error.
- Examine whether there was any negligence on the part of the company or the driver at the time of the collision.
- Verify that traffic laws and safety regulations were followed.
- Contact an experienced taxi accident lawyer to handle the claim and fight for the victim’s rights.
Nevertheless, several manufacturers, such as Google or Mercedes-Benz, have stated that they will take responsibility if their autonomous cars are the cause of an injury accident.
Over the past year, there have already been serious accidents involving the country’s two major robotaxi companies: Waymo and Cruise. In fact, the latter lost its license to operate driverless cabs in California due to the number of incidents it caused.
The most serious accident occurred in October 2023, when a woman was run over by a Cruise robotaxi. The pedestrian was first hit by another car, and as she fell, Cruise’s vehicle dragged her. Then the autonomous taxi stopped on the woman’s leg, who filed a personal injury lawsuit and received $8 million in compensation.
Trust the Robotaxi Accident Lawyers at AA Law
If you have been injured in a robotaxi in California, let us help you. We know that driverless taxi injury cases can seem difficult to resolve. But with the expert legal assistance of our attorneys, you can get the results you deserve. At Adamson Ahdoot, we have experience taking on large corporations and obtaining excellent settlements for our injured clients.
With over 100 years of combined legal experience, we have the best bilingual injury lawyers in California. If you have any questions about your case, please do not hesitate to contact us. We can help you get the best results. Call us at (800) 310-1606 or submit your consultation here.
