Waymo Expands in California as New Robotaxi Rules Loom: Who Pays If You Are Hurt?

Last updated November 5, 2026

If you are hurt in or by a robotaxi in California, who pays depends on your role and on what the evidence shows. A passenger may look to the company operating the vehicle and, in some cases, a vehicle or technology maker. A pedestrian, cyclist or driver hit by a robotaxi may look to the same companies. If another human driver caused the crash, that driver’s insurance may be the main source of payment. Your own medical payments and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can help in either case. New state rules for autonomous vehicles are still pending, and nothing in the reporting we reviewed says they would change who pays after a crash. This guide explains the pieces in plain terms. It is general information and says nothing about who caused any particular crash.

What changed this week for robotaxis in California?

Three recent reports explain why the question matters now.

• Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times reported on November 3, 2026 that Waymo added Torrance, El Segundo and Manhattan Beach to its 210-square-mile Los Angeles service area, along with destinations such as Universal Studios and the Beverly Hills Hotel. Riders still cannot request trips to or from Los Angeles International Airport. The Times also reported that crashes involving Waymo vehicles tripled last year in Los Angeles County, based on its review of federal autonomous vehicle crash data, that about 80 percent of crashes reported this year caused no apparent injuries, 15 percent caused possible injuries and fewer than 1 percent caused a suspected serious injury, and that Waymo says its crash rate per million miles has fallen every year since 2023.
• San Diego. Axios San Diego reported on October 27, 2026 that Waymo nearly doubled its San Diego service area, adding areas such as Mission Bay, La Jolla and Clairemont, without freeway or airport service, and that the San Diego City Council voted unanimously in September to ask for local control, including banning airport access. The Times says Waymo expanded its San Diego area north to La Jolla on November 3.
• State rules in progress. KQED reported on October 30, 2026 that the California Public Utilities Commission is in the process of adopting new autonomous vehicle rules, including when companies can be exempt, when approvals can be streamlined, and who can reinstate a suspended permit. After workers and local officials rallied on October 29, the commission postponed its vote to its next voting meeting on November 19.

Who pays if you are hurt as a robotaxi passenger?

Short answer: possibly the company operating the vehicle, its insurance or self-insurance, and in some cases a maker of a defective part, though the ride terms you accepted may change how a claim is brought.

• The operating company. With no human driver, the claim often focuses on the company that puts the vehicle on the road. California’s general negligence rule, Civil Code section 1714, makes people responsible for injuries caused by a lack of ordinary care.
• A high duty of care. Civil Code section 2100 requires a carrier of persons for reward to use the utmost care and diligence for their safe carriage. Whether and how it applies to a driverless ride service is an open question that our guide to robotaxi crashes in San Diego discusses.
• The rider terms. Our guide explains that Waymo’s rider terms send most disputes to individual arbitration before JAMS unless a rider opted out within 30 days, and set their own notice rules. Read the terms that apply to your account and do not assume either way.
• Another driver. If a human driver in another vehicle caused or contributed to the crash, that driver’s insurance may be responsible.

Who pays if a robotaxi hits you as a pedestrian, cyclist or driver?

Short answer: the same candidates, but you have no contract with the company, so the ride terms do not govern your claim.

A pedestrian, a cyclist, a scooter rider or a driver in another vehicle did not accept any rider terms. The claim usually looks like an ordinary injury claim against the party whose conduct or vehicle caused harm, which may be the operating company, a maker of a defective part, another driver, or in some cases a public entity. Your own medical payments coverage and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may also apply, subject to the policy. If a city bus, a government vehicle or a road condition was involved, a written government claim is generally due within six months (Government Code section 911.2). Our guide on who pays after a driverless car crash maps these layers in more detail.

Do the new CPUC rules change who pays after a crash?

Short answer: nothing in KQED’s report says they do. The rules appear to concern approvals and permits, not compensation.

KQED describes the proposal as covering exemptions, streamlined approvals, airport service without a separate approval notice when the airport has given permission, and who may reinstate a suspended permit. Labor and local officials argue they want more local say over where robotaxis operate. None of that is described as a change to the negligence rules, product liability rules or the insurance a company must carry. The vote was postponed to November 19, 2026, so the final text may differ. A decision to approve or deny a company’s service area is also not a decision about liability for any crash.

It may still matter indirectly. Where and when a robotaxi can operate affects how many people share the road with one, which is why local and state officials are debating it. If you are hurt, the question is still the same: what happened, and who is responsible under existing law.

What do crash numbers mean for an injured person?

Crash numbers are a reason to be informed, not a reason to assume fault. If the car that hit you was a Tesla using a driver assist feature rather than a driverless robotaxi, see our guide to who pays when a Tesla on self-driving mode hits you. The Times says most reported crashes were minor and that Waymo’s crash rate per million miles has fallen. A crash report does not show who was at fault, and a robotaxi can be struck while stopped. At the same time, a serious injury can happen in any fleet. If you were hurt, the facts of your crash matter more than the averages.

What should you save after a robotaxi crash?

1. Trip records. If you were a passenger, screenshot your trip receipt, the date and time, pickup and drop-off points, the trip identifier and any in-app messages with support.
2. Photographs and video. The scene, the vehicle, any visible vehicle number or markings, damage and your injuries over time.
3. The company’s data. Robotaxis record video and sensor data. A lawyer can send a written request that the company preserve it, so do not wait.
4. Police and crash reports. Ask for the report number. Autonomous vehicle crashes can also generate reports to state and federal regulators, like those the Times reviewed.
5. Witnesses. Names, phone numbers and nearby cameras. Footage can be overwritten quickly.
6. Medical records and bills. Tell each provider how you were hurt and keep every record.
7. Insurance information. Your own policy, and any information you receive from the company or its insurer.

Be careful with statements. A company representative or adjuster may call quickly. You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other side, and you should not sign a release without legal advice. If your crash involved an Uber or Lyft rather than a driverless car, see our guide on how SB 623 changes medical bills in rideshare crash claims after January 1, 2027, and our robotaxi and rideshare accidents page for the overall picture.

What are the deadlines?

• Two years for most personal injury lawsuits against private parties (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1).
• Six months to present a written claim if a public entity may be responsible.
• Ride terms. A rider agreement may set its own notice or arbitration steps, so check it early.

Use the earliest possible date until a lawyer confirms which applies.

Frequently asked questions

Who pays if a Waymo or other robotaxi hurts me in California?

Possibly the operating company and its insurance, another driver, or a maker of a defective part, depending on the facts. Your own medical payments and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may also apply.

Do the pending California robotaxi rules change who pays?

The reporting we reviewed describes the rules as covering exemptions, approvals, airport service and permit reinstatement. It does not describe a change to who pays after a crash. The vote was postponed to November 19, 2026.

Am I bound by arbitration if I was a robotaxi passenger?

It depends on the terms that apply to your account. Our guide explains that Waymo’s terms send most rider disputes to individual arbitration unless a rider opted out, but ask a lawyer to review your situation.

What if a robotaxi hit me and I was not a rider?

You did not accept any rider terms. Your claim usually looks like an ordinary injury claim against whoever caused the harm.

Is a robotaxi automatically at fault in a crash?

No. A robotaxi can be hit while stopped, and fault may fall on the company, another driver or several parties. California uses comparative fault.

Should I ask the company to keep its video?

Yes, through a written preservation request, ideally from a lawyer and as soon as possible. Data can be overwritten under routine retention schedules.

Talk to us

If you were hurt in a crash involving a robotaxi, or lost someone you love, we are here to listen and to explain your options. For the South Bay service area, see who pays if a Waymo hits you in Torrance or Manhattan Beach. Win Attorneys is a California firm that represents injured people throughout the state. Talk to us at (562) 296-5380. We speak Spanish and Vietnamese.

Hablamos español. Chúng tôi nói tiếng Việt.

Win Attorneys, 17291 Irvine Blvd., Suite 210, Tustin, CA 92780. Phone (562) 296-5380.

This article is general information and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Sources: Los Angeles Times, November 3, 2026, KQED, October 30, 2026, Axios San Diego, October 27, 2026, Civil Code section 1714, 2100, Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, Government Code section 911.2.