Injured by a Waymo Vehicle in Atlanta? What You Need to Know About Autonomous Vehicle Crashes
Autonomous vehicles are no longer a futuristic concept—they operate on Atlanta’s roads today. Through a partnership with Uber, Waymo’s self-driving cars can now be hailed in parts of the city, including Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead. While these driverless vehicles promise innovation and convenience, they also raise serious concerns about safety, responsibility, and legal accountability when something goes wrong.
If you were injured in a collision involving a Waymo vehicle—whether you were a pedestrian, cyclist, passenger, or driver of another car—you may be facing confusing questions about who is at fault and who should pay for your injuries. At Ashby Thelen Lowry, our Georgia team helps victims navigate the legal complexities surrounding autonomous vehicle claims. We’re here to stand up for your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
What Is the “Waymo on Uber” Service?
Waymo’s partnership with Uber allows Atlanta users to request fully autonomous rides using the Uber app. These electric vehicles, powered by Waymo’s proprietary self-driving technology, operate within a 65-square-mile service area. The vehicles have no human driver behind the wheel and rely on artificial intelligence, LiDAR, radar, and onboard cameras to navigate traffic.
While marketed as safe and efficient, these vehicles are still being tested in real-world conditions and are not immune to errors. Collisions involving autonomous cars raise unique legal and technical questions that traditional crash cases do not.
What Makes Autonomous Vehicle Crashes Legally Complicated?
Unlike collisions involving human drivers, autonomous vehicle cases often involve multiple layers of responsibility, including technology developers, vehicle manufacturers, and platform partners like Uber. Determining who is legally responsible requires a deep investigation and an understanding of emerging law and complex systems engineering.
Legal challenges include:
- Determining fault when no human was operating the vehicle.
- Uncovering software or sensor failures that contributed to the crash.
- Evaluating Uber’s liability for deploying autonomous vehicles under its brand.
- Analyzing safety protocols and real-time decision-making systems in the Waymo vehicle.
- Negotiating with corporate insurers who aggressively defend against liability.
Autonomous vehicles may not text, speed, or drive under the influence—but they can misinterpret traffic signals, fail to anticipate pedestrian movement, or behave unpredictably in complex urban environments.
Who Can Be Injured by a Waymo Vehicle in Atlanta, Georgia?
Waymo vehicles operate in high-traffic areas with dense vehicle and foot traffic. If something goes wrong, many road users may be at risk.
Those most vulnerable include:
- Pedestrians in crosswalks or on sidewalks.
- Cyclists share lanes or navigate intersections.
- Rideshare passengers in Waymo vehicles.
- Drivers and passengers in nearby vehicles.
- Scooter riders and micromobility users in designated lanes.
Because these vehicles are silent and lack a visible driver, some people may not even realize they are interacting with an autonomous system until after a crash.
What Compensation May Be Available?
Being injured by an autonomous vehicle can result in just as much harm, if not more, than traditional collisions. Victims may face hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, lost work, and emotional trauma.
You may be entitled to recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including emergency care, ongoing treatment, and rehabilitation.
- Lost income and reduced future earnings.
- Pain and suffering.
- Emotional trauma or anxiety related to the crash.
- Permanent disability or loss of mobility.
- Wrongful death damages if a loved one was killed in the incident.
Our attorneys work with experts to assess the immediate impact and long—term effects of these injuries on your life and financial future.
Why You Need a Lawyer Familiar With Emerging Technology
Autonomous vehicle litigation is not business as usual. These cases require attorneys to understand Georgia’s liability laws and the technical frameworks that power driverless systems. At Ashby Thelen Lowry, we combine traditional personal injury experience with forward-looking strategies tailored to cases involving self-driving technology.
We know how to:
- Demand and preserve electronic data from the Waymo vehicle.
- Consult with autonomous vehicle engineering experts.
- Navigate corporate liability across Uber and Waymo.
- Push back against efforts to shift blame or deny fault.
You only get one chance to build a strong claim. Let us help you do it right.
Injured by a Waymo Vehicle in Atlanta? Call Ashby Thelen Lowry
Autonomous vehicles are changing how we move through the city, but injured people deserve honest answers and accountability when that technology fails. If you were hurt in a collision involving a Waymo self-driving car, you need a legal team with the skill, resources, and determination to stand up to major tech and rideshare companies.
Contact Ashby Thelen Lowry today for a free consultation. We’ll listen to your story, explain your rights, and build a strategy to help you move forward. There’s no fee unless we win for you.
