Self-driving vehicles are no longer a future concept. They are already operating on public roads, and soon they could be part of everyday life in the Washington D.C. region. Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company owned by Google parent Alphabet, has confirmed that its Waymo One robotaxi service will launch in Washington, D.C. in 2026, following ongoing testing and regulatory approval efforts. There have already been Waymo vehicles spotted in D.C.
Waymo vehicles are currently operating without human drivers in cities such as Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. Testing in the nation’s capital brings the technology directly into the daily lives of those in D.C. and surrounding communities. As pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and passengers increasingly share the road with autonomous vehicles, new legal and safety questions are emerging, especially when someone is injured and there is no driver behind the wheel.
Waymo Signals a Shift in Washington D.C. Region Transportation
Waymo’s announcement makes clear that the company views Washington, D.C. as a key market in its nationwide expansion. According to Waymo, its autonomous vehicles already provide hundreds of thousands of paid rides each week in cities like Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. The company also reports logging more than 50 million miles of fully autonomous driving, data it says demonstrates improved safety outcomes.
Waymo has emphasized that it is working closely with policymakers, emergency responders, and local communities as it prepares for a full launch. Still, the path to deployment in D.C. has not been entirely smooth. Local reporting shows that regulatory hurdles remain, including a delayed safety study from the District Department of Transportation and a stalled D.C. Council bill that would formally allow fully driverless operations.
These delays reflect a growing concern among policymakers and safety officials that autonomous vehicles are reaching public roads before all the risks are fully understood.
Real-World Incidents Show Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Technology Is Still Evolving
As Waymo vehicles continue testing and expansion, recent incidents in cities where robotaxis already operate are drawing renewed attention to how this technology behaves outside controlled environments, especially in dense urban environments where unpredictability is constant.
News reports from cities where Waymo already operates show how unusual or unexpected situations can confuse autonomous systems. In the San Francisco area, Waymo vehicles have struck cats and dogs, sparking public concern about how robotaxis detect and respond to animals in residential neighborhoods. In Los Angeles, another Waymo vehicle drove into an active police standoff, an abnormal situation that required human intervention.
Concerns have also emerged around how autonomous vehicles interpret traffic control signals. Waymo recalled vehicles due to software issues after reports that its vehicles failed to properly respond to school bus stop arms, a critical safety issue involving children and school zones.
These incidents do not suggest that AVs are inherently unsafe. Instead, they underscore an important point that the technology is still learning, and when mistakes occur, they can have serious consequences for people sharing the road.
Who Faces the Greatest Risk Around Robotaxis?
Pedestrians and cyclists are often the most vulnerable around driverless vehicles. Without a human behind the wheel, there is no eye contact, hand gesture, or verbal communication to signal intent. In busy intersections, crosswalks, or construction zones, that lack of human interaction can create uncertainty and hesitation at critical moments.
Other drivers may also experience unexpected behavior from autonomous vehicles. Reporting from cities with active robotaxi fleets suggests that Waymo vehicles can make sudden stops, aggressive lane changes, or abrupt U-turns as the system attempts to navigate dense traffic. While these maneuvers may be legal, they can surprise surrounding drivers and contribute to car accidents.
Passengers inside a robotaxi face their own risks. Although the vehicles are designed to operate safely, injuries can still occur due to sudden braking, crashes involving other vehicles, or system errors. With no driver present, passengers may feel unsure how to respond in an emergency.
What to Do If You’re Injured by a Self-Driving Vehicle
When a traditional car accident occurs, most people know what to do: exchange information, speak with the driver, and contact insurance. AV incidents are different and can create confusion in stressful moments.
If you are a pedestrian, cyclist, or another driver struck by a Waymo vehicle, your priority should always be safety. Call 911, seek medical attention, and report the incident to law enforcement. Waymo vehicles are clearly marked, and noting the license plate, vehicle number, location, and time can be critical later. Photos, videos, and witness information can also help preserve the facts of what happened.
If you are a passenger inside a robotaxi, medical care still comes first. Incidents can be reported through the Waymo app or in-vehicle system, but passengers should understand that internal reports primarily serve the company’s interests, not necessarily their own. Documenting injuries, vehicle behavior, and any alerts from the system can be important if questions arise later.
One of the most common questions after an AV incident is simple: Who do you exchange information with? Because there is no human driver, responsibility typically shifts to the company operating the vehicle. Identifying the specific vehicle becomes crucial. Each robotaxi is equipped with unique identifiers, GPS tracking, and detailed system logs that record what the vehicle “saw” and how it responded.
Waymo vehicles are heavily instrumented, using cameras, radar, lidar, and onboard software to document their surroundings. That data can provide a detailed account of the incident, but it is controlled by the company. Accessing it usually requires legal action or formal requests, which makes early documentation by injured individuals especially important.
Preparing for a Driverless Future in the D.C. Region
Waymo’s expansion into Washington, D.C. reflects a broader shift toward autonomous transportation. While the technology holds promise, it also raises new questions about safety, accountability, and legal responsibility.
Determining liability in autonomous vehicle cases can be more complex than in traditional Virginia car accidents. Depending on the facts, responsibility may involve the autonomous vehicle company, software developers, vehicle manufacturers, maintenance contractors, or even other drivers in multi-vehicle incidents.
These cases often involve sophisticated technology and corporate defense teams. For injured individuals, this makes early legal guidance especially important, particularly in Virginia, where strict contributory negligence rules can affect recovery. If you are injured by a Waymo robotaxi or other self-driving vehicle as a pedestrian, passenger, or driver, it’s important to understand your rights and the options available to you under Virginia law.
The attorneys at Curcio Law have extensive experience handling complex motor vehicle injury cases and can help you navigate emerging issues involving self-driving technology. Our team is here to help you understand your legal options and protect your rights. To learn more about how we handle these cases or for a free consultation, call/text 703-836-3366, use our live chat, or contact us online.
