Waymo is currently testing their autonomous taxis in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There is no set date for a complete rollout of the service.
Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company, has committed to a long-term presence in Philadelphia and recently advanced to fully driverless testing phases on city streets.
Initial testing earlier this summer involved approximately a dozen vehicles operated by human safety drivers, with the company stating at that time it had no immediate timeline for launching commercial robotaxi service in Philadelphia.
Waymo is currently pursuing regulatory approval from PennDOT to operate completely autonomous vehicles without any human drivers present. Once approved, Philadelphia residents will gain access to Waymo’s ride-hailing service.
The company has not established a specific launch date or timeline for when the commercial driverless taxi service will become available to the public.
What Cities Have Waymo Right Now?
Waymo currently operates its fully autonomous ride-hailing service, called Waymo One, in four major metropolitan areas. The company typically starts with a limited geographic area before gradually expanding its service territory as it gathers more real-world driving data.
You can find Waymo vehicles operating in these cities:
- Phoenix, Arizona: Waymo’s first and largest commercial market with 24/7 service.
- San Francisco, California: Full city coverage with round-the-clock robotaxi service.
- Los Angeles, California: Recently expanded service area covering key neighborhoods.
- Austin, Texas: Limited service area with ongoing expansion plans.
In addition to testing in Philadelphia, Waymo is also started doing manual tests of their vehicles in St. Louis, Missouri. The company conducts extensive testing and mapping before launching commercial service in any new location.
Are Self-driving Cars Legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes, self-driving cars are completely legal to operate on Pennsylvania roads. An autonomous vehicle, or AV, is a car that drives itself using sensors, cameras, and artificial intelligence without needing a human driver.
Pennsylvania passed Act 117 in 2018, which allows companies to test and deploy self-driving cars without requiring a human safety driver. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, known as PennDOT, oversees all autonomous vehicle operations through a permit system and safety requirements.
Companies must meet strict safety standards and provide detailed reports to PennDOT about their vehicle operations. To obtain a permit for fully autonomous vehicles in Pennsylvania, Waymo must satisfy PennDOT requirements established by PennDOT, including demonstrating that they maintain a cybersecurity plan, that vehicles retain operational data, and that vehicles can recognize and yield to emergency vehicles.
Can Police Pull Over a Self-driving Car in Pennsylvania?
Yes, police officers can and do pull over self-driving cars for traffic violations or safety inspections. Autonomous vehicles are programmed to recognize emergency vehicle lights and sirens and are designed to pull over safely to the side of the road when instructed.
AV companies provide law enforcement with special contact information and procedures for traffic stops. When police pull over a self-driving car, they can communicate directly with a remote operator who monitors the vehicle.
If you witness or are involved in any incident with a self-driving car, you should still call 911 immediately and follow all police instructions just like you would with any other vehicle accident.
How Do Waymo Self-driving Cars Work?
Waymo vehicles use multiple advanced technologies working together to “see” the road and make driving decisions. These systems create a detailed, 360-degree view of everything around the car in real-time.
The key sensor systems include:
- LIDAR technology: Uses laser beams to create precise 3D maps of surroundings, measuring distances to objects with incredible accuracy.
- High-resolution cameras: Provide visual information about traffic lights, road signs, lane markings, and other vehicles.
- Radar sensors detect moving objects and their speed, even in bad weather such as rain or fog.
- Ultrasonic sensors: Help with close-range detection for parking and low-speed maneuvers.
Powerful onboard computers process all this sensor data instantly to make safe driving decisions. Waymo also uses highly detailed road maps and can receive assistance from remote human operators when needed for complex situations.
Who Is at Fault After a Self-driving Car Crash in Pennsylvania?
Determining fault in a self-driving car accident is much more complicated than in traditional crashes between human drivers. Multiple parties could be responsible for causing the accident, making these cases legally complex.
Potentially liable parties include:
- The AV company: For software failures, poor programming, or inadequate safety systems.
- Component manufacturers: For defective sensors, cameras, or other hardware parts.
- Remote operators: If a human monitor failed to intervene when necessary.
- Maintenance contractors: For improper vehicle servicing or repairs.
- Other human drivers: For violating traffic laws or driving negligently.
- Government entities: For poorly maintained roads or inadequate signage.
Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means you can recover damages as long as you’re less than 51% at fault for the accident. Your compensation gets reduced by your percentage of fault, so if you’re 37% responsible, you’ll receive 63% of your total damages.
How Comparative Negligence and No-fault Apply to AV Crashes
Pennsylvania operates under a “choice no-fault” insurance system in which drivers choose between limited tort and full tort coverage. Your Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, pays your medical bills regardless of who caused the accident, but these policies have coverage limits.
If you choose limited tort coverage, you typically cannot sue for pain and suffering unless you suffer serious injuries. Full tort coverage allows you to pursue all types of damages, including non-economic losses like emotional distress and reduced quality of life.
Is It Product Liability or Negligence in an AV Crash?
Self-driving car accidents can involve two main legal theories. Product liability claims argue that the autonomous vehicle or its software had dangerous defects in design, manufacturing, or safety warnings that caused the crash.
Negligence claims focus on human error, such as a remote operator failing to take control when needed, another driver violating traffic laws, or a company failing to properly maintain the vehicle. Our experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers investigate every possible claim to maximize your compensation and hold all responsible parties accountable.
What Should You Do After a Self-driving Car Crash in Philadelphia?
Your first priority after any accident is safety. Call 911 immediately to report the crash and request medical help if anyone is injured. Since there’s no human driver in the autonomous vehicle, documenting everything about the car itself becomes critically important.
Look for company logos, vehicle identification numbers, license plates, or QR codes on the car’s exterior. Take photos of all damage, the accident scene, and any visible injuries before vehicles are moved.
Steps to Take at the Scene
Follow these essential steps to protect your legal rights:
- Move to safety: Get yourself and others away from traffic if possible.
- Document the AV: Photograph all identifying marks, logos, and vehicle numbers.
- Capture the scene: Take pictures of vehicle damage, road conditions, and traffic signals.
- Collect witness information: Get names and phone numbers from anyone who saw the accident.
- Note surveillance cameras: Look for nearby businesses or traffic cameras that might have recorded the crash.
- Get the police report number: Ensure officers file an official report and obtain the case number.
- Avoid recorded statements: Don’t give any recorded statements to insurance companies before consulting an attorney.
Never admit fault or speculate about what caused the accident. Stick to factual observations about what you experienced and saw.
How Do You Preserve Data and Video from a Self-driving Car?
Self-driving cars record enormous amounts of digital evidence, including video from multiple camera angles, sensor readings, and computer decision logs. This electronic data often provides the clearest picture of exactly what happened before and during the crash.
However, this critical evidence can disappear quickly if not properly preserved. AV companies may delete or overwrite data as part of routine operations, which is why immediate action is essential.
At Wilk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we send spoliation letters immediately after an accident, which are legal demands requiring the AV company to preserve all electronic evidence related to your crash. Our technical experts then work with this self-driving car data to reconstruct the accident and determine what went wrong.
How Insurance Works and What Compensation You Can Recover
Insurance coverage after an autonomous vehicle accident involves multiple policies with different rules and limits. Most AV companies carry large commercial insurance policies with much higher coverage limits than typical personal auto insurance.
PIP (Personal Injury Protection) covers medical bills and partial lost wages regardless of fault. This coverage applies immediately after an accident, providing initial financial support for your medical treatment and some income replacement.
Liability Coverage addresses all damages including pain and suffering when the AV company is at fault. This type of policy typically provides more comprehensive compensation for your injuries and losses beyond just medical expenses.
UM/UIM Coverage protects you when the other party lacks sufficient insurance. If the AV’s coverage is insufficient to fully compensate your damages, your own underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage can fill the gap.
Commercial Policies provide high-limit coverage for severe injuries, and most AV companies must carry these substantial insurance policies. These commercial policies often have significantly higher limits than standard personal auto insurance, which is crucial for catastrophic injury cases.
You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, property damage, future care needs, pain and suffering, and other losses. The amount depends on your injuries, your insurance coverage choices, and the specific circumstances of your accident.
Your recovery also depends on whether you selected limited tort or full tort coverage on your own auto insurance policy. Full tort allows you to pursue all damages, while limited tort restricts pain and suffering claims unless you suffer serious injuries.
How Long Do You Have to File a Self-driving Car Claim in Pennsylvania?
Under Pennsylvania law, you have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline is called the statute of limitations, and missing it typically means losing your right to seek compensation forever.
However, shorter deadlines may apply for certain types of claims, especially those involving government entities or specific insurance benefits. Some insurance claims must be filed within days or weeks of the accident.
Don’t wait to take action, especially in autonomous vehicle cases. Early action helps preserve critical AV data and witness memories that could disappear over time. Pennsylvania self-driving car lawyers can ensure all deadlines are met while building the strongest possible case.
Injured by a Self-Driving Car in Philadelphia? Consult With Our Auto Accident Attorneys Today
Facing powerful AV companies and their insurance carriers alone puts you at a serious disadvantage. These corporations have teams of lawyers and technical experts working to minimize their liability and reduce payouts to accident victims.
We level the playing field by immediately securing all digital evidence, working with leading experts in autonomous vehicle technology, and fighting aggressively for maximum compensation. Our approach combines deep knowledge of Pennsylvania personal injury law with a cutting-edge understanding of self-driving car technology.
Our firm handles complex injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. We’ve secured millions in compensation for injured clients, and we’re committed to treating every case with the personal attention it deserves.
If you’ve been hurt in an accident involving a self-driving vehicle, contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your rights and legal options.
Frequently Asked Questions
If a Self-driving Car Leaves the Scene, Is It Hit-and-run in Pennsylvania?
Yes, if an autonomous vehicle is involved in a collision and fails to stop, it’s still considered a hit-and-run accident under Pennsylvania law. You should immediately report the incident to the police and provide any vehicle identification information you observed, such as license plates or company markings.
Do PIP Benefits Apply if I Am a Pedestrian or Cyclist Hit by an AV?
Yes, PIP benefits often apply to pedestrians and cyclists through your own auto policy, a household member’s policy, or the striking vehicle’s coverage. We help coordinate all available insurance benefits to ensure you receive maximum coverage for your medical expenses and lost wages.
Can I Sue an AV Company Not Based in Pennsylvania in a Philadelphia Court?
Often, yes, if the accident occurred in Pennsylvania or if the company conducts business in our state. We analyze jurisdiction rules to determine the best venue for filing your lawsuit and ensure you have the strongest legal advantage possible.
How Do I Get the AV’s Video and Sensor Logs?
We obtain this critical evidence through immediate preservation demands followed by formal legal discovery. Our process starts by sending spoliation letters to prevent the destruction of data, then using court procedures to compel the production of all relevant electronic records for expert analysis.
Does Limited Tort Restrict Pain and Suffering After an AV Crash?
Limited tort coverage can restrict your ability to recover non-economic damages, but serious injury exceptions often apply in autonomous vehicle accidents. We carefully evaluate whether your injuries meet Pennsylvania’s threshold requirements for pursuing full compensation despite limited tort coverage.
What if the AV’s Computer Data Blames Me for the Accident?
We never accept the AV company’s version of events without independent verification. Our experts analyze all available evidence, including third-party video footage and witness statements, to challenge biased algorithmic conclusions and prove what really caused your accident.
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