Waymo Accident Statistics 2025
Just a couple decades ago, we talked about the day that cars would drive themselves and the roads would be a quiet, well-run collection of autonomous vehicles carefully avoiding each other. We’re now in 2025, and although self-driving vehicles are growing in popularity and accessibility, they aren’t exactly quiet and problem-free. In fact, self-driving vehicles have been linked to hundreds of crashes in 2025 alone. When you find yourself hit by a car with no driver, it is crucial to work with a car accident attorney with experience in this area.
That’s when it’s time to talk to the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates. Our experience with all types of car accidents prepares us to take on even the most challenging self-driving vehicle accident claims. For over 25 years, founder Robin D. Perry, Esq. has advocated for clients in courts across the state. Learn more about your options now by calling us at 562-216-2944.
Waymo Accident Statistics 2025: What the Numbers Show About AV Safety in California
Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet, Inc. Once known as the Google self-driving project, Waymo is now one of the largest autonomous vehicle companies running in the United States. They have been approved to work in a wide range of states, first starting with test drives and then eventually being approved to take passengers. These vehicles must have an Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Accidents involving self-driving vehicles are reported to the NHTSA. As of August 5, 2025, there were reports up through June 2025, accounting for 398 collisions involving Waymo vehicles. These include crashes involving a moving Waymo vehicle in autonomous driving mode, crashes occurring when the Waymo vehicle was stationary, and crashes involving other stationary vehicles. Although the company notes that many of these crashes are minor, it is important for consumers to look a little deeper and see what the statistics say.
Breaking Down 2025 Collision Numbers
Many of Waymo’s reported crashes have happened in urban areas. Because California accounts for so much of Waymo’s test market—over 120 square miles in Los Angeles County alone—our state makes up a lot of these collisions. Some areas that have seen a lot of Waymo collisions include Pasadena, San Fernando Valley, and downtown San Francisco. These collisions are fairly frequent in the late afternoon and early evening hours, which is no surprise to anyone who’s ever done the post-work commute in these regions. Many of the claims involving human drivers handled by car accident lawyers also fit these parameters, highlighting the very real challenges of driving in California.
These accidents range from minor accidents with no visible damage to either vehicle to fatal collisions involving pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers. Even at low speeds, autonomous vehicles seem to struggle with lane changes and merges, unprotected left turns, and interactions with unpredictable human drivers—the very problem it is trying to solve.
Are These Minor Collisions or Red Flags?
If you look at Waymo marketing materials, you’ll see that they claim that most of their accidents are minor. This is true; if you read through accident and collision reports, you’ll see that many involve minimal or no vehicle damage and no injuries. However, a fair amount do cause some sort of injury to passengers. Potential outcomes include soft tissue injuries like whiplash, cyclist and pedestrian injuries that tend to be far more serious than those caused by two-vehicle crashes, and chain-reaction crashes in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Difficulty Accessing AV Data
Unfortunately, car accident lawyers have seen a flurry of AV accident victims who have hit roadblock after roadblock trying to figure out what went wrong in their accident. Even the reports put out by the NHTSA are fairly vague, including a short description of the accident itself and no identifying information. Self-driving tech companies are quick to hide this information because of how it could affect their liability in crashes, their funding, and their ability to continue operating in the United States. Working with a car accident law firm can help you access the data you need, including data held in the vehicle itself and reports from the self-driving technology.
Don’t Take on AV Companies Alone—Turn to Our Car Accident Law Firm
If you’ve been struck by a self-driving vehicle, our team of car accident attorneys is here to help. Let’s talk more about your options. Just give us a call at 562-216-2944 or connect with us online to set up a consultation.
Attorney Robin D. Perry has been part of the Long Beach Community for over 25 years handling business litigation, employment litigation and advising, criminal defense, personal injury and code enforcement defense for businesses.
