Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Robotaxi Involved in Accident on First Day of Operation in Charlotte
Robotaxis are being rolled out in cities across the country. These autonomous vehicles are designed to provide passenger transportation around cities, including Charlotte. Waymo, a leading robotaxi company, has begun limited operations in our city. On the first day of operation, a Waymo vehicle was involved in a minor accident. Waymo is owned by parent company Alphabet, which also owns Google. The accident leaves people wondering whether autonomous vehicles are safe.
What is a Robotaxi?
Robotaxis are also called autonomous or self-driving vehicles. Waymo is one of a handful of robotaxi companies that operate driverless ride-share services across the country. Autonomous taxi services are designed to transport passengers to their destinations without having a human driver on board. Autonomous vehicles are operated through computers that are programmed to drive on local streets and roadways. According to Waymo, their driverless services provide a safer, more accessible, and more sustainable way to get around.
Robotaxi Accident in Charlotte
The first day of service in Charlotte resulted in a minor collision for a Waymo vehicle. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) report states that a vehicle struck the Waymo car in the 500 block of W. Fourth Street, near Trust Field. The driver fled the scene after hitting the Waymo vehicle without providing identification or insurance information.
The robotaxi did have a human trainer in the car at the time. The vehicle was part of a training mission to learn the city streets at the time of the incident. While the accident does not appear to have been caused by the Waymo vehicle, it still leads to questions about the safety of autonomous vehicles on our roads.
How Safe are Robotaxis?
Although operations in Charlotte are just getting started, Waymo already has full operation of autonomous taxi services in other cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix. Waymo collected data from over 127 million miles of travel, stating that accidents with their vehicles resulted in fewer serious injuries than those with human drivers. However, there are concerns involving several crashes. Waymo had a recall of software due to some reports of robotaxis passing stopped school buses, which is illegal and extremely dangerous.
What to Do if You are Involved in an Accident With a Robotaxi
If you are involved in an accident with an autonomous taxi, you need to take several steps. Call the police to report the incident. Robotaxis do not have a human driver, but they do have some identification on board. If you are hurt, immediately get medical treatment. Before you speak with the driverless taxi company, it is helpful to consult with a knowledgeable attorney. Your lawyer will help gather information and details about the crash in order for you to seek compensation. If the other vehicle is at fault, you could be owed money for your injuries,
If you or someone you love was hurt in an accident that was not your fault, we can help. Call us today at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to request a free initial consultation.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.govtech.com/transportation/in-charlotte-s-c-a-bumpy-debut-for-waymo-robotaxis
See Our Related Video from our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArnoldSmithPLLC/videos
See Our Related Blog Posts: