You’ve been injured by a Waymo in Denver: Now what?

Driverless vehicles are no longer a distant possibility for Denver. As of July 2026, Waymo is operating fully autonomous vehicles on local streets, placing Denver among a growing number of cities where a passenger may be transported without anyone sitting behind the wheel. A recent Colorado Sun article details the rollout, with the first rides only available to Waymo employees, and rides becoming available to the full public sometime “later this year.”

Many people are excited by the rollout or feel that autonomous vehicles are safer than riding in an Uber or a Lyft with a human driver. Users on Reddit cite safety issues with human drivers like distracted driving, aggressive driving, or predatory behavior as reasons they’d feel much safer with a robot driver.

But Waymos and other autonomous vehicles can have different safety issues and cause crashes in other ways, and what happens when someone is injured? Navigating a claim and getting compensated for your injuries can look very different from a crash with two human drivers.

If you are injured while riding in a Waymo, struck by one in another vehicle, or hit as a pedestrian, bicyclist, or motorcycle or e-scooter rider, you have legal options. Determining those options starts with understanding how the vehicle works, what caused the collision, and which companies or individuals may be responsible.

July 2026: Waymo Arrives in Denver

Waymo first announced in September 2025 that it planned to bring vehicles to Denver to prepare for future autonomous service. The Colorado Department of Transportation detailed the rollout plan. With Denver being one of the first locations with four-season weather, Waymo began with employees driving the cars around town in all types of weather to collect data and understand the area.

On July 8, 2026, Waymo announced that it was preparing to begin fully autonomous operations in Denver without a human specialist behind the wheel. According to Waymo, the initial rider-only trips would be limited to employees, with public access expected later.

You may have already seen the distinctive white vans the company calls “an…iconic fleet” to match “an iconic city.” Denver riders will experience the Ojai, which is a minivan-like autonomous vehicle built by the Chinese automaker Geely and featuring some hardware and all software by Waymo. Right now, Waymo is the only robotaxi company starting service in Colorado, with both Tesla’s robotaxi service and Amazon’s Zoox operating in other cities in limited areas.

How Waymo Works

Autonomous vehicles come in different types and have different levels of automation, ranging from features you may have on your car, like lane departure assistance or adaptive cruise control (levels 0-3, legal in Colorado with a human driver in the vehicle), all the way up to Automated Driving Systems (ADS), which the Society of Automative Engineers categorizes as levels 4-5. According to CDOT, highly autonomous driving systems, levels 4-5, with or without a human driver, “are authorized to operate in Colorado if they can meet all applicable state and federal laws.” These are some of the conditions under which Colorado Senate Bill 17-213 authorized driving automation systems to operate, way back in 2017.

As you probably know, Waymo is not simply a car with cruise control. Waymo’s system (also called Driver) uses a sensor suite that includes cameras, imaging radar, and lidar together to collect information about the vehicle’s surroundings. The system processes those inputs to identify road markings, traffic signals, vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and other conditions that may affect the vehicle’s path. Waymo states, “that’s all data that we’re collecting to ensure the safety performance.”

But unfortunately, that safety performance may not be perfect, and when a crash happens, it may be difficult to get that data from Waymo to understand what happened.

Hazy Safety Information

Waymo reports that its autonomous vehicles have lower crash rates than human-driven vehicles in several important categories. In June 2026, the company stated that its analysis covered more than 220 million fully autonomous miles through March 2026. Waymo reported fewer serious or fatal injury crashes, fewer airbag-deployment crashes, and fewer crashes involving reported injuries than human-driver benchmarks in the same operating areas. The company’s comparisons included crashes regardless of who was at fault.

Those results are encouraging, but they do not answer every safety question.

First, much of the publicly presented information comes from Waymo itself, and an article published by Ars Technica found that the data published had mistakes. There isn’t as much data from independent sources.

Second, overall crash rates cannot tell us why a particular collision occurred. A system may perform well across millions of miles and still make a dangerous decision in an individual situation. These tend to get lots of press, such as when Waymos have failed to avoid animals or when a Waymo hit a 9-year-old crossing the street in Santa Monica. Some crashes have occurred because Waymos acted unpredictably, like stopping suddenly, or drove through construction zones.

Third, Denver presents its own unique and challenging driving conditions. Snow, ice, road construction, faded lane markings, glare, and sudden changes in visibility may create circumstances that differ from those in other Waymo markets.

Waymo presents a safety record, but the credibility of the record will require both transparency and corroboration by independent sources.

How Recalls and Software Issues Can Affect Waymo Safety

A traditional vehicle recall typically involves replacing a physical part, or a software update aimed at improving a safety feature. An autonomous vehicle recall have already involved software that changes how the vehicle recognizes a danger or decides what to do.

In May 2026, Waymo reported a recall involving 3,791 fifth and sixth-generation automated driving systems, where the software could allow a vehicle to slow down and then proceed into standing water on a higher-speed roadway.

In June 2026, Waymo reported another recall involving 3,871 fifth-generation systems capable of driverless freeway operation, where under certain circumstances, the system could enter a closed freeway construction zone and continue driving at speed. The recall followed events in which Waymo vehicles reportedly passed ramp-closure signs and entered planned freeway construction zones in Phoenix.

There have been other Waymo recalls that highlight ever-changing challenges with autonomous vehicle software in real-world conditions, including other incidents where driverless cars illegally passed stopped school buses or collided with stationary objects.

A recall alone may not prove what caused a crash. It can, however, identify important areas for investigation. Attorneys handling an autonomous-vehicle case with injuries are going to want to determine:

• Which generation of the Waymo Driver was installed
• Which software version was operating at the time
• Whether the vehicle had received all needed updates
• Whether Waymo had imposed any operating restrictions
• Whether the crash circumstances resembled a known issue
• When Waymo first learned about the type of risk involved
• What testing or corrective action occurred before the crash

The timing of an update may be especially important. A crash that occurs before, during, or shortly after a fleet-wide software change is more likely to require a close examination of version histories and deployment records.

Who Is Responsible When a Waymo Is Involved in a Crash?

We are still on the cusp of a new industry, and regulation is hustling to catch up. That means that there isn’t a lot of regulation or legislation governing self-driving cars, and Colorado is fairly permissive, with only SB17-213, mentioned above, dictating that these vehicles must obey state and federal law and rules of the road. In other cities, governments are considering passing regulations to slow Waymo’s growth or to govern when and how vehicles charge. There isn’t much yet on safety or to govern liability.

Likelier than not, every crash involving a Waymo will have unique circumstances and a number of questions will have to be answered to untangle liability. In short, just as there is no single answer to the liability question for human drivers, there is no single answer that applies to every Waymo collision. Responsibility depends on what caused the crash.

• Another driver: A human driver may be responsible if that person speeds, runs a red light, follows too closely, makes an unsafe lane change, or otherwise causes a collision involving a Waymo.
• Waymo itself: Waymo may be a potential responsible party if the actions of its automated driving system contributed to the collision. The precise legal theory will depend on the facts, the relationship between the companies involved, and the functions each entity performed. For example, Waymo may bear some responsibility for a rear-end collision if a Waymo stopped in traffic suddenly or unpredictably, just as a human driver would, as we detailed in a recent blog on why fault in a rear-end collision isn’t always straightforward.
• A vehicle or component manufacturer: An autonomous vehicle includes physical components as well as software. A problem involving brakes, steering, cameras, radar, lidar, wiring, or another component may raise questions about the company that designed or manufactured it, especially if, as in the case of the Ojai minivan model deployed in Denver, where most of the vehicle’s parts and hardware are made by automaker Geely, but some are made by Waymo, and the software is produced by Waymo.
• A maintenance or servicing company: Poor maintenance, incorrect calibration, damaged sensors, incomplete charging, or an improper repair could affect how a vehicle operates. According to AV Fleet, Waymo doesn’t maintain its own fleet. Instead, Waymo strategically outsources vehicle charging, cleaning, sensor calibration, brake maintenance, depot management, and any other daily maintenance to third-party fleet operation partners. This gets more complex, because Waymo contracts with different providers in every different city it launches, and it’s unclear who will maintain Waymo in Denver after the full launch. Maintenance histories, inspection records, and contracted relationships may therefore be relevant, depending on the circumstances of a crash.
• A government entity or road contractor: Some crashes involve unsafe road design, missing signs, defective traffic signals, or improperly marked construction zones. Claims involving a public entity are subject to special requirements and deadlines, so they must be evaluated promptly. Colorado’s Governmental Immunity Act, for example, requires an injured person in some cases to file a notice within 182 days, which is a much shorter notice period than other types of claims involving other parties.
• More than one party: A collision may have multiple causes, which is another reason having legal help to sort out all of the threads is important. For example, another driver may make an unsafe maneuver while the autonomous system also responds in an unreasonable way. The relationships between each of the companies and contractors described above, and others, can result in layers of liability. A thorough investigation by an auto accident attorney does not stop after identifying the most obvious cause of a collision.

How Product Liability Plays a Role

Most ordinary car accident claims focus on what a human driver did wrong. An autonomous-vehicle case may also focus on whether a product failed.

Colorado recognizes product liability claims involving manufacturers and, in more limited circumstances, sellers. Colorado’s product liability statutes include specific rules concerning which entities may be sued as manufacturers or sellers.

Potential product issues in a Waymo case could include:

• A design problem: The system may have been designed in a way that could not safely recognize or respond to a particular road condition, or an alternative, safer design may have been available.
• A manufacturing problem: A specific sensor, camera, vehicle, or other component may not have been manufactured according to its intended design.
• A software problem: The automated driving system may have misclassified an object, failed to recognize a closure, selected an unsafe path, or reacted incorrectly to its surroundings.
• A warning or instruction problem: A company may have failed to provide adequate information about a known limitation or the circumstances in which the system should not operate.

These claims generally require technical evidence showing how the system should have performed, how it actually performed, and how that difference resulted in injury.

The distinction between negligence and product liability can also be complicated. Software may be updated repeatedly, a vehicle platform may be built by one company, critical components may come from other manufacturers, and Waymo may control the overall driving system and fleet operation. Identifying the role of each company can become a major part of the case.

Preserving Evidence in Waymo Injury Cases

Preserving evidence is critical if you are injured in a crash involving a Waymo, and an experienced Colorado personal injury lawyer can help. Evidence preservation is important in many different kinds of cases, but it is a priority in autonomous vehicle injury cases that can make the difference between getting compensated or not.

After other collisions, attorneys often look for photographs, witness statements, vehicle damage, police reports, and available surveillance video. If a vehicle involved in a collision records crash data, and the circumstances of the collision are in doubt, an injury attorney may obtain black box data. All of those likely matter in a Waymo case, but the vehicle will likely also have generated extensive electronic information before, during, and after impact.

Potential evidence may include:

• Exterior and interior camera footage
• Lidar and radar data
• Vehicle speed, braking, and steering information
• GPS and route data
• The automated driving system’s object classifications
• The vehicle’s planned and actual path
• Remote-assistance communications
• Passenger communications with Waymo
• Software and firmware versions
• Update and recall records
• Diagnostic or error messages
• Maintenance and calibration histories
• Records of similar incidents
• Ride receipts and account information
• App messages, notifications, and support communications

Some information may be overwritten or retained for only a limited period. Other information may remain entirely within Waymo’s control. Waymo has already demonstrated reluctance to disclose some data, and in 2022, sued the California DMV to attempt to keep safety-related information as a trade secret. A court ruled that it could hide some of the safety data for its autonomous vehicles. The law is still forming around this issue, and plaintiffs’ injury cases that seek to expose or gain access to that data will likely help shape the law across the country, making everyone safer.

So, what would happen in your injury case? An attorney will send a preservation letter immediately, directing relevant parties to retain specific categories of evidence. The injured person should also preserve information personally available to them. That includes screenshots from the Waymo app, ride details, photographs, text messages, emails, medical records, damaged property, and any communication with Waymo or an insurance company.

I Was Injured by a Waymo: What Do I Do Now?

1. Get to a safe location: This is most important. If possible, move away from traffic and other immediate hazards. Do not remain in an unsafe roadway to take photographs.
2. Call 911: Ask law enforcement and emergency medical personnel to respond. Make sure the responding officer understands that an autonomous vehicle was involved and whether anyone was sitting in the driver’s seat.
3. Seek medical attention immediately: Some injuries are not immediately obvious. Any vehicle crash can mask symptoms that you may develop over time, and it’s important to document what you are feeling immediately after the event and to get the care you need. Symptoms involving the brain, neck, back, or joints may develop or worsen after the initial shock of the crash.
4. Identify the Waymo vehicle: If you are able to safely do so, and if you are able to do so without aggravating any injuries, photograph the entire vehicle, its license plate, visible identifying numbers, damage, sensor areas, and surrounding scene. If you were a passenger, save your ride receipt and trip information.
5. Document the scene independently: Photograph traffic signals, signs, lane markings, construction equipment, weather, lighting, debris, skid marks, vehicle positions, and nearby cameras. Take photographs from a safe location and from several angles.
6. Obtain witness information: A witness may have noticed something that was not captured in your photographs, including how the Waymo moved before impact or whether another vehicle contributed to the collision.
7. Preserve your digital records: Save screenshots, emails, app notifications, chat messages, ride history, and any communication with Waymo. Do not delete the app or close the account before preserving relevant information.
8. Be cautious about recorded statements: An insurance company or corporate representative may ask for a detailed statement soon after the crash. You can provide necessary identifying information without guessing about the cause of the collision or minimizing injuries that are still being evaluated. These early statements can affect your case later, and you may not know all of the important information right after a crash.
9. Avoid posting about the crash on social media: Photographs, comments, location data, and activity posts may later be taken out of context. It is generally safer not to discuss the collision or your injuries publicly while a claim is being investigated.
10. Speak with a Colorado personal injury attorney promptly and before communicating further with any insurance company: A lawyer can investigate potential defendants, request available reports and footage, send evidence-preservation demands, review recall and software information, and help protect you from pressure to accept a settlement before the full extent of your injuries can be known. A lawyer can also help you identify all relevant insurance available to you, including your own, and help you navigate the complicated landscape of insurance claims, underpayments, and coverage issues.

A collision involving a Waymo that causes injuries is many cases in one. It is a personal injury case, but it may also be a broader negligence case, a technology case, and a product case. The sooner the investigation begins, the better the opportunity to determine what the vehicle detected, what it decided, and why the crash occurred.

Ready Law represents people injured in motor vehicle crashes throughout Colorado. If you were injured in a collision involving a Waymo or another autonomous vehicle, contact Ready Law at 303-339-8846 to discuss what happened and learn about your options. Get Ready.