Phoenix Waymo & Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer

A crash with a self-driving car can leave you hurt and unsure who to even call. There was no driver to trade information with, and the company behind the car has its own insurers and lawyers. You don't have to sort that out alone. Our Phoenix Waymo and self-driving car accident lawyers help people hurt by driverless cars: riders, other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. We find out who may be responsible, move early to ask that the car's recordings be preserved, and deal with the insurers so you can focus on getting better. For other crashes, see our Phoenix car accident lawyer page. Call (480) 359-KENT for a free case review. No fee unless we win.

What to do after a crash with a Waymo or other self-driving car

1. Get safe and call 911. Move out of traffic if you can. Call 911 to report the crash and any injuries, even if the self-driving car seems to have stopped safely.
2. Get medical care the same day. Go to an ER, urgent care, or your doctor, even if you feel okay. Some injuries don't show up right away. A same-day visit also ties your injuries to the crash.
3. Photograph the self-driving car. Get the whole car, the damage, the license plate, any fleet number or name on the car, and the sensors on the roof. Then photograph the scene, traffic signals, the road, and your injuries.
4. Find witnesses. Get names and phone numbers from anyone who saw the crash. With no driver in the car, a witness can matter even more.
5. Get the police report number. Phoenix Police generally handles crashes on city streets. Arizona DPS generally handles state highways and freeways. Ask the officer for the self-driving car's owner and insurance information, and write down the officer's name and the report number.
6. If you were a rider, save the trip. Screenshot the trip in the app: pickup and drop-off, time, route, receipt and any messages. Contact the company's rider support and screenshot what you send and any replies.
7. Talk to us before you give any insurer a recorded statement. The company's insurer, the other driver's insurer, or your own may call soon. Before you give a recorded statement to any insurer, call us at (480) 359-KENT.

Where Waymo drives in the Phoenix area

Waymo has run a driverless ride-hailing service in metro Phoenix for years. Waymo says its Metro Phoenix territory includes downtown Phoenix, Scottsdale, and parts of Tempe, Mesa and Chandler. In August 2026, Waymo added Gilbert and more of Chandler, bringing its Valley service area to more than 350 square miles (Axios Phoenix, Aug. 13, 2026). Waymo cars also pick up and drop off at Phoenix Sky Harbor's Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 rideshare curbs, 24 hours a day (Phoenix Sky Harbor).

That puts driverless cars on the same busy streets where many of our crash cases happen: downtown and central Phoenix, Tempe near Arizona State University, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, and the roads around the airport. Our office is in the Ahwatukee area of Phoenix, a short drive from all of them.

Arizona laws on self-driving cars

The self-driving system is treated as the driver

Arizona allows fully driverless cars on public roads, with conditions. Self-driving cars are subject to all applicable federal and state laws (A.R.S. § 28-9702(A)). When the self-driving system is engaged, Arizona treats the system as the driver or operator for the purpose of deciding whether the car followed traffic and motor vehicle laws (A.R.S. § 28-9702(E)).

What the company must tell the state

Before a self-driving car may operate on public roads without a human driver, the person or company putting it on the road must file a law enforcement interaction plan and a written statement with the state. In that statement, the company acknowledges that the car can follow Arizona's traffic and safety laws, that the company may be cited if the car fails to, and that the car meets title, registration, licensing and insurance requirements (A.R.S. § 28-9702(C)). Ride-hailing networks that use self-driving cars may operate under Arizona's ride-hailing laws, except for the parts that only make sense for a human driver (A.R.S. § 28-9704).

Who may be responsible

These rules don't by themselves decide who pays for your injuries. That depends on the facts of your crash. Depending on what happened, responsibility may fall on the company that operates the self-driving car, another human driver who caused or helped cause the crash, or more than one party. We look at the evidence, including any recordings and data, to sort out who may be liable and which insurance may apply.

More than one policy may apply

Besides the self-driving car company's coverage, a crash can involve the other driver's insurance and your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. Read our guide to uninsured motorist claims in Arizona, or see our UM/UIM and insurance disputes page.

Filing deadlines

Most injury lawsuits in Arizona must generally be filed within 2 years (A.R.S. § 12-542). Learn more about Arizona's statute of limitations for injury claims. If a city, county, or state vehicle or employee was involved, the deadlines are much shorter. A notice of claim is generally required within 180 days (A.R.S. § 12-821.01), and the lawsuit generally must be filed within 1 year (A.R.S. § 12-821). Recordings and data can also be harder to get as time passes, so don't wait to call.

Shared fault

Arizona uses pure comparative fault. If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. In most cases, your claim is not barred just because you share some of the fault (A.R.S. § 12-2505). See how comparative fault works in Arizona. The company may use its own recordings to argue that you caused the crash. We look at that evidence closely and push back.

How police handle a crash with a driverless car

The Arizona Department of Public Safety's law enforcement protocol for fully autonomous vehicles (issued May 14, 2018) says crashes involving driverless cars are investigated like other crashes under Arizona law. Under that protocol:

• The officer notes the self-driving car's owner, contact, registration and insurance information on the Arizona Crash Report.
• If anyone was hurt or any vehicle or property was damaged, the officer gives the owner's name, address and insurance information to the other drivers, the injured people, and the owners of damaged property.
• If the self-driving car broke a traffic law and caused the crash, the officer may cite the car's registered owner.

So even with no one behind the wheel, you should be able to get the information you need from the officer and the crash report. Phoenix Police usually handle crashes on city streets. You can request the report online through the city's public safety portal. The city says some online requests need an upfront $5.00 portal convenience fee, which is refunded if the charge is less, and it emails you when the report is ready. Arizona DPS usually handles freeway and state highway crashes. DPS reports are requested through the DPS Public Services Portal (psp.azdps.gov), and DPS lists a $9.00 fee for an emailed collision report. See our step-by-step guide: how to get a Phoenix police accident report. Once you hire us, we request the report for you.

Common types of self-driving car crash cases

You were riding in a Waymo

Riders can be hurt when another driver hits the self-driving car, or when the self-driving car makes a mistake. You may have a claim against the other driver, the company that operates the car, or both. Your own UM/UIM coverage may also apply.

Your car was hit by a self-driving car

Drivers and passengers in another car may have a claim when a self-driving car causes or helps cause the crash. If you also drive for Uber or Lyft, see our Uber and Lyft accident page.

You were walking or biking

Pedestrians and cyclists have little protection in a crash, and injuries can be serious. See our pages on pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents.

A human driver caused the crash with a self-driving car

Many crashes involving self-driving cars also involve a human driver. If another driver caused the crash, that driver's insurance may be the main claim. The self-driving car's recordings may help show what that driver did.

Phoenix trauma centers

If you were badly hurt, you may have been taken to one of Phoenix's state-designated Level I trauma centers (Arizona Department of Health Services trauma center list, December 2025):

• Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix, 1111 E. McDowell Road
• St. Joseph's Hospital & Medical Center, 350 W. Thomas Road
• Valleywise Health, 2601 E. Roosevelt Street
• HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center, 250 E. Dunlap Avenue
• HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center, 19829 N. 27th Avenue
• Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E. Thomas Road (Level I pediatric trauma center)

You don't have to leave your bed to talk to us. We can come to you at the hospital or at home, or talk by phone or video.

Evidence and damages

Evidence we gather

Self-driving car cases can turn on data held by the company. We work to gather:

• Camera recordings and other sensor data from the self-driving car, when available
• Trip records, if you were a rider
• The police report, photos, witness statements, and medical records
• Crash reports the company filed with NHTSA

Companies running self-driving cars must report many crashes to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under its Standing General Order, which applies when the self-driving system was in use within 30 seconds of a crash that caused certain injuries or damage. NHTSA publishes the reports with personal information removed (NHTSA). We move early to ask that recordings and company records be preserved, before they can be lost. When a case needs them, we hire crash reconstruction experts and other expert witnesses to explain how the crash happened.

Damages you may be able to recover

Depending on your case, you may be able to recover:

• Medical bills for your care so far
• Future care you may need
• Lost wages from missed work
• Lost earning capacity if your injuries limit the work you can do
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage to your vehicle or belongings

What you may recover depends on your injuries, the facts, and the insurance available.

How Kent Law handles self-driving car crash cases

Big companies have adjusters and lawyers working to pay you as little as possible. We fight just as hard for you, for every penny of compensation you deserve. We don't let them lowball you, and we're ready to take your case to trial if that's what it takes.

Kent Law recovers millions of dollars for injured clients every year. We have handled thousands of injury cases. We handle negotiated settlements, mediation, arbitration and trial. We take on denied and stalled claims, including cases already at the litigation stage. Some insurance adjusters and defense attorneys have hired Kent Law for their own injury cases. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Founding Partner Adam C. Kent has practiced in Arizona since 2006. He started his career as a prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office and founded Kent Law in 2011. Managing Attorney Jonathan Henry brings extensive trial experience to cases that head toward a courtroom. Supervising Attorney Andrew Shaver and attorney Angela Sheppard round out our team.

We have one office, in the Ahwatukee area of Phoenix. We usually meet at our office. If you can't get here, we can come to you at the hospital or at home, or meet by phone or video.

Talk with a Phoenix Waymo accident lawyer

Kent Law is not affiliated with Waymo or any self-driving car company. We represent injured people. If you were hurt in a crash with a Waymo or another self-driving car in Phoenix or anywhere in the Valley, call (480) 359-KENT. Free case review. No fee unless we win.

Se habla español. Interpretation is always available.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different.