Waymo began as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009. Beginning with modest goals of completing 100-mile routes, Waymo vehicles have now completed hundreds of thousands of miles using self-driving technology. Now Waymo and Volvo have announced a partnership to integrate Waymo software into a Volvo vehicle designed for ride-sharing.

According to the companies, the first phase will be to “work together to integrate the Waymo Driver into an all-new mobility-focused electric vehicle platform for ride-hailing services.” The new vehicle platform claims to be capable of Level 4 autonomy. Level 4 is considered high automation, with vehicles capable of performing all driving functions under certain conditions by the driver may have the option to control the vehicle. 

Waymo has partnered with a number of other automobile companies, including Fiat Chrysler, Jaguar Landrover, Renault, and Nissan. These partnerships include supplying the vehicles with Waymo's self-driving car technology for research and for consumer vehicles. Additionally, Volvo has already supplied special Volvo XC90s to Uber Advanced Technologies Group. 

Autonomous vehicles are being tested with ride-sharing companies like Lyft, including in Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, and Singapore. These test programs still have an operator in the vehicle to act as a back-up in case something goes wrong. However, more than 100,000 self-driving rides have already been completed in Las Vegas.

Robotaxi Accident Injuries

According to Volvo's Chief Technology Officer, Henrik Green, “fully autonomous vehicles have the potential to improve road safety to previously unseen levels and to revolutionize the way people live, work and travel.”

However, as with other autonomous vehicles, there will surely be errors and malfunctions in Robotaxis that cause injury to pedestrians, cyclists, other drivers, or even the passenger. When a robotaxi accident does occur, the injury victim may not be sure who was at fault. 

Like other car accidents, accidents involving rideshare companies often involve each party and insurance company pointing fingers at the other. In a robotaxi accident, the ride-hailing company may try to blame another driver while the accident victim blames the software or automation technology. 

It is important to have someone on your side if you are injured in any type of auto accident, including a rideshare accident or other Denver vehicle crashes. Your personal injury attorney will be able to investigate the accident, including reviewing vehicle data, recordings, and show whether the vehicle software or hardware was to blame. If an autonomous vehicle caused the accident, the company may be liable for damages. 

Under Colorado product defect laws, the injury victim generally does not need to show that any specific person was negligent. The injury victim may be able to hold the manufacturer strictly liable by showing that the product was defective and the defective product caused the injury. 

Colorado Ride-Hailing Accident Attorney 

The attorneys at accidentdenver.com have successfully represented injury victims who were involved in ride-hailing Lyft or Uber accidents in Denver, Boulder, Aurora, and throughout Colorado. Our experienced attorneys will fight to get the maximum compensation available for your injuries. Contact us today for a free consultation.