Waymo Accidents: What Texas Drivers Need To Know

Waymo accidents are a growing concern for Texas drivers as autonomous vehicles (AVs) continue expanding into major cities across the state. With more self-driving cars operating on roads in Austin, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, understanding how these incidents happen—and what they mean for everyday drivers—is more important than ever.

Reports compiled by safety researchers and legal analysts show that AVs still struggle with unpredictable traffic conditions. Rapid lane changes and sudden stops are common on Texas roads, making the topic especially relevant for local motorists.

As the rollout of fully autonomous vehicles increases statewide, Texas drivers need to know how Waymo car accidents occur, how many have been reported, and what to do if they’re involved in one. This guide breaks down everything you need to know, including crash trends, safety data, legal considerations, and where AVs are operating across Texas.

Understanding Waymo & Its Expansion Across Texas

Waymo is one of the largest AV companies in the U.S., using a blend of LiDAR sensors, radar, high-definition mapping, and machine learning to navigate public streets without a human driver. Texas has become a major testing and deployment hub for this technology thanks to permissive state laws, tech-friendly infrastructure, and support from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

Waymo’s expansion plans include key regions across Texas:

• Austin — One of the earliest and most active testing sites
• Houston — New testing corridors and commercial partnerships
• Dallas — Expansion zones tied to growing tech investment
• San Antonio — Emerging AV research and pilot programs

Why Texans Should Care About AV Expansion

With its 10-year, $104 billion commitment to new roadway projects, TxDOT invites AV companies to research and pilot emerging self-driving technologies in Texas. But although AVs are designed to reduce collisions, real-world driving in Texas introduces unique challenges that AV systems can’t yet predict:

• Congested highways and rapid traffic shifts
• Complex frontage roads
• Multi-lane interchanges
• Heavy commercial traffic in major metros
• Frequent construction zones

These factors influence how self-driving cars interact with human drivers—and why Texas motorists should stay informed as AV fleets continue to grow statewide.

What We Know About Waymo Accidents

Autonomous systems tend to drive conservatively, brake early, and follow strict lane discipline, which can sometimes confuse or surprise nearby drivers. Publicly available Waymo data shows that most of their self-driving car accident cases occur at low speeds and often involve human-driven cars striking the AV—not the other way around.

Types of Waymo Crashes Reported

Current reporting—pulled from published legal reviews, safety studies, and investigative summaries—shows recurring crash patterns among Waymo vehicles:

• Rear-end impacts when human drivers misjudge AV braking
• Side swipes during lane merges
• Intersection contact when other drivers fail to yield
• Obstruction or debris detection issues
• Sensor misreads in dense or unpredictable environments

Waymo and other AV manufacturers must report certain crashes to federal regulators through the Standing General Order from NHTSA, which tracks Level 3–5 AV incidents nationwide. This reporting system requires companies to share collisions involving airbag deployment, property damage, or injury. While not every event becomes public, the system provides useful visibility into developing crash trends.

Legal and safety researchers note that many incidents result from a combination of human error and AV response limitations, especially in mixed-traffic environments where driver behavior is harder for sensory systems to predict.

How Many Accidents Has Waymo Had?

Accident counts fluctuate based on new deployments, updated federal reporting, and company-released safety summaries. Based on analyses from accident law firms and NCSA data collection systems, the number of documented Waymo accidents continues to rise gradually as the fleet expands.

However, the true total can be difficult to confirm because:

• Not all states require identical reporting
• Federal data updates in cycles
• AV companies release selective safety reports
• Crash classifications vary (e.g., supervised vs. fully driverless)

Common Patterns in Waymo Crash Data

Although exact numbers change over time, analyses consistently identify similar crash categories:

These patterns largely reflect the behavior of other motorists interacting with autonomous vehicles—not reckless driving by the AV itself.

Why This Matters for Texas Drivers

Even though AV presence varies across cities, deployment is expanding statewide. Coupled with the fact that Texas drivers are consistently ranked among the nation’s most aggressive and accident-prone, the risks associated with AV-human interactions deserve attention.

Understanding how many accidents Waymo has had—and how they typically occur—helps drivers anticipate the unique behavior of AVs on Texas roads.

Waymo & AV Operations in Texas

Texas has become one of the most welcoming states in the country for AV companies to launch and expand their fleets. Under current state law, fully driverless vehicles do not need a human safety operator as long as they meet federal motor vehicle standards. Texas also does not require special permits for AV testing or deployment—unlike stricter states such as California or Nevada.

This legal environment, combined with Texas’s strong technology sector and supportive state agencies, has helped accelerate autonomous testing across major corridors. One of the most useful tools for tracking AV activity is the TxDOT map of Autonomous Vehicle Deployments, which shows active and developing routes statewide.

Active or Growing Texas AV Cities

Waymo and other autonomous fleets currently operate or conduct testing in:

• Austin — A leading AV testing hub with sustained rollout
• Houston — Expanding test zones tied to commercial AV partnerships
• Dallas–Fort Worth — Strong growth due to tech investment
• San Antonio — Ongoing AV testing and university-driven research

How Texas Road Design Impacts AV Behavior

Texas roads introduce unique conditions that autonomous systems must navigate, such as:

• High-speed merges on interstates
• Complex frontage roads and feeder lanes
• Dense urban congestion in downtown districts
• Frequent and unpredictable construction
• Varying lane widths between cities and rural stretches

Major highways frequently cited in AV performance evaluations include I-35, I-10, I-45, US-183, and regional beltways. These roads often feature fast-moving traffic, multi-lane intersections, and complex interchange structures that challenge onboard sensors and predictive systems.

Why Waymo & Other AVs Can Still Cause Crashes

Although AVs are designed to minimize collisions, they are not immune to accidents. In many cases, Waymo accidents occur when human drivers misinterpret AV behavior or react unpredictably. AVs also face limitations when operating in dynamic or challenging driving environments.

Human-Caused vs. System-Limitation Incidents

Human Driver Impacts:

• Following too closely
• Misjudging AV braking distances
• Aggressive lane weaving
• Failing to yield at intersections
• Distracted driving in congested areas

Autonomous System Limitations:

• Sensor difficulty during heavy Texas rain
• Trouble interpreting temporary work zones
• Challenges with fast lane changes on freeways
• Misidentifying roadside debris
• Inconsistent behavior in multi-level interchanges

Texas-specific examples include construction-heavy zones along I-35 and I-10, unpredictable stop-and-go traffic near major metro hubs, and complicated multi-level interchanges such as the Dallas High Five and San Antonio’s I-10/I-410 stack. Each adds additional variables that AV systems must process in real time.

These factors don’t make AVs unsafe—rather, they highlight the complexities of blending autonomous and human-driven vehicles on roads not originally designed for AI navigation.

What To Do If You’re Involved in a Waymo Accident in Texas

Self-driving car accidents require more documentation than a standard car crash. Follow these steps to protect yourself legally and medically:

1. Call 911 immediately and request a crash report.
2. Move to safety and document the scene thoroughly.
3. Photograph the Waymo vehicle, including its sensors, LiDAR equipment, and any damage.
4. Identify the vehicle’s operating mode—fully driverless or with a safety operator on board.
5. Do not speak with corporate representatives or anyone claiming to be from the AV company.
6. Collect witness statements and contact information.
7. Seek medical attention, even if you feel fine.

Contact a Texas accident attorney who understands AV claims.

Who Is Liable in a Waymo or Self-Driving Car Accident in Texas?

Liability in a Waymo car accident is rarely as simple as one driver versus another. Because self-driving systems rely on hardware, software, and remote monitoring, several different parties may share responsibility for a crash.

Depending on the facts, potentially liable parties can include:

• Waymo, or the AV company operating and maintaining the vehicle
• Third-party software developers who design or update the autonomous driving stack
• Sensor and component manufacturers whose parts may malfunction
• A human safety operator, if one was present and failed to take control
• Other negligent motorists who caused or worsened the collision

Texas law allows injury victims to pursue claims based on negligence (careless driving or monitoring) and, in some cases, product liability (unsafe design, manufacturing defects, or failure to warn). In AV cases, both theories may be on the table.

One of the most important steps in building a Waymo or self-driving car accident claim is securing the vehicle’s internal data and event logs, which can show:

• The AV’s speed and following distance
• When the system braked or attempted to steer away
• What the sensors “saw” in the moments before impact
• Whether any system errors or warnings were triggered

Without that data, it is much harder to pinpoint what went wrong and who should be held accountable. An experienced car accident attorney can move quickly to preserve this evidence before it is lost, overwritten, or limited by corporate policies.

How a Texas Waymo Accident Lawyer Can Help

AV claims are different from everyday fender-benders. They often involve large corporations, complex insurance structures, and engineering questions that require expert analysis. A Texas Waymo accident lawyer can help level the playing field.

A skilled AV attorney can:

• Preserve and subpoena AV data logs and telemetry, including braking, steering, and sensor feeds
• Communicate with insurance carriers and corporate defense teams, so you don’t have to deal with them alone
• Work with crash reconstruction and technology experts to explain what the car and its systems actually did
• Identify gaps or failures in AV hardware, software, mapping, or safety policies
• Pursue full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, future care, pain and suffering, and property damage

AK Law Firm represents injured people across major metro areas, with top-rated car accident attorneys in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. No matter where your Waymo accident happened in Texas, a lawyer who understands this technology can review your case and explain your next steps.

If you were hurt in a crash with a self-driving vehicle, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Call AK Law Firm to schedule a free consultation and talk through your options with a Texas self-driving accident attorney.

Waymo Accident FAQ

Are Waymo cars allowed to operate without a human driver in Texas?

Yes. Texas law allows fully driverless vehicles to operate on public roads as long as they comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards and carry the required insurance. The state has also actively encouraged AV development, which is one reason companies like Waymo continue expanding in Texas.

How many Waymo accidents have occurred?

Public reporting and legal analyses document hundreds of Waymo accidents as the company has expanded its service areas and logged millions of miles.

Those totals change as new incidents are reported and older data is updated, and they are tracked in part through federal systems like the NCSA data collection systems and the Standing General Order from NHTSA for Level 3–5 vehicles.

Are Waymo cars safer than human drivers?

Early studies and safety summaries suggest that self-driving systems may reduce certain types of crashes, especially those caused by speeding, distraction, or intoxication. At the same time, AVs can struggle with rare, unusual, or highly complex situations that human drivers sometimes handle more intuitively.

In practice, this means AVs may be safer in predictable conditions. However, they may still be vulnerable in chaotic environments, such as sudden construction changes, unusual debris, or unpredictable driver behavior common on busy Texas roads.

Who pays for damages after a Waymo accident?

Responsibility for damages depends on who was at fault and how the crash occurred. In a Waymo accident, potential payers might include the AV company’s insurance coverage, a negligent human driver who struck the vehicle or caused a chain-reaction crash, or a parts or sensor manufacturer in a defect case.

Because these crashes involve specialized data, corporate policies, and overlapping insurance layers, it’s risky to assume that a quick settlement offer is fair. A Texas self-driving accident lawyer can review the details and help determine who should be responsible for your medical bills, lost income, and other losses.

Should I hire a lawyer after a Waymo accident?

Yes, these cases may involve federal reporting rules, corporate risk management teams, and defense lawyers. Having a lawyer on your side means someone is focused on protecting your rights, preserving key evidence, and pushing back against low settlement offers.