Driverless Robotaxi Struck a Fire Truck in San Francisco, Injuring Passenger
San Francisco, CA (August 18, 2023) – A passenger sustained injuries after a driverless robotaxi struck a fire truck in San Francisco. According to CBS News, the crash happened around 10:15 p.m. on Thursday.
A passenger sustained injuries after a driverless robotaxi struck a fire truck in San Francisco.
A driverless robotaxi crashed with a fire truck on Thursday evening, causing injuries to the passenger of the autonomous vehicle.
According to a firefighter at the scene, the Cruise driverless taxi failed to yield to the fire truck en route to a nearby emergency call.
The impact resulted in the fire truck colliding with the side of the car, triggering the deployment of the vehicle’s airbags. A female passenger seated in the back of the robotaxi sustained a minor head injury.
Moreover, in a statement released on Friday, Cruise mentioned that the authorities transported the injured passenger to a hospital by ambulance to evaluate non-severe injuries.
Cruise also confirmed that they are actively investigating the collision and communicating with city officials regarding the incident.
Moreover, this collision occurred a day after the City of San Francisco filed a motion urging the state to halt the expanded driverless car operations of both Cruise and Waymo. The move was motivated by concerns about these autonomous vehicles causing traffic disruptions and interfering with emergency responders.
Notably, a day after Cruise and Waymo received authorization for their expanded operations, Cruise vehicles brought traffic to a standstill in the North Beach neighborhood during the Outside Lands Music Festival. This incident saw around ten disabled cars obstructing traffic on Vallejo Street near Grant Avenue on a bustling Friday evening.
Furthermore, San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin said, “They should take a time-out and a pause until they’ve perfected this technology in a way where people don’t end up burning to death or getting injured.”
After the city officials’ call for the pause in expanded robotaxi services, Waymo responded with a statement, expressing their full support for the California Public Utilities Commission’s decision to authorize Waymo to charge fares for driverless rides.
J&M Tip: If you are involved in a self-driving car accident, you may file a claim against the car company, depending on the circumstances of the crash. In such cases, you must have sufficient evidence to prove their negligence in the collision.
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Various circumstances of the car accident can pinpoint the liability of damages. In some instances, thorough investigations can reveal careless behavior. This can include the simple act of recklessly turning or cutting in front of another vehicle. In terms of determining who is at fault for an accident, this can be defined by common law. Any Sacramento or Los Angeles car accident lawyer recognizes that fault has four basic levels:
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However, different state laws can have variations of applicable traffic laws. For example, in some states, multiple drivers can be liable for an accident. This is why thorough investigations are important after a car accident. Having a strong case showing the liability of the at-fault party can help guarantee your compensation. Likewise, a car crash attorney can also help you determine all your options, so you can fully recover from the accident. Learn more about car accident lawyers in California here. You can also check out these resources about wrongful death attorneys and personal injury lawyers.
Source(s):
- https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/cruise-driverless-car-crash-san-francisco-fire-truck/
- https://abc7news.com/cruise-driverless-car-sffd-fire-truck-accident/13666936/
- https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/18/cruise-self-driving-car-in-san-francisco-fire-truck-crash-one-injured.html
Jacoby & Meyers does not represent any of the parties mentioned above. Nevertheless, we sympathize with the victim and their family.
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