The quiet hum of a robotaxi ride can quickly turn south. You felt the jolt, heard the crunch, and now you’re part of a robotaxi accident. Taking certain steps helps you protect yourself and build a potential claim for compensation.
A Chicago robotaxi accident lawyer helps guide the process and gives you the best chance at full compensation.
6 Steps To Take After a Robotaxi Accident
If you've already seen a doctor, you're on the right track. Now it's time to build a solid foundation for the rest of your case. The more you prepare now, the easier it is for your legal team to take over later.
1. Review Your Own Evidence
Start by going through any photos or videos you took. Look for clear images of the robotaxi, the damage to any vehicles, nearby road signs, and your injuries.
Take pictures of how your injuries look now as well—bruises, swelling, or any visible marks. These can fade quickly, and having a record helps document your recovery.
2. Check for Video Footage
If you remember any stores nearby, check whether they might have had security cameras pointing toward the street. A corner bodega might have caught the crash on tape. Your lawyer can request that footage if you know it exists, but it helps to identify possible sources early.
Some intersections in Chicago have city-owned cameras that record traffic, and those might have picked up the crash if it happened in a public area.
3. Document the Accident
Next, write out everything you remember. Don’t wait—details fade fast. Try to describe where you were going, what time it was, and what traffic was like. Think about what the robotaxi did in the seconds before the crash.
Did it stop too fast? Did it enter an intersection or change lanes without warning? Did another driver swerve or block its path? If something stands out (like strange weather, road work, or flashing lights), make a note of that too.
Anything you felt, saw, or heard might be useful later, even if it seems minor now.
4. Get Organized
Now’s also the time to get organized. Put together the names and phone numbers of anyone you spoke with at the scene. That includes passengers in the robotaxi, other drivers involved, bystanders who came over to help, or employees from nearby shops who saw what happened.
If a police officer responded, get the official crash report. You can usually request it online or by phone from the local station that handled the scene.
5. Save the Paper Trail
Start tracking every cost associated with the crash. Save your medical bills, even if insurance already paid some of them. Hold onto receipts for anything you needed to buy because of the crash—like medication, braces, crutches, or transportation to follow-up visits.
If you missed work, ask your employer to document the dates. If you work for yourself or rely on tips or gigs, write down what you lost. These records matter more than you think. They paint a picture of how the accident changed your life and support the value of your case.
6. Contact a Lawyer
Finally, if someone from the Robotaxi company contacts you, don’t engage with them. Seek legal guidance and let a lawyer speak for you.
Adjusters may seem friendly, but their goal is to protect the company. They might ask how you're feeling or suggest a quick settlement. These tactics are meant to get you to talk, agree, or accept less than what you're owed.
Let a legal team take over the hard parts. The robotaxi company will have lawyers and insurance adjusters. You need someone on your side who knows how these claims work.
What Negligence Means in a Robotaxi Accident
Negligence means someone made a mistake by acting carelessly and then caused harm. In a robotaxi accident, that mistake might come from various people or entities.
Negligence is the reason you’re allowed to seek payment after a crash; it’s what turns an accident into a case. Without proving negligence, there’s no clear path to compensation.
That’s why your legal team gathers reports, footage, and expert input: to show where the mistake happened and who should pay for it.
The Four Elements of Negligence
Your lawyer must show four key things to prove negligence in a robotaxi accident. First is the duty of care, which means the robotaxi company (or another party) had a legal responsibility to act safely and avoid causing harm.
Second is breach of duty, which means they failed to meet that responsibility. For example, the robotaxi may have run a red light, the company may have skipped a safety check, or another motorist wrecked into you while drunk.
The third element is causation, which connects the careless action to your injury. It’s not enough that someone made a mistake; they have to be the reason you got hurt.
Finally, there are damages. This means you suffered actual harm, like physical injuries, lost income, or emotional stress. Your lawyer uses these four pieces (duty, breach, causation, and damages) to build your case for compensation.
Potential Liable Parties in a Robotaxi Accident
Finding out who is responsible for a robotaxi accident differs from determining the liable parties in a regular car crash. Since there is no human driver to blame, liability becomes more complex.
Here are common parties who may be liable.
- The Robotaxi Company: The company that owns and operates the robotaxi is often responsible, particularly if a problem with its software or safety systems caused the accident.
- The Maker of the Robotaxi: The company that built parts of the robotaxi, such as the self-driving software or other components, might be responsible if a defect in those parts caused the accident.
- Another Driver: A human driver in another vehicle can be at fault if their carelessness caused the collision.
- Combination of Fault: In some cases, multiple parties, such as a faulty robotaxi system and a careless human driver, could share responsibility for the accident.
Potential Compensation After a Robotaxi Accident
A robotaxi accident often causes more than just pain. It can affect your health, job, money, and daily life. The law allows you to seek payment for these losses, called compensation or damages.
The amount depends on how badly you were hurt and how the crash changed your life. Some costs are easy to calculate with bills or receipts. Others reflect the pain or stress you’ve had to deal with.
Here are the main types of compensation you can ask for in a robotaxi case:
- Medical Bills: You can seek payment for hospital visits, surgery, prescriptions, physical therapy, and any future care you might need.
- Lost Wages: If the crash kept you from working, you can claim the paychecks, tips, or freelance income you missed.
- Loss of Future Earnings: If your injuries make it hard to return to your job or lower your earning ability, you may seek compensation for that loss.
- Property Damage: If your car, bicycle, laptop, or other personal property was damaged in the wreck, you may seek payment.
- Pain and Suffering: The law recognizes how much the crash hurt you physically and emotionally, including lasting pain or anxiety.
- Disability or Permanent Injury: If the accident left you with long-term damage or limited movement, that can raise the value of your case.
- Out-of-Pocket Costs: You can recover money spent on crutches, medical devices, transportation to appointments, or other daily needs caused by the crash.
- Loss of Enjoyment: If your injury stops you from doing things you once loved, like sports, hobbies, or playing with your kids, that loss matters. Compensation covers the loss of enjoyment of life.
Every case is different, and no two payouts are the same. But if a robotaxi crash disrupted your life, you have the right to ask for full and fair compensation. A lawyer helps calculate these damages so nothing gets left out.
How a Lawyer Helps With a Robotaxi Accident
A robotaxi accident is unlike a typical car crash since the rules are new and complex. A lawyer helps you through this process.
Investigating the Robotaxi Accident
A lawyer knows how to investigate a robotaxi accident. They gather all the necessary evidence, including police reports, witness statements, and photos. They also look for data from the robotaxi itself.
Robotaxis records a lot of information, and this data shows what the robotaxis was doing before the crash. This investigation helps build your case.
Understanding Complex Laws
Laws about robotaxis are still developing, but attorneys stay current on these new and changing rules. They know how these laws apply to your robotaxi accident and how to determine who might be responsible. This knowledge helps you get fair treatment under the law.
Calculating Your Losses
A robotaxi accident can cause many losses, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A lawyer helps determine how much compensation is fair to cover your damages due to the wreck.
Dealing With Robotaxi Companies and Insurance
Robotaxi companies and their insurance companies have legal teams that work to protect their interests. A personal injury lawyer protects your interests. They talk to these companies for you, advocating on your behalf.
Your lawyer helps guard you from saying or doing anything that may harm your case. They handle all communications, including the settlement negotiations.
Fighting for Your Rights
Sometimes, robotaxi companies or their insurers don’t offer a fair settlement. A personal injury lawyer fights for your rights and can take your case to court. They’ll present your case to a judge and argue for fair compensation.
FAQ for What To Do If You’re in a Robotaxi Accident
What Information Does a Robotaxi Collect During a Crash?
Robotaxis record comprehensive crash data, including speed, braking, steering, and sensor readings (lidar, radar, cameras). Video footage from onboard cameras provides visual records.
This data is vital for reconstructing events, determining fault, and understanding vehicle behavior.
Does My Own Car Insurance Cover a Robotaxi Accident?
Your policy terms will dictate what types of incidents are covered, and the specifics of the accident, such as whether you were a passenger, another driver, or a pedestrian, will also influence coverage.
Furthermore, who is determined to be at fault for the accident plays a significant role. A lawyer can examine your policy for you and see which policy applies.
How Long Do I Have To File a Claim After a Robotaxi Accident?
Illinois’ statute of limitations for personal injury claims is usually two years. This is a strict legal deadline that varies significantly from state to state and for different types of claims (e.g., personal injury, property damage).
Missing this deadline can result in the loss of your right to seek compensation. Given the complexities of robotaxi accidents and the varying legal landscapes, consult with a legal professional to ensure your claim is filed within the appropriate timeframe.
Can a Pedestrian Claim Injuries From a Robotaxi Accident?
Absolutely: If a robotaxi is involved in an accident that results in injuries to a pedestrian, the pedestrian has the legal right to pursue a claim for compensation. This can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages incurred due to the accident.
Similar to other types of vehicle-pedestrian accidents, establishing negligence on the part of the robotaxi or another party is key to a successful claim.
What if the Robotaxi Accident Caused No Visible Damage?
Even in the absence of visible damage to a vehicle or superficial injuries, seek medical attention after any robotaxi accident. Internal injuries, whiplash, or other subtle traumas may not manifest immediately but can lead to significant health issues if left unaddressed.
Similarly, a vehicle may have hidden structural damage that isn’t apparent to the untrained eye. Documenting everything, no matter how minor it seems at the time, is crucial for your health and for any potential future claim.
Never assume that a lack of visible damage means there are no injuries or grounds for a claim.
Get Justice Today
After a robotaxi accident, you need someone in your corner who understands these new and complex cases. LegalRideshare Injury Lawyers will fight to make things right for you. We’ll investigate your claim, build a strong case, and fight to get you the compensation you need.
Contact LegalRideshare Injury Lawyers today at (312) 767-7950 for a free case review.