San Jose: Autonomous Vehicle & Robotics Injury Legal Resources

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San Jose is Silicon Valley’s largest city and the birthplace of autonomous vehicle technology. As home to Waymo’s headquarters in nearby Mountain View and the first California airport with commercial robotaxi service, San Jose represents the cutting edge of self-driving technology—and the liability questions that follow.

The Robotaxi Landscape in San Jose

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San Jose hosts the most comprehensive robotaxi deployment in Silicon Valley. With Waymo’s May 2025 commercial service approval, freeway operations launched in November 2025, and 24/7 airport service at San Jose Mineta International, the city presents unique legal considerations for residents, visitors, and accident victims.

Waymo Commercial Service

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On May 19, 2025, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved Waymo’s expansion into San Jose—making it the first driverless car company authorized to offer paid rides in Silicon Valley’s largest city.

Key milestones in San Jose:

• May 2025: CPUC approved commercial robotaxi service throughout San Jose and the South Bay
• September 2025: San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) approved Waymo operations
• November 2025: Commercial airport service and freeway operations launched
• 260 square miles of unified service area across the Peninsula to San Jose
• Over 800 robotaxis operating in the Bay Area fleet

San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)

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San Jose Mineta International Airport became the first commercial airport in California—and the second in the world—to offer fully autonomous ride-hailing service.

Airport Service Details:

• 24/7 curbside service at both Terminal A and Terminal B Ground Transportation Centers
• Passengers can hail Waymo via the app immediately upon landing
• Initial service area includes Central San Jose (Santana Row, Westfield Valley Fair, Rosemary Gardens, Newhall, College Park, Cory neighborhoods)
• Service expanding to downtown San Jose and broader coverage over time

Freeway Operations

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In November 2025, Waymo became the first U.S. company to offer fully autonomous freeway rides to paying passengers—no human driver inside.

Freeway Service:

• Operates on Highway 101, Interstate 280, and other Bay Area freeways
• Speeds up to 65 mph (occasionally 68 mph following traffic flow)
• Reduces ride times by up to 50% compared to surface street routes
• Connects San Jose service area to San Francisco seamlessly

March 2025 Silicon Valley Expansion

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In March 2025, Waymo expanded into a 27-square-mile area covering:

• Mountain View (Waymo headquarters, Google campus, Shoreline Amphitheater)
• Palo Alto (excluding Stanford University campus)
• Los Altos
• Parts of Sunnyvale
• Multiple Caltrain station connections

This expansion returned Waymo to its roots, where autonomous vehicle prototypes first tested in 2009.

Major Events Coming in 2026

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San Jose and Santa Clara County will host two of the largest sporting events in the world, creating unprecedented demand for autonomous transportation—and potential incidents.

Super Bowl LX (February 8, 2026)

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• Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara hosts Super Bowl LX
• Second Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium (after Super Bowl 50 in 2016)
• Super Bowl Opening Night at San Jose Convention Center (February 2, 2026)
• Pro Bowl Games moving to Super Bowl Week in Bay Area for first time
• Expected surge in robotaxi demand for airport arrivals and event transportation

FIFA World Cup 2026 (June-July 2026)

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• Levi’s Stadium hosting six World Cup matches
• Five group stage matches: June 13, 16, 19, 22, 25
• One round of 32 match: July 1
• Stadium renamed “San Francisco Bay Area Stadium” during tournament
• International visitors likely to use autonomous transportation services

These events will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Santa Clara County, many relying on robotaxi services for transportation—increasing both the number of rides and potential incident rates.

California Legal Framework

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California has one of the most developed regulatory frameworks for autonomous vehicles in the country. San Jose residents benefit from—and are subject to—this comprehensive structure.

Multiple Regulatory Bodies

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• California DMV oversees testing and deployment permits
• California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regulates commercial passenger services
• NHTSA maintains federal oversight and recall authority
• San Jose Department of Transportation coordinates local infrastructure

Liability Framework

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California applies strict product liability principles to defective products, including autonomous vehicles:

Design Defects:

• California allows both consumer expectations and risk-utility tests
• Plaintiffs can prove defect by showing the product failed to perform as safely as an ordinary consumer would expect

Manufacturing Defects:

• Automatic liability for units that deviate from intended design

Failure to Warn:

• Liability for inadequate warnings about known risks or limitations

AB 1777: Manufacturer Liability

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California’s AB 1777 (September 2024) clarifies liability for autonomous vehicle violations:

• Manufacturers—not drivers—are responsible for traffic violations committed by autonomous vehicles operating without a human driver
• Establishes clearer accountability when no human is behind the wheel
• Addresses the legal gap created by fully autonomous operations

Statute of Limitations

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Pure Comparative Fault

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California follows pure comparative fault:

• Recover damages regardless of your fault percentage
• Recovery reduced by your percentage of fault
• Even 99% at-fault plaintiffs can recover 1%
• No threshold bars recovery

Types of Liability Claims

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Autonomous vehicle incidents in San Jose create various claim types, including new categories specific to the region’s operations.

Airport Pickup/Dropoff Incidents

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SJC’s robotaxi service creates unique liability scenarios:

• Ground Transportation Center collisions
• Curbside pickup area accidents
• Passenger loading/unloading injuries
• Interactions with airport shuttles, rideshare vehicles, and taxis
• Premises liability issues involving airport authority

Freeway Accidents

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November 2025’s freeway launch created a new category of high-speed autonomous incidents:

• Highway 101 collisions
• Interstate 280 accidents
• High-speed merging failures
• Multi-vehicle pile-ups involving robotaxis
• Emergency braking incidents at freeway speeds

Urban Street Collisions

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Traditional urban incidents remain common:

• Pedestrian crosswalk accidents
• Cyclist interactions on bike-friendly streets
• Intersection failures
• Parking lot incidents at shopping centers
• Residential neighborhood accidents

Multi-Vehicle Accidents

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Silicon Valley’s heavy traffic creates complex liability scenarios:

• Chain-reaction crashes on Peninsula highways
• Rush hour incidents involving multiple parties
• Construction zone accidents
• Incidents involving commercial vehicles

Property Damage Claims

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Even without personal injuries, robotaxi incidents may cause:

• Vehicle damage to other cars
• Damage to structures, fences, or landscaping
• Damage to bicycles, motorcycles, or scooters
• Business property damage at commercial centers

Who Can Be Held Liable?

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Autonomous vehicle accidents in San Jose often involve multiple potentially responsible parties.

Waymo LLC (Alphabet/Google Subsidiary)

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As the vehicle operator and autonomous system developer, Waymo may face liability for:

• Design defects in the autonomous driving system
• Software failures causing accidents
• Negligent deployment in conditions exceeding system capabilities
• Failure to warn about known limitations
• Inadequate testing before deployment

Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, headquartered in Mountain View.

Vehicle Manufacturers

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The physical vehicles may have defects separate from the autonomous system:

• Jaguar Land Rover (Jaguar I-Pace platform used in 2021/2024 models)
• Zeekr (Geely subsidiary building purpose-built robotaxi vehicles for 2022/2025 models)

Manufacturing defects in brakes, steering, sensors, or other components could contribute to accidents.

Technology Component Suppliers

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Autonomous vehicles rely on components from multiple suppliers:

• LiDAR sensors for environment mapping
• Camera systems for visual perception
• Radar units for object detection
• Computing hardware processing sensor data
• Mapping data providers

Defective components may create supplier liability.

San Jose Mineta International Airport

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For airport-related incidents, the airport authority may bear responsibility:

• Ground Transportation Center design issues
• Inadequate signage or traffic control
• Premises hazards affecting autonomous operations
• Insufficient pedestrian safety measures

Government Entities

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Government entities may bear responsibility for:

• Caltrans for state highway conditions (101, 280)
• City of San Jose for local road maintenance
• Santa Clara County for county road infrastructure
• Defective traffic signals, confusing signage, or dangerous road conditions

Government claims have shorter deadlines—typically 6 months to file an administrative claim before lawsuit.

San Jose-Specific Considerations

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Silicon Valley Traffic Patterns

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San Jose’s unique characteristics affect autonomous systems:

• Tech campus commute patterns creating heavy weekday traffic
• Highway interchanges among the most complex in the state
• Construction zones from ongoing infrastructure projects
• Event traffic for Sharks games, concerts at SAP Center, and tech conferences

Climate Factors

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San Jose’s climate affects autonomous operations:

• Fog affecting sensor visibility, especially near the Bay
• Bright sunlight creating glare issues for cameras
• Heat (summer temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F) stressing systems
• Wildfire smoke affecting visibility and sensor function

Dense Urban-Suburban Mix

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San Jose combines urban and suburban environments:

• Downtown San Jose with dense pedestrian activity
• Shopping centers like Santana Row and Westfield Valley Fair with complex parking
• Residential neighborhoods with varied street patterns
• Industrial areas with heavy vehicle traffic

Multi-Jurisdictional Operations

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Waymo’s service area spans multiple jurisdictions:

• City of San Jose
• Santa Clara (separate city near Levi’s Stadium)
• Mountain View
• Palo Alto
• Los Altos
• Sunnyvale
• Unincorporated Santa Clara County areas

This creates complexity when determining which agencies handle incident reports.

Steps to Take After an AV Incident in San Jose

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1. Ensure Safety

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Move to safety if possible. San Jose’s high-speed arterials and freeway exits can be dangerous for pedestrians.

2. Call 911

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Contact appropriate law enforcement:

• San Jose Police Department for city incidents
• California Highway Patrol for freeway incidents
• Santa Clara Police for incidents near Levi’s Stadium
• Airport Public Safety for SJC incidents

3. Identify the Vehicle

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Note which company operates the vehicle:

• Look for Waymo branding and distinctive sensor arrays
• Waymo vehicles are Jaguar I-Pace SUVs or Zeekr vehicles with roof-mounted LiDAR
• Note vehicle identification numbers and license plates
• Photograph the vehicle from multiple angles

4. Document Everything

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• Photograph all vehicles, damage, and the scene
• Note exact location (street names, freeway mile markers, airport terminal)
• Record time, weather, and lighting conditions
• Note presence of fog, sun glare, or construction
• Get witness contact information
• Identify nearby security cameras (especially at airport and shopping centers)

5. Report the Incident

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• Local law enforcement: File accident report
• California DMV Autonomous Vehicles Branch: Report AV-involved incidents online or at (916) 657-8167
• NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline: (888) 327-4236
• California Public Utilities Commission: For commercial service incidents
• Request copies of all reports filed

6. Preserve Waymo Ride Data

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If you were a passenger:

• Screenshot your ride history in the Waymo app
• Note the exact ride start/end times and locations
• Request incident data through Waymo’s support
• Preserve any communication with Waymo

7. Seek Medical Attention

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Get evaluated promptly even if injuries seem minor. San Jose has excellent medical facilities:

• Regional Medical Center of San Jose (Level II trauma center)
• Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (Level I trauma center)
• O’Connor Hospital
• Kaiser Permanente San Jose
• Good Samaritan Hospital

8. Consult an Attorney

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Autonomous vehicle cases require specialized knowledge:

• Technical understanding of AV systems and data
• Experience with California product liability law
• Resources to access and analyze vehicle data
• Understanding of multi-defendant litigation
• Familiarity with Silicon Valley tech company litigation

San Jose Court System

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Santa Clara County Superior Court

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Most autonomous vehicle injury cases would file in Superior Court:

• Hall of Justice: 191 North First Street, San Jose
• Downtown Superior Court: 191 North First Street, San Jose
• Unlimited civil jurisdiction for cases over $25,000 in damages
• Complex litigation procedures available for major cases

Federal Court

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United States District Court, Northern District of California:

• San Jose Courthouse: 280 South 1st Street, San Jose
• Jurisdiction over federal questions and diversity cases (parties from different states, over $75,000)
• Product liability cases against out-of-state manufacturers may proceed here
• Significant experience with Silicon Valley technology litigation

Local Legal Resources

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• Santa Clara County Bar Association: (408) 287-2557
• California State Bar Lawyer Referral Service: (866) 442-2529
• San Jose Police Department: (408) 277-8900
• California Highway Patrol (San Jose Area): (408) 961-0900
• San Jose Mineta International Airport Public Safety: (408) 392-3460
• California DMV Autonomous Vehicles Branch: (916) 657-8167
• NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline: (888) 327-4236

Related Information

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• Autonomous Vehicles - Comprehensive guide to self-driving car liability
• San Francisco - Bay Area’s other major Waymo market
• Los Angeles - California’s largest AV testing market
• Sacramento - Waymo’s newest California expansion
• San Diego - Southern California AV operations
• Understanding Liability - General product liability principles
• Filing a Claim - Step-by-step guide to the claims process

This information is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Autonomous vehicle law in California continues to evolve as commercial deployment expands. With Super Bowl LX and FIFA World Cup 2026 approaching, San Jose’s robotaxi activity will increase significantly. Consult with qualified legal professionals to understand your rights in specific situations.