Hit by a driverless car? What to do next

Key takeaways

• Accidents involving driverless cars should be handled much like any other crash, prioritising safety, calling emergency services when necessary, and gathering detailed evidence at the scene.

• Because robotaxis have no driver, it’s crucial to record vehicle and operator details, avoid admitting fault, and report the incident promptly to both your insurer and the taxi operator.

• Liability depends on who was at fault, but under the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, responsibility usually shifts to the operator or manufacturer when the car is in authorised self‑driving mode.

Waymo, the US-based driverless car firm, launched its robotaxi pilot service in London earlier this month, with the aim to launch a full service to the public in September.

In its current phase, these driverless taxis are being piloted or at least assisted by a human driver. but once the scheme is up and running, these vehicles will be mostly autonomous.

With potential plans for driverless cars to hit UK streets later this year, now is the time to get educated on how to handle an accident that involves a driverless car.

What should I do if I'm involved in an accident with a driverless car?

For the most part, accidents involving a driverless vehicle should be treated in a similar way to any other kind of accident.

1. Move your vehicle into a safe place, away from the flow of traffic, and come to a complete stop

2. Only leave your vehicle if it is safe to do so and check on the passenger of the other vehicle

3. Call 999 if:
   - If the road is being blocked by a vehicle
   - If there are hazards to other vehicles on the road, like debris
   - If someone is injured or needs medical assistance
   - If there is an immediate danger to life, such as a fire or a passenger trapped in their vehicle
   - If the self-driving vehicle is behaving erratically and poses a serious risk to others

4. Gather as much information as you can, including:
   - The company that owns the vehicle and licence plate number
   - The vehicle's ID number, if it has one (sometimes displayed on the side of the vehicle)
   - Whether the vehicle was self-driving or being operated by a human driver at the time of the incident
   - The time and place of the incident
   - Photographic evidence of any damages or injuries
   - Contact details of witnesses, such as the vehicle passenger
   - Any other useful, contextual information, such as traffic and weather conditions or if there are any operational CCTV cameras in the area that may have recorded the incident

It's possible that the vehicle might not stop immediately or at all - particularly if there doesn't appear to be a safe place for the vehicle to park - but don't panic if that happens or try to stop the vehicle from leaving as you could put yourself or the passenger in danger.

Don't forget that you can call 101 for non-emergency police assistance.

Who should I contact after an accident?

The first people to contact after an incident should be the emergency services if needed.

But afterwards, the next people you contact should be your car insurance provider.

Even if you're involved in only a minor accident, it's important that you inform your insurer. Failing to do so could jeopardise any claims you make on your car insurance later on.

If you're involved in a collision causing damage or injury, the Highway Code states that it's your legal duty to stop and provide your details to the other driver or report to the police within 24 hours.

However, because auto-taxis don't have a driver to swap contact details with, you may need to take a different approach to swapping information.

So, instead, you should contact the company running the taxi service to report the incident to them. This is so they can log the incident and investigate.

If you can't find any contact details on the vehicle, visit the operator's website or app and look for either a customer service online chat service or contact details.

Alicia Hempsted
Insurance Expert

Be careful what you say

When contacting the vehicle's owner, be careful to avoid admitting liability. It's possible that your words could be used against you if you imply that you were at fault, making you liable for any damages.

Instead, keep calm and keep your report as literal as possible, providing only information that's necessary. Tell them when and where the incident occurred, the vehicle details, and your contact information. Let your insurance provider handle the rest.

If possible, it's also a good idea to get as much as possible in writing. This can help you track times and dates of communication and remember exactly what's been said.

Who is liable if I'm hit by a driverless vehicle?

After you report an incident, your vehicle's insurer and the driverless vehicle's operator will investigate the incident to find out who was liable.

If you are find liable, the process is the same is it would be with a human-operated vehicle - your insurer would pay out to the other party to cover damages or injury.

If this happens, you may lose some or all of your no-claims bonus and your premiums will increase at your next policy renewal.

If the other vehicle is at fault, however, liability is passed on to the operator. Under the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, when a vehicle is operating in an authorised self-driving mode, liability for any accident typically shifts from the driver to the vehicle's insurer or manufacturer.

This can also apply if someone is involved in an accident while using a 'self-driving' mode in their vehicle, even if they are sitting in the driver's seat when the accident happens.

However, the specifics will depend on the vehicle, the circumstances and whether the driver intervened or misused the system.