Waymo robotaxis' alleged door collision injures San Francisco cyclist
A San Francisco cyclist allegedly suffered serious injuries when struck by an open car door from a Waymo robotaxi and then collided with a second Waymo vehicle in a bike lane. The cyclist alleges that Waymo's Safe Exit warning system failed to alert the passengers before the door opened, and has sued Waymo and parent company Alphabet for battery, emotional distress, and negligence.
What happened
On February 16, 2025, Jenifer Hanki was cycling northwest on Seventh Street in a marked bike lane in San Francisco when a Waymo robotaxi pulled over to the curb next to a no-stopping sign with four passengers inside. A passenger opened a back door directly into the bike lane, striking Hanki's bike and ejecting her. She collided with a second Waymo robotaxi also pulling into the bicycle pathway and landed on the ground.
Hanki was taken to a hospital with serious bodily injuries. She alleges that Waymo's Safe Exit system, designed to warn passengers of incoming hazards, failed to alert the passengers. The passengers told her it was their first Waymo ride and they were unsure how to report the incident; they left the scene after a few minutes and other witnesses called 911.
Reported impact
Hanki suffered serious bodily injuries requiring hospitalization. She described being disoriented and overwhelmed after the collision, and noted the chaos caused by two unoccupied Waymo vehicles obstructing both the bike lane and regular oncoming traffic.
Index analysis
Hanki alleges that unlike human drivers who actively monitor traffic and lock doors or guide safe exits, Waymo's Safe Exit system failed to function. She contrasts the system unfavorably with human drivers for Uber, Lyft, and taxis, arguing that human drivers prevent such accidents by assessing real-time risks.
Governance controls
Waymo stated it is committed to improving road safety and provides riders and nearby road users with supplementary alerts to give additional information about approaching vehicles during pickups and drop-offs. Waymo cited its own safety data showing 78% fewer injuries caused by collisions compared with human drivers covering the same distance in the cities it serves.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.