Case Overview
Victim: A (49 years old), struck while walking a bicycle across the road (outside of a crosswalk)
Vehicle: Uber’s autonomous test vehicle – Volvo XC90 SUV
Driver: B (safety driver, employed by Uber)
Mode: The vehicle was operating in autonomous mode at the time of the crash
Accident Details
A was crossing the street in a dimly lit area when the autonomous system detected her but failed to initiate emergency braking.
The emergency braking system had been disabled during testing to avoid erratic behavior.
The safety driver was watching streaming video on her phone and failed to monitor the road.
The vehicle did not attempt to stop until the moment of impact.
A was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead.
Criminal Proceedings
Defendant: B, the safety driver
Charge: Initially charged with negligent homicide, later reduced to endangerment
Verdict (2023):
Found guilty of endangerment
Sentenced to 3 years of supervised probation
No prison time served
Uber's Role:
Uber was not criminally charged but came under heavy criticism.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded:
Uber’s autonomous software design was inadequate.
The company had a lack of effective safety oversight during testing.
Civil Proceedings
Plaintiffs: A’s surviving family (husband and daughter)
Defendants: Uber and B
Outcome:
A confidential settlement was reached within weeks after the incident.
While the amount was not publicly disclosed, it was widely reported to be in the seven-figure range (USD millions).
Legal experts noted the victim’s financial status (reportedly homeless at the time) may have influenced the final settlement amount.