HANKI, JENIFER – Filed Complaint – 2025-06-06
Bay Area Bicycle Law, in collaboration with Instalaw, has filed a lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court on behalf of local cyclist Jenifer Hanki, naming Waymo LLC and its parent company, Alphabet Inc., as defendants. The complaint seeks monetary and punitive damages following a serious collision involving two fully autonomous Waymo vehicles and a cyclist in a marked bike lane.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred on February 16, 2025, when Ms. Hanki was lawfully riding her bicycle in a designated bike lane on 7th Street. As she passed a stopped Waymo vehicle, a passenger allegedly opened the rear door directly into her path, causing her to collide with the door and be thrown into the adjacent traffic lane. There, she was struck by a second autonomous Waymo vehicle that was merging toward the curb for a passenger drop-off. Ms. Hanki suffered serious injuries and required emergency medical treatment.
Allegations in the Lawsuit
The complaint alleges that:
- Waymo’s “Safe Exit” System Failed: The lawsuit claims the vehicles’ proprietary safety technology, including the “Safe Exit” system designed to alert passengers to nearby cyclists, failed to function as intended.
- Negligent and Reckless Conduct: The lawsuit accuses Waymo and Alphabet of negligent vehicle operation, unsafe passenger drop-off practices, and failure to prevent “dooring” incidents, despite knowing the risks to cyclists.
- Regulatory Misrepresentation: The complaint asserts that Waymo misrepresented its safety capabilities to California regulators in order to expand its ride-hailing service, allegedly downplaying the frequency and risk of dangerous drop-offs and bike lane obstructions.
- Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress and Battery: The suit claims that the conduct of Waymo and Alphabet was outrageous and malicious, causing both physical and emotional harm to the plaintiff.
Legal and Community Impact
Bay Area Bicycle Law’s attorneys emphasized that this case highlights urgent safety concerns for cyclists in cities where autonomous vehicles operate, and argue that the unchecked deployment of self-driving ride-hail services, without adequate safeguards for vulnerable road users, poses a growing threat to public safety.
The lawsuit seeks punitive damages, as well as compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, and property damage. The plaintiff has demanded a jury trial.
About Bay Area Bicycle Law, P.C.
Bay Area Bicycle Law is California’s premier bicycle accident firm. The firm is dedicated to advocating for the rights and safety of bicyclists throughout the Bay Area and beyond.
For media inquiries, contact:
Michael O. Stephenson
Bay Area Bicycle Law, PC
(415) 466-8717
[email protected]