# What happens when a robot hurts someone?

**When a robot hurts someone, the response chain typically runs: regulator investigation, recall or fix, legal outcome, and civil lawsuit. Each case on the record follows this pattern, attributed to its source.** The record shows a consistent incident-response chain across robot types. For autonomous vehicles, NHTSA investigates and can order recalls: Tesla recalled 2M+ vehicles for Autopilot updates, and NHTSA's Standing General Order investigation continues. For the Uber ATG pedestrian fatality, the NTSB investigated and Uber settled with the family. For the Cruise dragging incident, the California DMV revoked permits, NHTSA investigated, and GM shut down Cruise. For industrial robot incidents, workplace-safety regulators (OSHA in the US, national authorities abroad) investigate and can cite the employer: a Volkswagen technician was killed by a robot arm in Germany in 2015 during setup. Each case is attributed to its source and scoped to the record.

Last verified Dec 12, 2023. 4 sources.

## Short answer

When a robot hurts someone, the response follows a pattern that depends on the type of robot and the jurisdiction. Each case on the record shows the response chain: investigation, recall or fix, legal outcome, and civil lawsuit.\n\nFor autonomous vehicles, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) is the primary US regulator. Tesla Autopilot has been linked to multiple fatal crashes since 2016. NHTSA opened a Standing General Order investigation in 2021 covering approximately 2 million vehicles, and in December 2023 Tesla recalled about 2 million vehicles to update Autopilot software after the NHTSA found insufficient driver monitoring. The investigation is ongoing, and Tesla has faced civil lawsuits from families of crash victims.\n\nThe Uber ATG pedestrian fatality in Tempe, Arizona in March 2018 was the first death involving a self-driving test vehicle. The NTSB investigated and found the safety driver was distracted and Uber's safety culture was inadequate. Uber settled with the family of Elaine Herzberg, suspended autonomous testing, and later sold its ATG division to Aurora.\n\nThe Cruise robotaxi dragging incident in San Francisco in October 2023 led to the California DMV revoking Cruise's deployment permits, a NHTSA investigation, and a fleet recall. GM shut down Cruise in December 2024 after the incident and a series of setbacks.\n\nFor industrial robots, workplace-safety regulators (OSHA in the US, national authorities abroad) investigate and can cite the employer. A Volkswagen technician was killed by an industrial robot arm at the Baunatal plant in Germany in 2015, during setup, and German authorities investigated.\n\nEach case on this page is attributed to its source (NTSB, NHTSA, press reports) and scoped to the record. DEPLOY does not prescribe a legal framework, it shows what actually happened in each case.

## The incident-response ledger

| Incident | Company | What happened | Response | Date | Source |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Tesla Autopilot fatalities (multiple, 2016 to present) | Tesla | Tesla Autopilot has been linked to multiple fatal crashes, leading to NHTSA investigations and recalls. Tesla Autopilot and FSD (Supervised) have been linked to multiple fatal crashes since 2016. NHTSA opened a Standing General Order (SGO) investigation into Tesla Autopilot in 2021, covering approximately 2 million vehicles. In December 2023, Tesla recalled over 2 million vehicles to update Autopilot software after the NHTSA found insufficient driver monitoring. The investigation is ongoing. Tesla has faced civil lawsuits from families of crash victims, some resulting in settlements or verdicts. | NHTSA SGO investigation (2021 to present), 2M+ vehicle recall (Dec 2023), civil lawsuits | Dec 12, 2023 (as reported) | [NBC News (NHTSA recall 23V-838)](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tesla-issues-massive-recall-2-million-vehicles-autopilot-safety-concer-rcna129486) (2023-12-13) |\n| Cruise robotaxi dragging incident (San Francisco, October 2023) | Cruise (General Motors) | A Cruise robotaxi dragged a pedestrian in San Francisco after a collision, leading to license revocation. In October 2023, a Cruise robotaxi in San Francisco struck a pedestrian who had been thrown into its path by a human-driven car, then dragged the pedestrian approximately 20 feet. The California DMV revoked Cruise's deployment permits, and Cruise recalled its fleet. The NHTSA opened an investigation. GM shut down Cruise in December 2024 after the incident and a series of setbacks. The incident is one of the most consequential in robotaxi safety history. | California DMV revoked permits, Cruise recalled fleet, NHTSA investigation, GM shut down Cruise | Oct 24, 2023 (as reported) | [California DMV order (Oct 24, 2023), via reference record](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruise_(autonomous_vehicle)) (2023-10-24) |\n| Uber ATG pedestrian fatality (Tempe, Arizona, 2018) | Uber (Uber Advanced Technologies Group) | An Uber self-driving test vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona in March 2018. An Uber ATG Volvo XC90 test vehicle in autonomous mode struck and killed Elaine Herzberg, a pedestrian crossing the road at night with a bicycle, in March 2018. The NTSB investigation found the vehicle's automated driving system detected Herzberg but did not brake, and the safety driver was distracted. Uber settled with Herzberg's family. The incident led Uber to suspend autonomous testing and later sell its ATG division to Aurora. The NTSB attributed the crash to the safety driver's inattention and Uber's inadequate safety culture. | NTSB investigation, settlement with family, Uber suspended testing, later sold ATG to Aurora | Mar 19, 2018 (as reported) | [NTSB](https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAR1903.pdf) (2019-11-19) |\n| Volkswagen robot arm fatality (Baunatal, Germany, 2015) | Volkswagen | A Volkswagen technician was killed by an industrial robot arm at a plant in Baunatal, Germany in 2015. In July 2015, a Volkswagen technician was killed by an industrial robot arm at the Baunatal plant in Germany while setting up the robot. The robot grabbed the technician and crushed him against a metal plate. The incident was investigated by German authorities. Industrial robot arm fatalities are rare but documented in manufacturing environments, typically during setup, maintenance, or programming rather than during normal operation. | German authorities investigated, Volkswagen reviewed safety protocols | Jul 1, 2015 (as reported) | [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-robot-death-idUSKCN0Z91L8/) (2015-07-02) |\n\n## How we know this

- [NBC News (NHTSA recall 23V-838)](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tesla-issues-massive-recall-2-million-vehicles-autopilot-safety-concer-rcna129486) (2023-12-13)
- [California DMV order (Oct 24, 2023), via reference record](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruise_(autonomous_vehicle)) (2023-10-24)
- [NTSB](https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAR1903.pdf) (2019-11-19)
- [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-robot-death-idUSKCN0Z91L8/) (2015-07-02)

## Common questions

### What happens when a self-driving car kills someone?

The NHTSA investigates, and can order recalls or software updates. Tesla Autopilot has been linked to multiple fatal crashes, and NHTSA opened a Standing General Order investigation in 2021. In December 2023, Tesla recalled over 2 million vehicles to update Autopilot software. The Uber ATG pedestrian fatality in 2018 was investigated by the NTSB, which found the safety driver distracted and Uber's safety culture inadequate. Uber settled with the family. Civil lawsuits from crash victims' families are also part of the response chain.

### Can a robot kill a human?

Yes, physical robots have caused fatalities. The record includes the Uber ATG pedestrian fatality (2018), Tesla Autopilot fatalities (multiple, 2016 to present), the Cruise robotaxi dragging (2023), and a Volkswagen robot arm fatality (2015). Each case was investigated by the relevant regulator (NTSB, NHTSA, or national workplace-safety authorities). The risk is real but rare, and typically occurs during testing, setup, or when safety protocols are not followed.

### Who is liable when a robot hurts someone?

Liability depends on the jurisdiction and the type of robot. For autonomous vehicles, NHTSA investigates and can order recalls, and civil lawsuits determine liability between the manufacturer, the operator, and the safety driver. The Uber ATG case resulted in a settlement with the family. Tesla faces civil lawsuits from crash victims' families. For warehouse robots, OSHA cites the employer. For industrial robots, the employer and sometimes the manufacturer are investigated. DEPLOY does not prescribe a legal framework, it shows what actually happened in each case.

### Has a robot ever killed a worker?

Yes. A Volkswagen technician was killed by an industrial robot arm at the Baunatal plant in Germany in 2015 during setup, and German authorities investigated. Industrial robot arm fatalities are rare but documented, typically occurring during setup, maintenance, or programming rather than during normal operation. In the US, workplace-safety incidents involving robots are investigated by OSHA, which can cite the employer. Each case is attributed to its source.

## Keep reading

- [How many people have robots killed?](/how-many-people-have-robots-killed.md): Safety & recalls
- [What robot fatalities are on record?](/robot-fatalities-on-record.md): Safety & recalls
- [What happened to Cruise robotaxi?](/what-happened-to-cruise.md): Safety & recalls
- [Have there been robot recalls or safety incidents?](/robot-recalls-and-safety-incidents.md): Safety & recalls
- [All verified answers](/answers.md): Every standing question DEPLOY tracks.

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