If your autonomous vehicle is in an accident, the immediate priorities are the same as any crash: check for injuries, get to a safe location if possible, and contact emergency services if needed. After that, autonomous vehicles typically need additional support that a standard tow truck isn't set up to handle — including safe recovery of an immobilized vehicle, coordination with the fleet's remote operations team, and inspection of sensors and hardware that may have been affected.
Immediate Steps After an AV Accident
- Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. This comes before anything related to the vehicle itself.
- Move to safety if the vehicle is drivable and it's safe to do so. If it isn't, stay put and use hazard lights.
- Contact the fleet operator or remote operations team. Most autonomous vehicles are monitored remotely, and the operator will often already be aware something has happened.
- Document the scene if you're able to, as you would with any accident — photos, other party's information, and a description of what happened.
Why AV Accidents Need Specialized Recovery
A stopped or damaged autonomous vehicle isn't always safe to simply tow like a conventional car. It may need to be powered down correctly, its sensors protected during transport, or its position managed carefully if it's partially blocking traffic. This is where Autonomous Vehicle Support comes in — field response built specifically for driverless vehicles, covering:
- Recovery of stopped or immobilized vehicles
- Relocation to a safe area or facility
- On-site charging if the battery is a factor
- 12V support if the vehicle's systems have gone unresponsive
- Sensor and camera cleaning if debris or damage is affecting sensor coverage
Autonomous Vehicle Recovery starts at $199, and this service is designed to work alongside — not replace — a fleet's own remote operations team.
After the Vehicle Is Recovered
Once the vehicle is safely off the road, there's usually a follow-up phase: checking that cameras, radar, and lidar surfaces are clean and unobstructed, confirming the 12V and main battery systems are functioning, and verifying software and connectivity are stable before the vehicle returns to service. Sensor and camera cleaning issues in particular are easy to miss after an incident but can affect how well the vehicle "sees" once it's back on the road — see EV Emergency Services for the full range of support available.
For Fleet Operators
If you're managing a fleet of autonomous or electric vehicles, accidents are one of several scenarios where on-demand operational support matters — alongside things like emergency charging, tire issues, and vehicle relocation. Fleet Solutions covers this kind of on-demand support so an incident doesn't turn into extended downtime.
Getting Help Now
If your autonomous vehicle has been in an accident and needs recovery, sensor cleaning, or a check on its systems, call 321.662.1053 or request help to get field support dispatched to your location.