Progressive Insurance and Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) have collaborated to develop the carrier’s newest version of Accident Response — a crash detection and response feature available to Progressive personal auto insurance customers.
The feature is available in the Progressive mobile app. More than 1.5 million Progressive customers rely on Accident Response, according to a press release.
Progressive first launched Accident Response in November 2024 to connect policyholders with emergency or tow services.
Accident Response combines CMT’s AI-driven DriveWell Fusion platform with Progressive’s customer-first service model to offer post-crash support, according to the release. It leverages smartphone sensors and machine learning to detect collisions, initiate communication with the customer, and begin a claim — all of which is integrated into the Progressive app.
The feature will automatically initiate insurance claims if a tow or ambulance is dispatched, and can accelerate claims submissions, the release states.
“The system can detect when a customer may have been in a major accident and reaches out to the driver to offer towing, emergency services, and support in opening a claim,” the release states. “If a driver doesn’t respond, the customer receives a call. When drivers reply to the alert, they can request emergency services, or a tow truck can be dispatched.”
Jay VanAntwerp, Progressive’s telematics business leader, added that the feature “can provide customers with peace of mind and assistance when an accident occurs.”
In one recent case, a customer who was involved in a severe crash wasn’t able to respond to her phone.
“Accident Response triggered communications with the driver that led to emergency medical services being dispatched,” the release states. “She credits the feature with saving her life.”
“Crash detection and emergency response are among the most significant ways technology can serve society,” said William V. Powers, CMT co-founder and CEO, in the release. “By connecting drivers to help faster, crash detection brings peace of mind to millions of drivers and families. Every second after a crash matters, and by transforming real-time data into real-world assistance, we’re helping people get the care they need when it matters most, making roads safer for everyone.”
There is no charge for downloading the Progressive app or using the Accident Response feature. The cost for provided services, such as ambulance or tow, is subject to the coverage purchased under a customer’s personal auto policy.
Accident Response is not available in California.
In October, State Farm introduced real-time collision detection through its mobile app, which it said will provide automated emergency service requests and streamline claims handling.
When the accident assistance program detects a collision, it immediately initiates contact with emergency services and provides an exact location via GPS technology, according to a State Farm press release.
