As winter hazards loom, Progressive Insurance has introduced Accident Response, a safety feature designed to assist drivers during major accidents by providing emergency or towing services through its mobile app.
Available nationwide as snowy and icy road conditions become prevalent, the insurance company said Accident Response aims to reduce the risks drivers face during winter. According to the Federal Highway Administration, snowy and icy roads contribute to more than 116,800 injuries annually, with 76,000 of those occurring during active snowfall or sleet.
The feature uses phone sensors to detect significant crashes and enables drivers to quickly request assistance through the Progressive app.
"Progressive has always put safety at the forefront of our services, creating new innovations with the needs of our customers in mind," said Jim Haas, business leader for Personal Lines Telematics. "Accident Response offers Progressive customers peace of mind by connecting them with the help they need after an accident and quickly starting the process to get them back on the road."
If drivers do not respond after a detected crash, and the situation appears severe, emergency services will be dispatched automatically. Additionally, Progressive will submit claims for emergency or towing services on behalf of customers if requested.
The Accident Response feature is free to use within the Progressive app, but costs for services like towing or ambulances depend on the customer's personal auto policy coverage. While available across much of the country, the feature is excluded in California and is not applicable in all situations.
Similarly, GM recently announced during the 2024 SEMA Show its own crash detection app. Launched in October, Collision Assistance can contact drivers after an accident to assist them at the scene and help guide them to a GM-certified collision repair facility.
