How to Preserve Self-Driving Car Data After a Crash
The vehicle's data is often the most important evidence, and it is controlled by the company and easy to lose. This checklist helps.
Identify the exact vehicle
Record the company and any vehicle or unit number and markings, which identify the specific car whose data is needed.
Save your trip record
If you were a robotaxi passenger, screenshot your trip in the app — the time, route, and vehicle — before it disappears.
Photograph everything
Photograph the vehicle, its sensors, the scene, and any damage, before anything changes.
Do not rely on the company’s account
The company controls the data and has its own interest. Do not assume its explanation is the full picture.
Act quickly to preserve the data
A prompt preservation request is one of the most important steps, since the data can be overwritten or hard to obtain — a lawyer can send one fast.
The deadlines and rules depend on your state
The steps above apply wherever you were hurt. Filing deadlines, fault rules, and limits on damages differ by state — pick yours for what applies to autonomous vehicle accidents.
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This is general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different, and the law differs by state.