BACKGROUND

A self-driving vehicle (“SDV”) is a vehicle such as, for example, a car, that is capable of operating without a human driver. An SDV determines conditions in its surrounding environment using technology such as, for example, radar, laser, odometry, global positioning system, and computer vision. One or more control systems in the SDV utilize this environmental information to control the SDV as it autonomously navigates paths and obstacles, while abiding by relevant traffic signals and signs.

SDV technology may be applied within the context of public and/or ride-sharing transportation (e.g., self-driving taxis or other types of ride-sharing vehicles). A public or ride-sharing SDV may potentially provide transportation services for a large number of passengers per day.

However, it is realized that as SDVs become more popular, vehicle accidents are still a possibility as is the case with any vehicles.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provide techniques for management of accident related data associated with vehicles including SDVs (e.g., vehicles not operated by a human driver) and non-SDVs (e.g., vehicles operated by a human driver) in the context of vehicle accidents. In one embodiment, a method comprises the following steps. A secure chain of data blocks is maintained at a given computing node. The given computing node is part of a set of computing nodes in a distributed network of computing nodes wherein each of the set of computing nodes maintains the secure chain of data blocks. The secure chain of data blocks maintained at each computing node comprises one or more data blocks that represent one or more accident related transactions associated with a vehicle. In response to a risk assessment operation, one or more data blocks are added to the secure chain of data blocks maintained at the given computing node.

Advantageously, illustrative embodiments provide effective techniques for tracking data related to a vehicle, such as a non-SDV or an SDV, in the context of vehicle accidents. The data may be tracked as part of a blockchain associated with the vehicle.

These and other exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in or become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

