Black Box Data After a Car Accident

Can Black Box Data Be Used After a Car Accident?

Black boxes are often a point of discussion following a plane crash, however, it is also a fact that the majority of today’s cars and trucks are outfitted with these important devices.

Technically named an “Event Data Recorder (EDR),” a black box can be key to uncovering detailed information that preceded and occurred during an automobile accident.

Attorney Matt Boulton has investigated a number of Indiana car accidents that required black box data retrieval due to various liability concerns. In these cases, the information recorded by the black box is used to identify specific factors that may have caused or contributed to the accident, thus allowing Matt to confirm a theory of liability that supports his client’s personal injury claim.

Depending on the details of your accident, Matt will determine whether or not black box information retrieval is necessary as well as identify the specific types of data that may need to be analyzed for your case.

What Data Can Black Boxes Give Us?

If you are driving a vehicle that was manufactured within the last seven years, it is likely that your automobile has an Event Data Recorder.

In fact, about 96% of all new cars sold in the United States had black boxes installed, according to the NHTSA, and since 2014, it became a requirement for every new U.S. vehicle.

The types of evidence that Matt may be able to recover from a black box includes:

• Acceleration speed – If there is question about whether or not one or more of the vehicles was accelerating at the time of the accident, the black box will provide information to confirm or dispute this fact.

• Airbag data – Black boxes can provide data that tells Matt the exact time an air bag deployed. This can be helpful in determining whether or not there was any kind of airbag malfunction or error.

• Braking data – There are times when one or more people involved in an accident may not recall if they braked before the incident. The data from the recorder can identify if a vehicle braked as well as when the braking occurred.

• Seat belts – Matt will be able to review data from the recorder that indicates whether or not seat belts were being worn at the time of the accident.

• Steering data – Matt will be able to review evidence related to steering, such as the degree of angles used in any turning or avoidance maneuvers that occurred before or after the accident.

• Throttle position

• Speed – Data from the recorder is often used to verify speeds of vehicles involved in the accident.

• Vehicle tilt

Using Black Box Data to Prove Liability

If Matt determines that the liability theory in your case requires black box data evidence, he will take the steps needed to download the contents of the recorder from one or more vehicles involved in the accident. This can be especially important in high-profile cases that involve multiple automobiles and/or semi-trucks.

It is also important to know that black box data will need to be collected in accordance with Indiana state law. As such, Matt will gather the necessary consents and/or send a request to the proper courts in an attempt to gather the evidence needed to help prove liability.

Questions About Your Legal Rights?

If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident, it is important that you have a legal resource dedicated to serving your best interests, and not those of the insurance company.

Attorney Matt Boulton has been helping injured Hoosiers for more than 25 years and has used black box data to help a number of his clients recover the compensation they deserve.

If you wish for Matt to review your potential case, you may use our confidential contact form for a free assessment. Matt personally reviews every contact received at our firm.