If you were recently involved in a car accident that left little evidence of the other driver’s negligence, you may be scrambling to find some sort of proof to support your case. Good news: The other vehicle likely contained a black box, which would provide essential information about the events leading up to the crash.
Having access to a black box in a car accident can make a significant difference in your ability to secure compensation. Here are a few ways this device can support your Texas accident case.
What Is a Black Box in a Car Accident?
A black box, also known as a vehicle event data recorder (EDR), is a small device often installed in modern vehicles to track their activity. The majority of vehicles manufactured after 2013 contain these devices, and many older cars have them as well.
Black boxes automatically log information about the vehicle’s movements and the driver’s activity, such as:
- Vehicle speed
- Brake application
- Seat belt use
- Steering angle
- Depth of the accelerator pedal
- Airbag deployment
Manufacturers install these devices to provide data before, during, and after vehicle accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also uses this data to improve safety regulations.
If you were involved in a car accident, there may be black box data that your attorney can retrieve as part of your accident case.
How Black Box Data Can Support Your Car Accident Case
Referencing the black box in a car accident can aid your case in several ways.
Show the Other Driver’s Negligence
Automotive data recorders track several important metrics that may point to traffic violations. Gaining access to this data may help you show the other driver’s negligence and support your right to compensation.
For example, an EDR analysis might show that:
- The driver was speeding.
- The driver did not deploy the brakes before they hit you.
- The driver was not wearing their seatbelt, explaining why their injuries were worse than yours.
This information can aid the accident reconstruction process, painting a fuller picture of how the crash occurred and showing the other driver’s role in it.
Disprove Any False Claims From the At-Fault Driver
Car accident cases are often a game of he said, she said, especially when no witnesses saw the accident. However, a black box download can quickly dispel any false claims from the at-fault driver, showing that they are not a reliable source of information about the accident.
For instance, maybe the driver swears they were going to the speed limit, yet their black box data says otherwise. Or perhaps they claim that you stopped suddenly and that they did not have time to fully brake before hitting you, yet the black box data shows they did not press the brakes at all leading up to the crash.
Even if they were only partially lying about any events in the accident, proving them wrong with black box data can cast doubt on their narrative of events.
Strengthen Your Case
Ultimately, the information from an automotive data recorder can make it much easier for your attorney to prove the other driver’s role in your accident and strengthen your case. This information could show exactly why the other driver owes you compensation and leave no doubts in the insurance adjuster’s or judge’s mind.
Let Us Help You Secure Black Box Data
Referencing data from a black box in a car accident can be immensely helpful, but the car crash data retrieval process isn’t always simple. Allow our attorneys at McLaurin Law PLLC to help you request this data through a legal subpoena. Contact us today at (713) 364-1895 to schedule a consultation.
