An Event Data Recorder (EDR) is a common feature in new vehicles. Commonly referred to as a “black box,” this recorder will download critical pieces of information about a car in the moments before a crash. Many car accident cases get bogged down in disputes about fault, so a black box can provide critical information to help each side see the accident clearly.
What does a car’s black box record? Important details about the driver in the seconds leading up to an accident. Call Ryan & Rouse today to speak with a Huntsville car accident lawyer. Our firm knows how to gain access to a car’s black box, and we can use the data in support of your injury claim.
What Does a Black Box Record in a Car?
This device will record data before and after a crash. Some of the most important pieces of information include:
- Brake usage: Did the driver hit the brakes in the seconds before the accident? The EDR will have this information, which can help establish whether a driver tried to avoid a collision.
- Steering inputs: The black box should record whether the driver turned the steering wheel, as well as the angle of the crash.
- Vehicle speed: The EDR should record the speed the vehicle was traveling in the moments before an accident.
- Seatbelt usage: The black box can show whether occupants were strapped into the seatbelt during the ride. Texas requires motorists to buckle up, but some refuse to.
Typically, the black box does not record information continuously throughout a ride. But it will record information in the five seconds before a collision, which is still helpful.
How We Use a Car’s Black Box Information
The EDR information can play a decisive role in your Huntsville car accident case. As mentioned, identifying fault is a critical step in any car accident. The fact that you were hurt does not mean you are automatically entitled to compensation. Instead, we need to carefully analyze all relevant evidence to determine how it happened. Then we can explain to the other driver’s liability insurer that their driver is to blame.
We often rely on this information to establish critical facts:
- Speeding: A driver who is speeding is more likely at fault because they are not driving carefully. We might find the other driver was going 10 or 20 miles per hour over the speed limit, which can help establish that they are to blame for the crash.
- Distraction: The black box cannot tell us directly whether the driver was distracted. But if they didn’t brake or try to steer away from your vehicle, there’s a good chance they didn’t see it. And that’s some proof they were distracted.
Contact our office for assistance with your case. It is critical to make a timely request that the other driver preserve their black box data for inspection. There is a risk they will erase or record over it, which can undermine your claim. Our legal team will send the other driver a notification that they should preserve this evidence for download.
Disproving Contributory Negligence
Alabama still follows the traditional contributory negligence rule. That means you cannot receive any compensation if you were even 1% to blame for the accident. That is the extreme consequence of this rule.
We might use the data from your vehicle’s EDR to show:
- You were not speeding in the moments before the crash. Instead, you were driving at a reasonable speed given the road conditions.
- You tried to brake or turn the steering wheel to avoid an accident. These actions would also suggest you were not distracted, since you saw the vehicle and tried to avoid it.
- You didn’t lose control of the vehicle. Some vehicles roll over because the driver loses control of the vehicle. The black box data might show you were still in control of the vehicle.
This evidence is particularly helpful in wrongful death cases, where your loved one has died and cannot tell us their version of events. The data on their vehicle will tell us a partial story about what happened in the lead-up to the crash. The defendant is likely to tell a self-serving story, which often means blaming the deceased victim for an accident.
By disproving contributory negligence, we can help obtain meaningful compensation. Our goal is to hold a negligent motorist accountable for the crash.
What if the Cars Do Not Have a Black Box?
You don’t necessarily need black box information to win a car accident case in Huntsville. We can rely on other evidence, including eyewitnesses or dash cam footage, when reconstructing what happened. In fact, witnesses are always ideal for any car accident case.
We might also find surveillance video from Huntsville businesses that recorded the crash. Many businesses have security cameras in parking lots to deter crime and burglars. These cameras sometimes record collisions that happen on the street right outside.
Also, remember to write down what you remember about the accident. This information is valuable and can help us establish fault.
Although black box data is useful, we can still win a car accident case without it. And sometimes the data doesn’t prove responsibility for the accident one way or the other.
Speak with a Huntsville Car Accident Lawyer
The legal team at Ryan & Rouse is ready to assist anyone injured in a car crash. Negotiating a settlement requires legal experience and an eye for detail. We put our skills to use by gathering as much evidence as possible, including evidence from a car’s black box. We don’t stop there, but will also track down witnesses and possibly inspect the vehicles involved. Our firm leaves no stone unturned as we build up your claim for compensation.
To find out more about our legal services, schedule a free personal injury consultation with our office. We have years of experience helping those in the 35801 zip code and surrounding communities with their personal injury needs. Call us today!