An Event Data Recorder (EDR), often referred to as the “black box recorder,” is a device found in most late model cars and trucks. When a crash or collision occurs, the black box captures and stores information about the incident. Black box data is also generated by engine control modules (ECM’s) on commercial vehicles and tractor trailer motors. This electronic data is tremendously important in proving (or disproving) the performance of a vehicle at the time of an accident and can include the vehicle’s speed, airbag deployment, brake usage, clutch application, and more.
You can understand why it is crucial for an effective attorney to obtain the EDR information in a personal injury case after an accident. It is imperative that recovery and inspection of the vehicle’s black box data occurs before the data is lost, compromised, or destroyed.
Speak with an experienced Florida attorney at our firm today.
Call 855-Kramer-Now (855-572-6376).
If you have been injured in a collision, contact TK Law in Orlando.Our prompt involvement can ensure that all vehicles will be preserved for inspection and any crash data recorders will be preserved for full and careful investigation.
Black Box Evidence
A black box recorder generally recounts a few seconds of the following scenarios before and during a crash and can help attorneys and law enforcement determine who is liable in an accident:
- Date and time of the collision
- Vehicle speed
- Depth of accelerator pedal
- Steering angle
- Braking pattern
- Throttle position
- If certain warning lights were operating
- Seatbelt status
- Airbag deployment status
- Force of impact
Extracting black box data requires a forensic download of the EDR or ECM to ensure that the data is downloaded completely and without error. Data must be downloaded according to the manufacturer’s specifications, and if not promptly downloaded, may be lost. Analyzing the data is also a specialized skill.
The Need for an Experienced Attorney
Black box information can serve as powerful evidence in car and tractor-trailer accident cases where liability is in question. In accidents involving multiple cars and trucks, the data can often expose the chain of events.
The resourceful attorneys at TK Law will use black box data to refute or substantiate an expert witness’s re-creation of an accident. An injured client may not always be able to remember every detail before or after a traffic crash and witness accounts may not always be accurate. TK Law will match EDR data with any available driver logs or other evidence to determine fault in an accident injury case.
However, an EDR cannot be used in all crash situations. If the car’s electronics are defective, the black box data is not 100% reliable and may misinterpret information.
Analyzing Black Box Data with an Expert
The attorneys at TK Law are familiar with the growing body of case law in Florida and across the country regarding the admissibility of EDR data. Our attorneys build a solid chain of events and accountability for the data retrieved from an EDR and work with experts who are trained in examining the data.
If you were involved in a car accident or in a collision involving a commercial vehicle, you need attorneys who are current with these and other technological advances in order to protect your rights and your future. Call 855-Kramer-Now (855-572-6376).
NOTE: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requires that all automobiles manufactured after September 1, 2014 be equipped with the black box recorder. Fourteen states have legislation providing that data extracted from event data recorders may only be downloaded with the consent of the vehicle owner. Florida currently does not require owner consent.