Not every person that drives a car has a camera system on their board. The law recommends it, but they are not mandatory in every state. Maybe you have a camera, but through some twisted chains of incidents, it got totaled during the accident. So if this happens to you, how are you going to prove whose fault it was?
Enter black box technology – a feature that can tell you exactly what happened to a car prior to an accident. We know of black boxes because they are frequently used in planes – but did you know you can find them in cars too? This article will tell you everything you need to know about black box technology and how it can benefit your case.
What Is a Black Box?
The first black box was created in 1953, with its main purpose being to record flights and provides relevant data. Somewhere in the 90s, car manufacturers decided to put a Vehicle Electronic Digital Recorder (EDR) on every car and truck – which is just another fancy term for the black box. The boxes are not always black, but the term remained nonetheless.
These black boxes aim to capture the performance of the vehicle and potential safety measures. Additionally, these black boxes would record the seconds before and after a crash.
Based on the car’s movement, many lawyers in Kentucky, for instance, will use black boxes to determine whether or not you were at fault for the accident. A good Lexington personal injury lawyer should be able to win your case solely based on the data from the black box.
What Do Black Boxes Record?
Black boxes record data from the internal system of your vehicle. Therefore, while it may not be able to film what is happening before and after an accident, it will record the status of your car. This includes:
- Speed
- Braking
- Acceleration
- Impact force
- Steering
- Seatbelt use
- Number of passengers
- Turn signal use
- Airbag deployment
- Headlights and taillights
- Seat positioning
- Oil and gas levels
- Tire pressure
Black boxes usually have a limited amount of storage. Therefore, in case of an accident, they may need to overwrite previous data. If you need a bigger window time to recover, this timeframe may make your personal injury case rather difficult.
How Do I Know If My Car Has a Black Box?
The majority of cars nowadays have a black box underneath the driver’s seat. If your car was built in the 90s, there is a very good chance you have a black box in it as well. That said, if you are not certain whether or not your car has a black box, you should check your vehicle specifications. Very often, it will tell you whether or not your car has an EDR system installed.
Can Black Boxes Prove Fault in an Accident?
Let’s say that you got into an accident, which left you badly injured. It was not your fault; the other driver was not paying attention and smashed right into you. A black box can prove that the accident was not your fault and that you were driving properly before the other driver decided to give your car a “hug.”
For instance, the accident may have happened because they failed to use the turn signal. If they lie about it and claim that they did use it, the black box can prove your case and win your personal injury settlement. If the driver was speeding before crashing into you, the black box can also probe that.
If you are trying to win a settlement for your injuries, black boxes may also help you with the insurance company. For example, they may try to get out of the payment by saying you did not have your seatbelt on. The black box data can actually prove that you did.
Black box information can only be accessed with a court order if you intend to use it in a personal injury trial. Nonetheless, if you are in the right, the black box can easily help you win your case. You don’t need video footage to prove you were a victim; you just need your vehicle information at that moment.
The Bottom Line
Very few drivers realize the fact that their car is a system of information. If you get pulled into an accident and were injured, the black box can show the data you need. This will reduce the trial headaches and help you obtain your settlement faster.
