Role of Event Data Recorders in a Car Accident

After a car accident, memories can get fuzzy. Eyewitness accounts may not be totally reliable. It can be hard to determine what really happened. Who caused the crash?

Someone involved in the accident may suffer from serious injuries even though the crash is seemingly minor. The other driver may automatically assign blame to the injured driver. On top of that, no police report exists, proving the extent of the injuries can be challenging.

In such scenarios, event data recorders (EDRs) can be invaluable in substantiating a driver’s claims and determining who is in fact liable for a crash.

An EDR is a device installed in vehicles that captures and stores data related to the vehicle’s operation and performance. This data includes vehicle speed, acceleration, braking activity, steering inputs, seatbelt usage, airbag deployment, engine performance, and crash severity metrics like Delta-V (change in velocity) and Delta-T (time interval). Some advanced EDRs may also have GPS capabilities to track location and movement.

When a significant event, such as a sudden impact or airbag deployment, occurs, the EDR records and stores the vehicle’s data immediately before, during, and after the incident. This information can provide crucial information about the circumstances surrounding a collision, which can then aid in the reconstruction and assessment of the factors contributing to the crash and subsequent injuries.

Retrieving EDR Data

Accessing EDR data requires specialized equipment and expertise. The data is typically stored in a protected memory module within the vehicle. Retrieving this data must be done in compliance with legal regulations to ensure it is able to be used in court as evidence.

Certified professionals, such as those with Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) certification, are trained to download and interpret EDR data. Using qualified experts ensures that the data is accurately retrieved and legally admissible.

Utilizing EDR Data in Legal Cases

EDR data can be instrumental in various aspects of vehicle accident cases:

• Crash reconstruction. Experts can use EDR data to determine vehicle speed leading up to a crash, acceleration and deceleration rates, and whether the driver attempted to avoid the collision.
• Human factors analysis. EDR data provides insights into driver behavior, such as braking activity and steering inputs, which can be crucial in assessing driver actions and contributing factors to the accident.
• Establishing liability. The objective data from EDRs can counter subjective claims and support the determination of fault, especially in situations where there is minimal witness testimony.
• Assessing injury severity: Metrics like Delta-V can correlate with injury severity, which can piece together the extent of the crash and the severity of the injuries.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

EDRs can help insurance companies and lawyers obtain crucial information about what happened before and during a car accident. This is helpful evidence to have to prove your case.

A Houston car accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC can gather information and reconstruct a crash to help determine what happened and who should be held liable. Schedule a consultation to learn more. Fill out the online form or call (281) 347-3247.

Source:

advocatemagazine.com/article/2023-august/using-event-data-recorders-in-your-vehicle-accident-cases