Austin accidents happen quickly and unexpectedly. The impact of an accident can be so intense and chaotic that soon after, you may find that you do not have a clear idea of how the accident occurred. The other driver may have an entirely different and even contradictory version of the timeline and story, even if you recall what happened. Furthermore, suppose you do not have witnesses that can provide a statement or could not report your account to the police right away. In that case, you may be at risk of losing essential facts and information that can be critical to your car injury case.
If you have been hurt in a car accident and are unclear about what happened, you may be interested in how using a vehicle’s black box can help.
Most importantly, a black box can help you to determine liability for the Austin car crash and hold the other driver responsible for paying the damages and injuries sustained by victims and their families.
What’s in This Guide
How a Black Box Works
A black box is critical to your case as it can help to determine what occurred in the crash. Importantly, the black box can potentially prove fault between you and the other driver in the case.
A black box can show that the other driver was speeding before crashing into your vehicle. In fact, in cases where impaired drivers were speeding, the black box revealed the exact speed at which they were traveling, effectively filling in critical gaps in the facts of what happened.
If you were not fortunate to have witnessed at the scene to recount what happened, then a black box is a great next bet. The major benefit of a black box is that it holds useful information and cannot be altered or tampered with, making the information on it reliable.
Event Data Recorder
Black boxes are also referred to as Event Data Recorders (EDR’s), which hold 15 to 20 seconds of rich information that took place directly before the crash and information that happened 5 to 10 seconds after the crash.
EDR’s can capture the following data:
- vehicle location and direction vehicle are traveling
- speed and change in speed after an accident
- steering wheel performance
- safety belt status
- brake performance, including whether the anti-lock brake was activated before the accident
- duration and force of the crash
- vehicle roll angle in rollover accidents
- airbag release and speed
- ignition attempts following the accident
Black Box Data to Prove Liability
A common way that a black box can help to prove liability is in cases where the parties disagree over how the accident occurred and who is at fault. The data contained in the black box is critical to your case as it can help to assess what happened in a crash and potentially determine fault.
For example, if you have been in a car crash and the other driver is denying they were at fault despite you recalling otherwise, then gap-filling information from a black box will clear up the inconsistent stories regarding what circumstances surrounding the accident.
Multi-Vehicle Crashes
In cases where there are multiple cars involved, you can use data contained in the black box can reveal your use of the brakes and even show if you pressed brake performance, including whether the anti-lock brake was activated before the accident, which is made to stop your car from skidding when the driver brakes in a sharp manner. This information would help to prove that you did stop before the car ahead and were hit by a car behind you.
Injury
Critical black box information, including the force, speed, and direction of impact, can all contribute to helping to support your injuries and their severity, such as brain or spinal cord injury.
If You’ve Been Involved in an Austin Car Crash, Contact a Car Accident Attorney As Soon as Possible
Accessing black box day can be challenging, but it is not a lost cause. While you focus on recovering from your injuries, an Austin car accident attorney can help you to assess whether your car has access to a black box as the manufacturer would have had to have installed it, which is more likely in newer cars.
While there are efforts to standardize the data collected by the event recorder can vary based on the auto manufacturer, the model of the vehicle, and the EDR unit itself.
If your lawyer can help you to access a black box, your lawyer may be able to use its’ evidence to prove fault for the accident that caused your injuries. Specifically, an attorney will help to interpret the evidence, construct a timeline, and assess how the facts impact your case against the other driver.
A skilled attorney can help to investigate facts and analyze the evidence to build a strong case to compensate you for damages suffered. Additionally, a skilled attorney will ensure that critical black box evidence is preserved for your car accident case.
[LEARN MORE]:
- Can Other Accidents on Your Driving Record Affect an Austin Injury Claim?
- Who May Be Liable for a Stolen Vehicle Accident in Austin, TX?
Speak to an Austin Car Accident Attorney Today
If you have been in an Austin car crash and are using or considering using a black box to prove fault, you can turn to the Patel Firm to navigate complex legal issues and challenges associated with your case. Our dedicated personal injury attorneys are prepared to stand by your side and help you navigate the legal process. Our law firm possesses extensive experience in personal injury, and we have represented numerous injury victims in a wide array of cases, including car accident crashes involving the use of a black box to show liability.
The best way to get started is to call us at (361) 400-2036 to schedule a free evaluation and discuss your legal options and how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.
