If your standard motor vehicle was made in the 2000s, it likely has a “black box” or event data recorder installed within it. Or, if you unfortunately enter an auto accident with another driver, maybe their vehicle has this feature. Nonetheless, should you pursue a personal injury claim after your accident, black box data may prove pivotal for your argument against the negligent defendant. Please continue reading to learn more about black box data and how an experienced Morris County, New Jersey auto accident lawyer at Macri Law Firm can help you use it in your legal claim.
How is black box data helpful in a car accident case?
For starters, black box data is information captured by an event data recorder that offers insight into what most likely caused an auto accident to take place. More specifically, it may offer insight into the following:
- The vehicle speed (i.e., acceleration and deceleration).
- The steering angles, tilt of the vehicle, and throttle position.
- The force of vehicle impact and airbag deployment times.
- Whether or not the brakes were applied and a seatbelt was worn.
As you may guess, this information is critical in establishing your argument that the defendant was driving negligently and recklessly, so much so that it ultimately led to your collision and subsequent injuries and damages. This may be especially essential if you do not have a dashcam installed in your vehicle, or if your accident happened in a desolate area with no neighboring surveillance or traffic intersection camera footage. In short, it may become less of a case of your word against theirs, and more of a case with concrete, tangible data.
How can I access black box data to use for my claim?
You may need a special data retrieval toolkit to access the data recorded by your vehicle’s black box. This may be expensive to purchase on your own, not to mention complex to operate with no prior experience. So, for this, we can help you retain the services of a forensic expert who may be better off doing this work on your behalf.
But if you desire the black box data from the defendant’s vehicle, you have to get their consent first; if not, a court order. In either case, you must get started on acquiring this data sooner rather than later. This is because this recorder does not save this data forever. Plus, to reiterate, it may take some time to retain the proper tools, professionals, and authorization to retrieve this data. The last thing you may want is for a piece of evidence that can make or break your case to slip from your grasp.
To conclude, if you require additional consulting, look no further than a skilled Parsippany, New Jersey personal injury lawyer from Macri Law Group. Schedule your initial consultation with us today.