Black Boxes and Infotainment Systems: What information can be downloaded following a collision?
August 11, 2024
(832) 592-1108
Most vehicles have downloadable computers with collision related data, such as speed at impact and evasive maneuvers
Most vehicles manufactured after 2012 have downloadable mini computers called Electronic Control Modules (ECMs or “black boxes”).
In the event of an accident, they can record some or all of the following information, much of which can be very relevant in a personal injury lawsuit.
- How fast the vehicle was traveling prior to impact.
- Whether the driver was actively accelerating or decelerating at the time of the collision.
- How hard the driver braked, if at all.
- Whether the driver tried to steer away from the other vehicle(s).
- Seat belt usage.
- Severity of impact (forces of acceleration).
- Airbag deployment times.
- Near misses (when the vehicles safety system is activated, but no collision occurs).
- If the vehicle was moving or stopped before impact.
- The order of impact, or who hit whom first.
Newer vehicles might even capture images from onboard backup cameras record GPS coordinates. All of this data can be downloaded with specialized equipment and can be used as evidence in a car crash case.
Infotainment and Telematics Systems
Many newer cars have prominent "infotainment" consoles built into the dash. This can also be a key source of crash information, such as:
- Call logs, text messages, social media, and email, if the system is paired to your smartphone
- Vehicle events: when doors are opened or closed, lights turned on or off, and when the vehicle is connected to Wi-Fi
- Location information: recent destinations, and navigation history
- Hard-braking and hard acceleration events
This data can be useful in determining what happened, where it happened, and who was involved. Infotainment systems can record months
of data, while event data recorders (black boxes) may only store data for a short period of time before a collision.
Driver Facing Cameras
Some newer vehicles from brands including Tesla, BMW, Jeep and Mini have driver facing cameras. These cameras analyze the driver's head position and interactions with objects, such as phones and passengers. If the driver's behavior is outside of the normal range for too long, the camera may issue a warning.
Footage and images from the driver facing cameras may also be downloadable and used as evidence in car crash litigation.
It is important to retain an attorney as soon as possible following a collision, so that data can be downloaded and preserved. The attorneys at Wham & Rogers can help make sure you are protected following a collision. If you have been in a collision, call 832-592-1108 or text (832) 413-1428 for a free consultation.
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The information on this website is for general information purposes only. None of the information on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
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