Modern in-car technology does more than protect occupants during a crash. Many modern cars record information that can help investigators understand how a collision happened, including vehicle speed, braking, airbag activity, and video from built-in or dashboard cameras.
That evidence can be useful when drivers disagree about what happened or when physical evidence does not tell the whole story. In a personal injury claim, car accident lawyers may compare digital vehicle information with police reports, photographs, witness statements, and damage patterns to build a more complete picture of the crash.
Key Information an Event Data Recorder Can Reveal
An event data recorder, or EDR, stores technical information for a short period before, during, and after certain crashes. EDRs may capture vehicle dynamics, driver inputs, restraint use, crash forces, and activation of automatic collision notification systems.
Depending on the vehicle and crash, useful data may include:
- Vehicle speed before impact
- Whether the driver applied the brakes
- Accelerator or throttle position
- Seat belt use
- Airbag deployment
- Changes in speed during the collision
Federal rules under 49 CFR Part 563 set requirements for the collection, storage, and retrieval of EDR information in vehicles covered by the regulation. Investigators can use this data to test whether statements about speed, braking, or other driver actions match the vehicle’s recorded information.
How Can Cameras Impact a Crash Investigation?
Dashcams and factory-installed cameras can add visual evidence to an investigation. Footage may show traffic signals, lane position, another vehicle’s movement, weather conditions, or the moments immediately before impact.
This can be particularly helpful in disputed intersections, lane changes, and rear-end crashes. Video does not automatically establish fault, but it can support or challenge what drivers and witnesses say happened.
What Role Does Driver-Assistance Technology Play?
Newer vehicles may have advanced driver-assistance systems, or ADAS, such as forward-collision warnings, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assistance. Information from these systems may help investigators determine whether a vehicle detected a danger or whether a safety feature activated before a collision.
The available information varies by manufacturer and vehicle. Investigators may also need specialized equipment or technical experts to retrieve and interpret certain electronic records correctly.
Importance of Preserving Digital Evidence
Some digital evidence may not remain available indefinitely. Older footage may be overwritten by camera systems, and repairing, selling, or disposing of a damaged vehicle may make electronic evidence more difficult to obtain.
Preserving the vehicle and any recordings that may be available after a serious crash can therefore be important. A thorough investigation can include EDR data, camera video, photos, roadway evidence, vehicle damage, witness statements, and the police report.
Does In-car Technology Prove Who’s at Fault?
No. In-car technology is evidence, but it is up to the investigators to use that evidence to decide the person at fault. A speed reading, braking record, or video clip might resolve one question, but not another.
Digital records are most useful when they are used in conjunction with traditional evidence. Crash investigations are getting more detailed as vehicles gather more data, but human analysis is still required to understand what the data actually means.
Key Takeaways
- Modern vehicles may preserve valuable digital crash evidence.
- EDRs can record speed, braking, restraint use, and other technical information.
- Dashcam and built-in camera footage can clarify disputed events.
- ADAS records may show whether certain safety systems detected or reacted to danger.
- Digital evidence works best when combined with physical evidence and witness accounts.