What Is an Event Data Recorder (EDR) and How Can It Help Your Car Accident Case?
Over the past decades, there have been many technological advancements. These advancements are affecting every aspect of our lives. Motor vehicle technology has not been left behind. Over the years, motor vehicle equipment has seen significant advancements. One of the major developments in motor vehicle equipment is the Event Data Recorder (EDR). After an accident, an EDR could prove helpful. This article discusses what an Event Data Recorder is and how it can help your car accident case.
What Is an Event Data Recorder (EDR)?
Most modern vehicles have an Event Data Recorder (EDR). An EDR is an electronic device that records specific technical vehicle and occupant information for a brief period. This device, typically located under the driver’s seat, is often called a “black box.” Before, these devices could only capture information about airbag deployment. Now, EDRs can track at least fifteen different variables. EDRs have become quite helpful in car accident cases.
How Can an EDR Help in a Car Accident Case?
In Florida, when you suffer injuries in a car accident, you can seek financial compensation for your injuries and damages. However, you must prove that another party was liable for the accident to recover compensation. In other words, you must prove negligence on the other party’s part. An EDR can help you prove liability. EDRs are designed to record accident-related information. An Event Data Recorder will record information before, during, and after an accident. The following is some of the information an EDR can record in the event of a crash;
- Speed at impact and after the impact
- Airbag deployment status
- Restraint usage, such as if the seatbelt was buckled before the accident
- Gear changes
- Door openings
- Vehicle crash severity signature
- Driver inputs, such as whether the brake was pressed
Usually, EDRs record information in a loop, with new data continuously overwriting older data until an accident happens. When a crash occurs, the device saves the relevant information for a specific period (usually 5 to 20 seconds before and after the crash).
The information on an EDR can provide clear evidence of what happened. For example, the data on the other vehicle’s EDR could help show how fast the defendant was moving, whereas the data on your EDR could help show how fast you were moving. If there are allegations that you were speeding, EDR data can help disprove these claims.
Now that you know how EDR data can help after a car accident, you may be wondering how to obtain this data. Generally, there are three ways to obtain EDR data. First, this data can be obtained through the vehicle owner. Second, it can be obtained with consent from the vehicle owner or their insurance company. Lastly, EDR data can be obtained via a court order. Usually, to use the other vehicle’s EDR data to support a case, an attorney will need to access the other vehicle through an agreement with the other driver’s insurance company or court order.
Contact Us for Legal Help
If you’ve been injured in a Florida car accident, our Miami personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm know how to obtain and use EDR data to strengthen our clients’ cases. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discuss your case.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, Ocala, Tampa, Jacksonville, Bradenton, Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach, Naples, and Melbourne areas.
