Modern technology has changed how law enforcement, personal injury attorneys, and insurance carriers investigate collisions. The latest advancements in technology have improved the accuracy and efficiency of investigations and provided much more reliable forensic evidence than investigators could find in the past.
How could technology and its use in collecting forensic evidence affect how your car accident attorney manages your case? The truth is that it already influences your lawyer, the police at the crash scene, and investigators working for the insurance companies. Keep reading to find out how.
The Role of Technology in Accident Investigations
While investigators still use “old school” techniques to identify, preserve, and analyze some evidence in traffic accident investigations, technology plays a much more significant role than ever before. Modern techniques might shape your car accident case using evidence derived from the following technologies.
Surveillance Cameras, Traffic Cameras, and Dashcams
More and more, real-time footage of collisions exists because of the widespread use of surveillance cameras at nearby businesses or homes, cameras to monitor traffic, and dashcams used by individuals and commercial vehicles. This evidence often plays a critical role in reconstructing accidents and determining their cause.
Drones
Surveyors used to need to be on the ground for hours or make repeat visits to a crash site, tying up traffic and even putting their lives at risk. Today, some investigators use drones to capture aerial views of the crash scene and use this footage to analyze the scene as a part of their research.
Vehicle Black Boxes
Previously, only airplanes, buses, and some 18-wheelers had telematics systems and event data recorders (EDRs, also known as black boxes). Today, these are becoming increasingly common in passenger vehicles and installed in most commercial vehicles. These systems provide insight into the vehicle’s speed, braking patterns, and other details surrounding the time leading to the crash.
GPS and Satellite Navigation Systems
Your GPS data could help establish the timeline in your case. Alternatively, the at-fault driver’s navigation system could track their vehicle movements and establish the timeline of when they stopped and where. In addition, it could help reconstruct the route they took and whether they made any deviations or stops along the way.
Accident Reconstruction
Accident reconstruction, typically performed by experts well-trained in these techniques, increasingly relies on numerous forms of innovative technology to gather and analyze the physical evidence following a crash. This forensic evidence allows the specialist to understand better what happened and more accurately reconstruct the scenario that caused the crash.
Digital Forensics
Digital forensics has made numerous advances over the last few years. It is now possible to compile and analyze digital evidence such as cell phone records and communication logs to determine if distractions played a role in causing a crash. This technology can also help determine other contributing factors.
What Are the Challenges and Considerations for Adopting Technology in Accident Investigation Techniques?
Critics have raised several concerns about the increased use of technology in accident investigations.
Data Privacy and Legal Issues
Some people believe the use of technology to gather and analyze forensic evidence is a violation of privacy. For example, they raise privacy concerns related to digital forensics and telematic data. One illustration of this concern is how some people refuse to allow their insurance company to monitor their driving habits through a telematics device.
Investigators must step carefully when using technology to gather and view digital forensic evidence or other potentially confidential information and use it as evidence in court.
Accuracy and Reliability of Technology
Much of the tech used in accident investigations is still somewhat new, raising concerns about the reliability of the data and potential errors in the evidence. Investigators must also have the training and experience necessary to accurately interpret the information gathered to ensure they reach the correct conclusions.
Why Should I Ask My Attorney About Their Use of Technology in Car Accident Investigations?
When possible, you want to choose a car accident lawyer whose firm has the knowledge and resources to employ the most technologically advanced tactics to investigate your crash and develop a compelling case. This expertise is essential since technology and forensic evidence are playing an increasingly significant role in modern accident investigations.
This importance will only increase as more technological advancements come onto the scene. Not only must law firms learn to embrace technology to build more compelling cases for their clients, but they will also need to be familiar with the techniques to counter their use and the evidence gathered through them during jury trials.
Why Is a Solid Case Vital in a Florida Car Accident Claim?
Under Florida’s Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law, crash victims can only hold an at-fault driver legally accountable under particular circumstances. They must show they have “serious” injuries or their damages will cost more than their personal injury protection (PIP) policy will cover. Using technology to catalog expenses and understand injuries and prognosis could make a difference in the legal options available after a collision.
In addition, per Florida Statutes § 95.11, you likely only have up to two years to sue the at-fault driver. If your attorney cannot reach a fair settlement with their insurance carrier before this date, they will need to prepare a complaint and file it in the appropriate civil court. Having convincing evidence to support your claim—including that gathered using modern technology—could allow you to settle your case without going to trial.
Discuss Your Car Accident Case With Our Legal Team for Free
At the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato, we use technology to our client’s advantage, building stronger, more efficient cases to help them get justice after sustaining severe accident injuries. We provide free consultations so victims can learn more about their options and how we handle cases with no upfront fees.
Contact us at (954) 633-8270 today for your free, no-obligation consultation.
