While black box data does not always play a role in Florida car accident investigations, it can be a critical source of evidence. The role such data plays in your accident investigation may depend on whether such evidence is available, what other evidence is available, and how relevant black box data is to your lawyer’s investigation.
It may be difficult for you to obtain black box data, interpret it, and incorporate it into your case. Consider hiring a car accident lawyer in Florida to obtain black box data (and other relevant evidence) as they create your case for compensation.
Black Box Data Is One of Several Types of Evidence That May Benefit Your Car Accident Investigation
Black boxes, also known as event data recorders (EDRs), can record a range of information relevant to a Florida accident investigation. It’s just one of several types of evidence an attorney may collect as they build your case:
- Testimony from all witnesses to the car accident or relevant circumstances (e.g., the at-fault motorist weaving through traffic at high speed)
- Video footage or an accident reconstruction that illustrates how the crash happened
- Police report detailing facts about the car accident
- Expert testimony about who and what caused the car crash
If you hire a lawyer, they will know how to obtain all evidence that will benefit your case. Whether the available evidence includes car crash data from a black box in Florida, your lawyer will work diligently to build the most compelling case they can.
What Relevant Information Could a Car’s Black Box Record?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) explains that EDRs generally record data about an “event,” including accidents. Car-accident-specific data a black box captures may include:
- The speed at which the vehicle was traveling at the time of the collision
- Information about the force of impact during a collision
- Brake usage
- Steering data
- Whether a driver received a warning from the vehicle’s onboard crash avoidance systems
Each Florida crash investigation involves different data. Sometimes, black box data is not available to an attorney because:
- One or more vehicles involved in the accident did not have a black box
- A lawyer cannot obtain black box data from an unwilling party
- The black box did not function at the time of the accident
- The black box data is irretrievable or uninterpretable
While the NHTSA notes that the advent of black boxes came in the 1970s, it’s not a given that all cars involved in your accident had a functioning black box. Sometimes, securing black box data may not be worth the cost or trouble because other available evidence is overwhelmingly convincing.
Can a Lawyer Obtain Black Box Data as They Build My Car Accident Case?
Obtaining black box data in Florida may require a lawyer to take legal action, mainly if the black box is in someone else’s vehicle.
A letter of spoliation is one strategy a lawyer may use to secure evidence during their Florida accident investigation. Such letters require liable parties to preserve evidence that could be relevant to a lawsuit (e.g., a car accident lawsuit), and black box data could indeed apply to your case.
Our attorneys evaluate all available evidence, determine if black box data can benefit our client’s case, and seek that data if we believe it will improve the client’s chances of success.
Additional Ways That a Florida Car Accident Lawyer Can Protect and Advocate for You
Those involved in car accidents suddenly face a mountain of responsibilities. Hiring a Florida car accident lawyer can immediately and drastically simplify your life as they handle these tasks.
Use the Evidence They Collect to Prove Who Caused the Accident
Not only will your lawyer secure black box data and other relevant evidence, but they will also organize and build a case that establishes who is at fault for your accident.
Protect You From Attempts to Violate Your Rights
Our Florida car accident lawyers fight, but we also take a defense posture when our clients require it to address the following:
- Undue pressure to have you make a statement
- Delays in the insurance claims process
- Lowball settlement offers
- Other bad-faith tactics or attempts to violate your rights
Insurers employ these bad-faith tactics all too often after car accidents, and we know how to respond to them.
Fight for a Fair Settlement
Depending on how your case unfolds, your lawyer may engage in settlement negotiations, which is the most common way to secure fair compensation for car accident victims.
Take Any Necessary Legal Action
Our lawyers always prepare our cases for trial. Each case follows a unique path, so we prepare for any potential outcome with various strategies. If you elect to file a lawsuit or go to trial, we will lead the way.
Not only drivers could use black box data for their cases. We can provide you with a Florida pedestrian accident lawyer need one, and we also represent bicyclists, scooter riders, motorcycle riders, and others injured in collisions with cars and trucks.
Damages Your Car Accident Attorney May Include in Their Settlement Demands
Injuries, symptoms, and the extent of property damage can all affect the value of a car accident claim. Your lawyer will evaluate all relevant information as they determine the value of any accident-related:
- Pain and suffering
- Property expenses (like car repairs)
- Lost income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Medical costs
A lawyer’s mission is to secure sufficient compensation for accident victims to cover all their losses, so documenting your damages is a critical step toward achieving that goal.
Call the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato Today for Your Free Consultation About a Florida Car Accident Lawyer
A Florida car accident attorney from the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato may have little time to file your case, as we often encounter deadlines when seeking compensation for our clients. Call our team today for your free consultation about hiring a Florida car accident lawyer.
Our attorneys have achieved case results that warrant your attention. Don’t wait to complete your free consultation, at which time we will explain the role that black box data could have in our investigation and the next steps you can take.
