Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers | June 3, 2025 | Car Accidents
Many drivers remain unaware that modern vehicles often contain devices known as event data recorders (EDRs), commonly referred to as black boxes. These devices record specific data during a collision, providing valuable information for accident analysis. Here are some important things you should know.
What Is a Black Box?
Many cars on the road today have a device called an event data recorder, or EDR. Most people just call it a black box. When a car crash happens, the black box stores key details about what the car was doing in the seconds before and after impact.
A black box can show whether a driver was speeding, braking, or wearing a seatbelt. Auto insurance companies, personal injury lawyers, and police often use this data to understand the facts of a case.
Types of Data Collected by Black Boxes
A black box does not record everything. It only stores a short window of time around the crash, usually a few seconds before and after. During that window, it can capture:
- Speed
- Brake use
- Whether the seatbelt was fastened
- Throttle position
- Airbag deployment
- Impact force
This information can carry weight in legal claims and insurance disputes.
How Black Box Information Supports Accident Claims
Data retrieved from a vehicle’s black box can support accident claims by providing a clear sequence of events. If the box shows you slowed down and the other driver did not, it can help prove fault. If it shows you wore a seatbelt, it can support a claim for fair compensation. The data can also counter false statements or weak police reports.
Vehicles Commonly Equipped with Black Boxes
The inclusion of black boxes in vehicles varies by make and model. However, most vehicles manufactured after 2014, including most large automakers, come equipped with event data recorders as standard.
You may not see the device or know it exists, but it likely sits hidden in your car’s computer system. If you drove a newer car during your accident, there’s a good chance it recorded what happened. In many cases, that data still exists after the crash.
Accessing Black Box Data After a Crash
This data isn’t accessible without specialized tools and knowledge. The box stores it deep inside the car’s computer, and retrieving it takes special equipment. Insurance companies sometimes request it, and attorneys can work with accident experts to get it safely and legally.
Timing matters. If too much time passes, the data may disappear or reset. After a crash, it’s smart to act quickly. Your lawyer can help secure the data before it vanishes.
Using Black Box Data to Prove Liability
Black box data provides objective evidence that can clarify which driver was at fault in a car accident. For example, if the data indicates a driver went 20 mph over the limit or never hit the brakes, it can support a claim of negligence.
Insurance adjusters and juries look at this data when deciding how much to offer. Strong black box evidence can help you get fair treatment after a crash.
Presenting concrete evidence from a vehicle’s black box can influence negotiations with insurance companies. When faced with clear data indicating fault, insurers may be more inclined to settle claims promptly and fairly.
Contact the St. Petersburg Car Accident Law Firm of Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact the legal team of Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation with a car accident lawyer in St. Petersburg. We have convenient locations in Florida: St. Petersburg, Safety Harbor, Clearwater, New Port Richey, and Tampa.
We serve throughout Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, and its surrounding areas:
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
1811 N. Belcher Road, Suite I-1
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – Congress Ave Office
2360 Congress Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33763
(727) 591-5610
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
6601 Memorial Hwy Suite 202
Tampa, FL 33615
(813) 686-7588
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
2515 Seven Springs Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL, 34655
(727) 815-8442
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg Law Office
840 Beach Dr NE Suite 202
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – Safety Harbor Law Office
202 9th Ave S Suite A-2
Safety Harbor, FL 34695
(727) 787-2500