Some drivers wonder, “Do cars have black boxes?” The answer is that most modern vehicles do. These devices, officially known as event data recorders (EDRs), capture data such as speed, braking, seat belt use, and airbag deployment. Although federal law does not require black boxes in cars, most manufacturers install black boxes in new cars voluntarily to improve safety analysis and accident reconstruction in car accident cases. Federal regulations under 49 C.F.R. § 563 set the standards for any data recorded.
The Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy provides skilled legal representation for victims injured in car accidents, truck accidents, or other types of motor vehicle accidents across Pennsylvania. Easton car accident attorney Ed Shaughnessy can help you recover the compensation you deserve. To schedule a free consultation, call 610-258-9955.
What is a Black Box in a Car?
Most cars are equipped with a black box, sometimes also called an event data recorder (EDR). Similar to the black boxes used in airplanes, event data recorders/black boxes in cars record and store important data about the vehicle. EDR data can provide crucial evidence following car accidents.
Information provided by your vehicle’s black box may be relevant to auto accident-related personal injury claims, insurance claims, and more. Auto accident injury lawyers in Easton can help you determine if black box information is useful to your case.
Do All Cars Have a Black Box?
No. While most modern cars have black boxes, not all do. Vehicles manufactured by major auto manufacturers such as Ford, GM, Nissan, Chrysler, Honda, and Toyota often have event data recorders. You should be able to find information about your vehicle’s black box in the owner’s manual for your vehicle.
List of Vehicles With Black Boxes
Most cars now contain event data recorders (EDRs). Black boxes record crash-related data such as speed, braking, and seat belt use. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires most manufacturers to include EDRs in vehicles manufactured after September 1, 2014.
Manufacturers whose vehicles commonly include black boxes:
- Acura
- Audi
- BMW
- Buick
- Cadillac
- Chevrolet
- Chrysler
- Dodge
- Ford
- GMC
- Honda
- Hyundai
- Infiniti
- Jeep
- Kia
- Lexus
- Lincoln
- Mazda
- Mercedes-Benz
- Nissan
- Subaru
- Tesla
- Toyota
- Volkswagen
- Volvo
Some commercial trucks, buses, and motorcycles also have event data recorders or telematics systems, though motorcycle use varies by manufacturer. Nearly all passenger vehicles sold in the United States after 2014 include a black box as standard equipment.
Are Car Black Boxes Required by Law?
No. Event data recorders (EDRs), or car black boxes, are not required by federal law. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed a rule in 2012 to make EDRs mandatory in all new vehicles starting in 2015, but that proposal was never finalized. However, the NHTSA regulates the design, purpose, and data standards of any event data recorder that the automaker chooses to install.
While not a requirement, many vehicles are made with event data recorders installed. In response to their commonplace use, the federal government implemented laws to regulate black boxes in cars. Specifically, 49 CFR § 563.3 details regulations regarding the scope, purpose, and application of event data recorders.
How Does a Black Box Work in a Car?
A black box records data about various aspects of your vehicle’s performance. The exact type of data stored on your EDR will depend on the automaker, make, and model, but EDR data typically includes 15 or more variables. Such data can provide invaluable insight into any vehicles involved in a car accident. Black boxes cannot record data if the vehicle is turned off, however.
What Does a Car Black Box Record?
In the event of a car accident, your EDR data can provide valuable evidence that may indicate who the at-fault driver is. Depending on the make and model of your car, your EDR data may include the following:
- Vehicle Speed: Speeds prior to the car crash, including acceleration and deceleration speeds, as well as changes in speed during the impact
- Crash Information: Information about the crash itself, such as crash duration, force of impact, and tilt of the vehicle
- Use and Position Information: The use or position of certain vehicle parts may be available in the black box information. This can include steering angles, throttle position, seat belt usage, and if brakes were applied.
- Airbag system: The time of airbag deployment.
The amount of information your car’s EDR data provides will also vary depending on the specific EDR and the circumstances of the crash. The recording duration may range from as much as 20 seconds prior to the accident to as little as a few seconds before the collision.
How Long Does a Car Black Box Store Data?
While black boxes record data continuously while your vehicle is turned on, not all data is saved. Generally speaking, a vehicle’s black box recordings are saved when either
- The vehicle safety system is initiated (even if airbag deployment does not occur) OR
- The airbag deploys
In the first case, it is likely that a “near miss” occurred. You had a near accident, but an actual collision did not occur. This triggers the EDR system to store data for approximately 250 ignition cycles, or roughly 3 to 4 weeks. Accidents involving airbag deployment, on the other hand, trigger the system to store data for a longer period.
In either situation, it is crucial to obtain black box data as soon as possible.
How Does Black Box Car Insurance Work?
Black box car insurance, or telematics insurance, works by using a device or system inside the vehicle to record driving behavior and calculate premiums based on performance rather than standardized risk factors. Insurance companies can monitor black boxes in cars for data like speed, acceleration, braking, mileage, and driving times to assess how safely the policyholder drives. Insurers then adjust rates. Data is transmitted securely to the insurance company. Most policies provide access to driving reports through an online portal or app. In Pennsylvania, participation in black box insurance is voluntary, and privacy rules require insurers to disclose how driving data is collected and used.
Who Can Access Black Box Data?
Federal regulations limit who can access black box data. Under the Driver Privacy Act, the vehicle owner or leasee owns the black box data. However, there are situations where the black box data may be of interest to law enforcement agencies and insurance companies.
Can Black Box Information Be Accessed After an Accident?
Police, insurance companies, and other third parties can only gain access to your vehicle’s black box data through a court order or by your consent. In some cases, insurers may secure consent to view black box data through prior agreements. For example, some insurance companies include clauses to obtain black box data in their policies with commercial drivers.
Your lawyer may also seek to obtain the other driver’s black box data through a court order as evidence in your car accident lawsuit.
Using Black Box in Car Accident Cases in Pennsylvania
A car’s black boxes provide valuable data that can be crucial for building strong personal injury claims in Pennsylvania. Insurance companies may dispute personal injury claims to avoid paying out. When filing insurance claims, the black box data of any vehicles involved in the motor vehicle accident can have a serious impact.
Black box information is useful for personal injury claims caused by auto accidents. This is especially true when a party needs to prove fault in an insurance dispute or when insurance companies delay payments. The data recorded by a vehicle’s event data recorder (EDR) can provide objective evidence about speed, braking, and other factors at the time of impact, helping to clarify how the accident occurred and who was responsible.
For example, it can be challenging to prove fault when the testimonies from the parties involved in an auto accident fail to paint a clear picture of the events leading up to the accident. Parties may not remember clearly, or their testimonies may outright contradict each other.
If your insurance company is refuting claims or delaying compensation, you may need a car accident lawyer to help you determine liability in the insurance claim. Our attorneys are skilled at obtaining black box data to hold the at-fault driver responsible.
Data recorded by your vehicle’s EDR and the EDR data of other parties involved can help establish several key factors about the accident. When eyewitness testimony isn’t reliable, this data can be used to determine what happened prior to the accident, the magnitude of the collision, if other vehicles were involved in the accident, and to determine fault.
If you’ve been injured in a car or truck accident in Easton, don’t wait to seek out reliable legal assistance. Having the right legal representation can make all the difference in insurance claims. Easton car insurance dispute lawyer Ed Shaughnessy understands that many families need a skilled attorney in their corner to fight back against bad faith insurer practices in the aftermath of auto accidents.
Black Box Data: Truck Accident Litigation
Like black boxes in cars, in truck accident litigation, the vehicle’s electronic control module (ECM), event data recorder (EDR), or similar devices are vital sources of evidence. These devices capture critical details before and during a collision. In Pennsylvania, this information can help determine whether the driver violated federal trucking regulations, exceeded hours-of-service limits, or operated recklessly. Attorneys use black boxes to reconstruct the collision, establish liability, and counter disputes raised by companies or insurers. Because trucking companies often control access to the data, acting quickly to preserve and retrieve the black box is essential for building a strong legal claim.
Contact a Lehigh Valley truck accident lawyer to schedule a free consultation today if you have any questions.
Can Black Box Data Be Used Against You in Court?
Yes, black box data can be used against you in court. Law enforcement agencies or the lawyer of the other driver may seek a court order to obtain your black box data. Depending on the circumstances, this data can either positively or negatively impact your claim.
This is why relying solely on EDR data may not yield the best outcome for your case. Car accident lawyers like Ed Shaughnessy thoroughly review all the details of your case, utilizing their experience, knowledge, and proven legal strategies to build a strong case on your behalf.
How to Know if Your Car Has a Black Box
The majority of vehicles manufactured after 2014 are equipped with black boxes. You can check the owner’s manual of your vehicle to learn for certain if your vehicle has a black box.
Injured in an Auto Accident? Call Easton Personal Injury Attorney Ed Shaughnessy Today
If you’ve been harmed in a car accident, truck accident, or other type of auto accident, you’ll need an experienced car accident lawyer to help you secure a fair settlement. Easton auto accident lawyer Ed Shaughnessy offers dedicated support to protect your family’s legal rights to compensation after suffering in a car accident. If you have any questions or need to increase your settlement offer, trust that Shaughnessy’s law firm can help protect your rights. To start, contact the Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy by calling 610-258-9955 or filling out the contact form.
