Black Boxes in Vehicles Gather Vital Information During Car Accidents

August 2, 2013

Car manufacturers are constantly looking for new technology to improve the safety of their vehicles. One little-known, but not so new, piece of safety technology used in cars today are event data recorders, otherwise known as “black boxes”.

In the event of a crash, this device can record crucial information about the vehicle prior to the crash, including speed, brake use, and even if the driver was wearing their seatbelt. The information gathered by this device has proven crucial in investigations into several cases where Car Accident Injuries occur and there are no witnesses.

The device is so useful that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed that all vehicles manufactured after September 2014 should be equipped with the device. However, some citizens are saying such a move is an invasion of their privacy. Others have filed suit questioning the accuracy of the information gathered by black boxes.

According to The New York Times, several states, including New York, have refuted this argument by enacting laws stating that law enforcement and those involved in civil litigation must get court orders to access the black box information following a crash.

The Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyers with William Mattar Law Offices applaud the efforts being made to require black boxes in vehicles and hope adopting the measures will help drivers to be safer on the road.