What Is a Crash Data Recorder?
A crash data recorder is an onboard vehicle system that captures selected information about a collision and the moments surrounding it. The recorded information may include vehicle speed, braking activity, seat-belt use, airbag deployment, and impact forces. Investigators can use this data with other evidence to examine how a crash occurred.
Quick Facts About Crash Data Recorder
Category
Vehicle collision evidence
Used for
Reconstructing crash events
Common confusion
Not a video recording
Also called
Black Box, Event Data Recorder
Often discussed with
Driver-Assistance and Automated-Driving Collision Claims
Key Takeaways About Crash Data Recorder
- It records vehicle data surrounding a qualifying crash event.
- The data supplements, but does not replace, witness and physical evidence.
- A crash data recorder is not the same as a dashcam.
How Crash Data Recorder Works
A crash data recorder monitors selected vehicle systems and preserves information when the vehicle detects a significant collision event. Depending on the vehicle and system, the record may describe changes in speed, braking, restraint use, airbag commands, and impact direction. The device records data points, not a continuous video.
Related glossary terms: Accident Reconstruction, Evidence Preservation, Expert Witness.
Technicians may retrieve the information through vehicle diagnostic equipment and prepare a report for review. The record can help establish timing and vehicle movement, but it does not identify every cause of a collision. Investigators compare the data with scene evidence, vehicle damage, statements, photographs, and records from systems such as advanced driver-assistance systems. A vehicle may also contain separate telematics or event logs that require different methods of preservation and review.
From the Atlanta Auto Law team
When we handle an automated-driving or driver-assistance collision, we identify vehicles and systems that may hold relevant event data. We work to preserve available records and compare them with scene evidence, vehicle damage, and witness accounts. Our review also considers whether a system’s reported actions match the vehicle’s physical condition.
Crash Data Recorder in Practice: A Real-World Example
A driver-assistance vehicle strikes another car after the system issues a braking alert. The crash data recorder may show braking activity and vehicle movement, while photographs and repair records help examine whether the system responded as expected.
Related Terms
Accident Reconstruction
Accident Reconstruction is a technical analysis that explains how a collision occurred by examining physical evidence…
Evidence Preservation
Evidence Preservation is the process of identifying, collecting, protecting, and documenting information that may support a…
Expert Witness
An Expert Witness is a qualified professional who gives specialized opinions to help a court understand…
Causation
Causation is the connection between an act or omission and the harm that follows. In a…
Atlanta Auto Law
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