Attorney Amy Witherite Says There May Be More Witnesses to Your Accident Than You Realize

After an Accident, Your Car Could Help You Out or Rat on You

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Attorney and traffic safety expert Amy Witherite says vehicles can provide valuable information should you be involved in an accident if you know where to look and how to access it.

“The technology in your vehicle as well as others involved in an accident can provide a wealth of valuable information. That is especially important when it comes to determining liability and ultimately damages,” says Witherite. “Knowing the type of information each vehicle can provide and taking steps to preserve and recover it should not be delayed.”

There are several available sources of information:

• Airbag Control Modules (ACM) – These show when airbags are deployed as well as: speed, change in velocity, brake application, ABS activity, seatbelt usage, throttle percentage, engine RPM, gear selection, steering angle, and whether stability control is engaged.
• Engine Control Module (ECM) – Required on all tractor-trailers and other large commercial vehicles, provides similar information as the ACM.
• Fleet Management Systems – These can provide detailed information on a vehicle’s operations long before an accident and provide evidence of unsafe driving such as speeding or hard braking.
• Tesla cameras - Tesla cameras and software can provide video to help determine the cause of an accident and who is at fault. The video can be used as evidence in court.
• Self-Driving and Driverless Vehicles – We are just learning how much and what type of information these systems can retain and provide. Since each one is proprietary it will take technical expertise to understand the data.

“Today just seeking out eyewitnesses or a copy of a police report isn’t enough,” said Witherite. “In a serious traffic accident it is important to have attorneys take steps to preserve and recover evidence.

“This can include notifying potential defendants to preserve evidence, issuing subpoenas for evidence, and having experts who can evaluate the electronic information provided.

“The bottom line is that if you are involved in a serious accident, it is never too soon to get expert help.”

The Witherite Law Group specializes in vehicle accident cases and offers crucial support for individuals involved in accidents with driverless vehicles. For more information visit their website. www.witheritelaw.com.