Presenting evidence is the most important factor in personal injury cases. The rapid rise of technology has had a significant and positive impact on personal injury law. Dashcams, smartphones, motor vehicles with state-of-the-art driving systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles are all very useful.
There are several ways technology can help:
- Record driving speed
- Specify location and weather conditions
- Take a photo of a license plate
- Reconstruct an accident scene
When most people think about technology and its use in car accident litigation, they think about proving the other person was at fault. But it can protect you against liability too. For example, when the other driver claims you were on your phone and caused an accident, your call history will show the exact time you hung up, and whether it was during the course of the wreck
Let’s dive into some of the ways technology can help in personal injury cases.
Smartphones
Our phones are continually collecting data about us, and contain all kinds of information like driving routes and driver behavior. If a GPS system is not a standalone unit in the car, it is usually installed on the driver’s phone. GPS proves your whereabouts and eliminates he-said, she-said arguments.
Dashcams
This is one of the more obvious technological advancements that help with evidence collection. Dashboard cameras are invaluable in forward-facing collisions because they capture every detail. If an oncoming driver crosses the line and hits you head on, you would have the whole incident recorded on video.
Drones
Unmanned aerial vehicles, also called UAVs or drones, can fly above a multi-vehicle pileup and record in real-time. They’re also used in accident reconstruction, so a jury or insurance company can visualize the scene. The UAVs provide video, images and maps that can recreate an accident scene in great detail.
Self-Driving Cars
Since the Uber accident in 2017, the rollout of driverless cars has slowed somewhat, but they are still used by rideshare companies in some test markets. The evidence collected by the computers in these vehicles provide almost indisputable evidence.
Wearables
A Fitbit or smartwatch may actually aid you in winning your personal injury case. Fitbit records a plethora of information about your health. If you were ever, for example, accused of fabricating injuries, your Fitbit device could be used to show jurors that you were healthy before the accident.
Remember that it’s a good idea to give your lawyer any and all evidence that can prove your innocence. Technology is a valuable tool only if you present it to your lawyer. Taking this step greatly improves your chances of getting a fair settlement. So ask yourself, do you carry any gadget on your person or in your car that collects data? When this type of hard evidence is presented, sometimes cases are dismissed or settled before they even go to court.
And it’s not only car accident cases where technology can play a big role.
Medical Malpractice
All medical procedures, and especially surgery, carry risk. Surgical animations are explainer presentations that can show a jury exactly how a surgery was performed and how something might have gone wrong.
Workers Comp
Proving your workers comp case just got a lot easier, thanks to technology. If you were injured at work, usually there will be video evidence available from a surveillance camera.
In any personal injury situation, you will want to secure aggressive representation as soon as possible. Visit greenberglawoffices.com to talk to an attorney that has experience using technology to win personal injury cases just like yours.
