What Is a Black Box and Does My Car Have One?

June 4, 2025 | Car Accidents

What Is a Black Box and Does My Car Have One?

When most people hear “black box,” they think of airplanes. However, many modern vehicles also have them, quietly recording critical data every time you drive. Officially known as an event data recorder, a car’s black box can capture key details in the moments before, during, and after a collision, like speed, braking, and seatbelt use.

So why does this matter after a crash? 

When another party causes a car accident in Pennsylvania, they may be liable for the economic and non-economic damages resulting from the accident. However, the accident victim has the burden of proving causation and fault to establish liability for a personal injury claim. It is crucial to gather evidence after an automobile accident. One source of evidence is data collected from a car’s black box.

What Is a Black Box in a Car?

A black box, also known as an event data recorder (EDR), is a device that records a vehicle’s data. 

A vehicle’s black box records information including:

  • The vehicle’s speed, including changes in forward crash acceleration
  • Brake usage, including whether the brakes were engaged immediately before a collision
  • Airbag deployment, including how long it took the airbags to deploy after a crash
  • Seatbelt usage, including whether the driver was wearing a seatbelt when a collision occurred
  • Throttle position, including how far down the accelerator was pushed
  • The total number of collisions after the initial collision (i.e., multiple vehicle accidents or crashes that push vehicles into other objects)

Most black boxes store data for a limited period, typically ranging from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. However, the seconds before a crash can provide critical information that helps explain the factors that led to the crash.

Most newer vehicles have black boxes. However, many consumers are not aware that their vehicles have these recording devices. Therefore, they may overlook this evidence if they are not working with an experienced Harrisburg car accident attorney.

How Do I Get the Information from My Car’s Black Box After a Car Accident?

Manufacturers strategically place black boxes in locations within the vehicle that are less likely to be impacted during a crash. The box may be a different color other than black. If you do not know where to look, you may not find the black box in your vehicle.

Even if you locate the black box, retrieving the data requires specialized knowledge and equipment. Accident reconstructionists and other experts review the data to determine if any of the recorded events may have contributed to the cause of the accident.

How Can the Information in a Car’s Black Box Help You Recover Compensation for a Car Accident?

The event data recorder in a vehicle can help prove that a driver acted negligently in the moments leading up to a crash. For example, the black box data may prove that the vehicle was traveling at excessive speeds immediately before the collision. It could prove that the driver did not apply the brakes, which may support the allegation that the driver was distracted at the time of the collision. Data related to steering may indicate that the driver swerved sharply into another lane before the crash.

The black box data may be used to contradict a driver’s statements about the events prior to the accident. On the other hand, the information may confirm a driver’s statement about the events that led to the crash.

The black box data belongs to the car owner. However, law enforcement officials may obtain a warrant or court order to obtain the black box data. For example, the court may issue a warrant for the black box data in a DUI accident investigation if the vehicle owner does not consent to law enforcement accessing the data.

The insurance company may request the black box data for an insurance claim or before an accident settlement. Refusing to allow access to the data could make it more difficult to pursue the claim, even resulting in a denial of the insurance claim. If a person files a civil lawsuit seeking compensation for a car accident, they may be required to disclose the black box data during the discovery process of the lawsuit.

Black Box Data Could Be the Key to Your Car Accident Case

While often overlooked, the black box in your car can hold powerful evidence that supports your personal injury claim after a crash. From capturing speed and braking behavior to confirming seatbelt use and impact timing, this data can help establish fault and protect your right to compensation. 

If you’ve been in an accident in Pennsylvania, working with a skilled car accident attorney is essential to ensure black box data is preserved, accessed legally, and used effectively in your case. Contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates today for a free consultation. 

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, please contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today:

Harrisburg Law Office
945 East Park Drive, Suite 103 Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 231-1640

York Law Office
2550 Kingston Road, Suite 210A York, PA 17401
(717) 995-8998

Wyomissing Law Office
833 N. Park Road, Suite 103, Room A Wyomissing, PA 19610
(717) 388-2325

Chambersburg Law Office
79 St. Paul Drive, Suite 1 Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 388-2378

Carlisle Law Office
354 Alexander Springs Road Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 995-8732

Carbondale Law Office
30 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 101 Carbondale, PA 18407
(717) 995-8810

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2173 Embassy Drive, Ste 123, Lancaster PA 17603
(717) 616-2954

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937 Willow Street, Suite D Lebanon, PA 17042-1140
(717) 995-8963