In the blink of an eye, a car crash can turn your world upside down. Because so much can happen so quickly, it can take a lot of work to piece together the details of what exactly happened. Doing so can require a thorough investigation of the evidence.
And there’s a new player in the realm of personal injury claims: wearable technology.
The impact of wearable tech on accidents
Wearable tech, like fitness trackers and smartwatches, are becoming more common. However, as with other personal devices like phones and tablets, wearable technology can be equal parts helpful and distracting.
For instance, smartwatches can deliver notifications that take your eyes off the road, leading to accidents. Users can also get distracted by setting up a device, sending a message or adjusting the fit.
What can wearable data tell us?
Even though wearable technology can be distracting, it can also be the source of crucial data. Thus, after an accident, securing evidence is vital. Wearable tech can reveal details like:
- Digital snapshot: It can show if the wearer was active or moving, possibly indicating they were driving.
- Physical activity: After a crash, these devices can provide data like heart rate, which might show stress levels at the time of the incident.
- Location: GPS data can confirm the wearer’s location at the time of the accident.
These details can help strengthen any legal claim you might pursue against a negligent party.
An important piece of the puzzle?
This data can provide insights that were once all but impossible to obtain, including:
- Objective data: Provides unbiased information about the wearer’s state and health condition.
- Timeline: Establishes a sequence of events leading up to the accident.
- Behaviour patterns: Shows the wearer’s usual routes, sleep history and activity levels.
Having said this, it is crucial to remember that while technology offers new insights, it also has limitations and is far from perfect. It’s essential to understand what data can and cannot tell us about an accident.
Therefore, building a claim for compensation after being hurt in a crash can require collecting as much supporting evidence as possible. Thankfully, you need not do this alone; you can work with legal professionals to conduct a thorough investigation to pursue the damages you may deserve.