\nNetflix\u2019s \u201cThe Crash\u201d Has an Important Hidden Message for Anyone Who Drives<\/b><\/p>
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mackenzie Shirilla sits in jail because a device she probably didn\u2019t know existed proved she never touched the brakes before crashing into a wall at 100 miles per hour killing her two passengers. That case is the subject of the new Netflix documentary The Crash. <\/i>Dallas attorney and traffic safety advocate Amy Witherite, founder of the Witherite Law Group<\/a>, says that same technology is doing something else every day helping accident victims get justice.<\/p> \n\u201cThat same black box is riding in nearly every vehicle on the road right now,\u201d says Witherite. \u201cAnd if you are ever seriously injured in an accident caused by someone else\u2019s negligence, that data could be the difference between proving your case and walking away with nothing.\u201d<\/i><\/p> \nEvent Data Recorders capture a precise snapshot of a vehicle\u2019s actions in the critical seconds before impact speed, braking, throttle position, seatbelt usage, and whether safety systems were engaged. In accident litigation, that data can be decisive evidence of negligence. But there is a critical catch: the window to preserve it can close quickly, and decoding it requires specialized technical expertise most accident victims don\u2019t know they need.<\/p> \n\u201cToday, just seeking out eyewitnesses or a copy of a police report isn\u2019t enough,\u201d Witherite says. \u201cThe technology in your vehicle \u2014 as well as others involved in an accident \u2014 can provide a wealth of valuable information. That is especially important when it comes to determining liability and ultimately damages. Knowing what is available and taking immediate steps to preserve and recover it cannot be delayed.\u201d<\/i><\/p> \nBeyond the Black Box: A Vehicle\u2019s Full Digital Footprint<\/b><\/p> \nWitherite, who specializes in vehicle accident cases involving commercial trucks, driverless vehicles, and advanced driver-assistance systems, notes that Event Data Recorders are just one piece of a much larger digital picture that skilled attorneys can access:<\/p> \nWhy Victims Must Act Immediately<\/b><\/p> \nEDR data can be overwritten or lost. Witherite emphasizes that preserving electronic evidence requires prompt legal action \u2014 including formally notifying potential defendants of their obligation to preserve data, issuing subpoenas for electronic records, and retaining technical experts who can download, interpret, and present vehicle data in a courtroom.<\/p> \n\u201cThe bottom line is that if you are involved in a serious accident, it is never too soon to get expert help,\u201d says Witherite. \u201cThe evidence that proves your case may already exist inside the vehicles involved. The question is whether anyone moves fast enough to get it.\u201d<\/i><\/p> \nAbout Amy Witherite and the Witherite Law Group<\/b><\/p> \nAmy Witherite is a Dallas-based attorney, founder of the Witherite Law Group, and a nationally recognized traffic safety advocate. She specializes in serious vehicle accident cases, including accidents involving commercial trucks, driverless vehicles, and advanced driver-assistance systems, and has extensive experience using electronic vehicle data to build cases for injured clients. For more information, visit www.witheritelaw.com<\/a><\/b>.<\/p>\n