WSJ: "R. Rex Parris Calls for the Mandatory Utilization of Car Black Boxes"

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WSJ: "R. Rex Parris Calls for the Mandatory Utilization of Car Black Boxes"

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http://www.marketwatch.com/story/r-rex- ... 2012-07-19
LANCASTER, Calif., Jul 19, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- R. Rex Parris today called on the California Legislature to mandate the utilization of data recorders by insurance companies so that vital information can be collected after injury accidents.

When airplanes crash, investigators look for the black box to help understand what happened, improve safety and affix blame. The United States Senate has passed a bill that would require similar "event data recorders" or EDRs to be in all new vehicles by 2015. Vehicle Event data recorders collect and record vital information regarding a crash, much like black boxes do for airliners. These devices provide information concerning the moments prior to the crash, such as the speed of the vehicle involved, if and when the brakes were applied, at what speed the airbags deployed, if seatbelts were worn, etc., delivering vital and incontestable evidence.

"Electronic data recorders take the guesswork out of the speed the cars were moving or if the client was wearing a seat belt, did the airbags deploy, etc. They can also provide information regarding safety issues, consequently leading to the installment and incorporation of safety features that were previously unavailable or undiscovered," stated R. Rex Parris, an attorney who has successfully used data from recorders in several car accident cases.

As useful as this device is, insurance companies rarely use the information provided by event data recorders, due to its detrimental nature of providing facts about their clients regarding a crash, and potentially determining them to be at fault, thus costing the insurance company. "Insurance companies save a lot of money by not knowing what the true facts are. This is especially the case for rear-end collisions, seeing as how those cases are usually the fault of the driver that drove into the car in front. Data from a front-end collision is beneficial to the person hurt, and often detrimental to the insurance company. Many insurance companies obstruct justice by allowing the data to be erased. It is evident that the insurance companies are contesting the mandated utilization of recorded information from the event data recorders solely due to potentially negative financial impacts," stated Parris.

"There is a need for insurance companies to download the data and to share the data in order to provide facts regarding the case rather than leaving it open to interpretation. The utilization of the facts provided by the event data recorders in cars after an accident can save taxpayers by either speeding the process of a trial or skipping the entire trial process altogether. Since the factual evidence is already provided by the event data recorder, it would potentially be very simple to determine which driver was at fault in the accident," added Parris.

The vital data on the recorder provides a lot of information that could shorten trials, and in many removes the necessity of a trial. "It is common for those at fault in a serious car accident to lie about their actions that led to the crash. Event data recorders help diminish the possibility of dishonesty since the actual facts regarding the at-fault involved vehicle's speed, application of brakes, etc. are all provided, with no possible likelihood of distortion of the truth. The simple fact is that vehicle data recorders keep people honest. People cannot lie about their speed or what occurred because there's factual evidence saying what happened," added Parris

Under California law, information recorded in event data recorders can only be used and/or collected by authorities, insurance companies, and attorneys, by the consent of the legal owner of the vehicle, or by an authorized search warrant. "While the law provides privacy to those involved from potential determination of being at fault, it continues the immense costs of court fees on taxpayers, as well as financially benefiting insurance companies," said Parris.

"The lack of utilization of the event data recorders by insurance companies is strictly for their personal financial benefit, as can easily be seen regarding the information provided above. It is also an immense financial injustice to citizens, seeing as how the insurance companies' reliance on witnesses and personal determinations of fault usually lead to court trials, thus costing taxpayers. Additionally, it is also an immense ethical injustice to victims involved in serious car crashes due to the potential vulnerability of the truth and the possibility of its falsification by those truly at fault," concluded Parris.

About The R. Rex Parris Law Firm

For 25 years, R. Rex Parris has devoted his practice to protecting the rights of injured people. Rex and his dedicated team provide thorough, high-quality representation with integrity and compassion. From motor vehicle crashes to class actions and defective products, these lawyers fight aggressively against corporate defense attorneys and insurance companies to ensure their clients get the compensation they deserve.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/r-rex- ... 2012-07-19
Sean Haight, PhD

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