The Role of Technology in Car Accidents: Distracted Driving, Autonomous Vehicles, and More

• February 9, 2025
• Attorney David Mann
• Car Accidents

The increased use of technology in cars has made our time on the road more enjoyable.  From autonomous driving to GPS navigation, our grandparents would be shocked to see how far car technology has come.  There are, however, downsides to the advancement of vehicle technology.  Drivers can become distracted much easier now, and self-driving cars and GPS systems can fail, causing accidents.  In this blog post, we will discuss the role of technology in car accidents.

Distracted Driving: The Modern Menace

We have all been frustrated with people who are going too slow or driving erratically on the road.  When we pull up next to them at a light, we notice that they are texting while driving or talking on the phone with it pressed against their ear.  As car technology increases, so does distracted driving and, thus, there are more car accidents.

There are many ways a person can be distracted while driving a car, such as:

• Eating
• Putting on makeup
• Reading the newspaper
• Dealing with rowdy pets or children
• Talking to other passengers
• Changing the radio station or searching for a new song on a streaming device.
• Thinking about stresses in life
• Changing GPS locations while driving.

Georgia law prohibits the use of a cell phone unless you are using a hands-free device.  The law applies to texting, watching videos, and listening to streaming music if accompanied by a video. If you are convicted under the Georgia Hands-Free Law, you could face a fine of up to $150 and three points on your driver’s license, depending on how many times you were convicted.

Technology as a Tool for Car Accident Reconstruction

Fortunately, technology can also be used in accident reconstruction to help injured victims.  Technology plays an important role in determining fault in car accidents, which can then lead to damages for those injured.  Some of the types of technology used in accident reconstruction are:

• Computer Modeling Software – This technology uses data and photographs to create 3D images of an accident scene.  Accident reconstruction experts can use this technology to analyze the dynamics of the scene and can simulate specific scenarios.
• Black Boxes – Most of us think that crash data recorders, more popularly known as black boxes, only exist in airplanes.  These recorders are also located in vehicles and record important information like speed, acceleration, and engine performance.  Analyzing black box data allows the accident reconstructionist to obtain valuable data to determine a vehicle’s actions right before a crash.
• Photogrammetry – This type of software allows reconstruction experts to get accurate measurements based on pictures and videos from the accident scene.

Accident reconstruction technology can be used by personal injury attorneys in many ways.  This includes:

• Proving that the defendant’s actions caused the accident
• Disproving any claims that the plaintiff was fully or partially at fault for the accident
• Showing the severity of the accident and the seriousness of the plaintiff’s injuries
• Proving a link between the accident and the injuries sustained by the plaintiff.

Legal Considerations in the Age of Technological Advancement

As we have mentioned, advances in technology can have both positive and negative impacts on our day-to-day lives.  It’s refreshing to be able to order anything on Amazon and have it delivered within a few hours.  However, issues such as data hackers and Internet scams show the ugly side of technology.

Personal injury law has also been affected by the technology boom.  A few examples of how technology can assist in personal injury claims includes the following:

• Cameras Are Everywhere – Whether you like it or not, there are cameras everywhere, recording everything.  Whether they are Ring cameras on your door, or someone recording on their cell phone, cameras have changed the way personal injury law is practiced.  Cameras on highways can record vehicle accidents and drivers can record the scene of an accident, leading to proof of injuries and compensation.
• Instant Communication – The use of email and text messaging allows personal injury lawyers to communicate quickly with clients, doctors, insurance companies, experts.  This use of technology allows for quicker settlement of cases, which means compensation at a faster rate than before.
• Privacy and Confidentiality – Everyone needs to be wary of privacy and confidentiality issues, and personal injury attorneys are no different.  Confidential information like patient medical records and internal communications between lawyers can be hacked and sent to opposing counsel or insurance companies.
• Social Media – We always advise our clients to stay off of social media, especially posting pictures and videos, while their car accident case is pending.  Insurance companies can use this information to refute claims of injury or that the claimant can’t work because of injuries sustained in an accident.  Insurance companies are always looking for ways to deny a claim or to pay out less in settlement amounts.

We hope that this blog post has helped you understand the role of technology in car accidents.  Of course, every case is different, so we can discuss your specific claim when we meet to discuss how technology can work in our favor to get you compensated for your injuries.

Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys at The Mann Law Firm Today To Discuss Your Case

The Mann Law Firm uses the latest technology to help our injured clients get the compensation they deserve.  In addition, our experience and knowledge of how insurance companies settle cases puts us at an advantage over other law firms.  In fact, David Mann used to work as in-house defense counsel for a major insurance company, so he has firsthand knowledge of the tactics they use.  The attorneys at the Mann Law Firm have over 40 years of experience with personal injury cases, and we aggressively fight for our clients’ right to compensation.  We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if you win a settlement or jury trial.  Call us today at (478) 742-3381 for a free consultation.