How Car Insurance Tracking Data May be Used in a Personal Injury Claim

When an insurer reviews a personal injury claim, they will pull evidence, information, and data from a variety of sources, including car insurance tracking data. This type of data tracking is often used as part of an auto insurance company’s good driver discount program. Enrollees make the data accessible in different ways, depending on the insurer. Some insurance companies collect data through a smartphone app, others use devices that connect to the car’s on-board diagnostics, and still others can access tracking data that is already being collected in late-model cars.

Types of Data Collected

Just as each insurer has its own method of collecting data, each also collects its own selection of data. The data tells a story about your driving habits, which the insurer can use to determine your suitability for the good driver program and related insurance premium discount.

The type of data that may be collected for these programs includes:

• Call data
• Speed data
• Acceleration and deceleration or braking data
• Days, dates, and times
• Cornering data

How Do Insurers Use Car Insurance Tracking Data?

The primary way in which insurance companies use car insurance tracking data is to determine your eligibility for the good driver program discount. In most cases, the data will only be looked at when your policy is up for renewal.

One other way in which the data can be used is in a personal injury claim. The data can be submitted as evidence in a claim or car accident lawsuit. This can either help or hurt your case, depending on what the data logs display.

Even if you are the victim in the accident, it is possible for the insurer and/or the other party’s attorney to use the car tracking data out of context to imply that you are not as safe a driver as you claim to be, engage in reckless driving behavior, or are dishonest about how safely you drive. Without an attorney to represent you in your personal injury claim, there is a risk that this data could devalue your claim or even lead to a denial of a claim.

Consult the Personal Injury Attorneys at Eisenberg Law Offices for Help Supporting Your Personal Injury Claim

Good driver programs do pay off for many drivers, but it is always a good idea to be aware of how your personal data could be used against you and to decide if the risk is worth the reward. If you are enrolled in a good driver program, review your policy to learn what data is being tracked and how it is being used. Although your insurance policy is designed to protect you, the reality is that insurance companies also have to protect themselves from loss and that can mean denying claims if they are not handled appropriately.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, contact the auto accident attorneys at Eisenberg Law Offices for assistance in managing your personal injury claim. Our attorneys are familiar with the myriad ways insurance companies try to deny or devalue claims and can help you navigate the process and avoid the most common pitfalls or manage the claim on your behalf to maximize your payout.

Schedule a free consultation by calling 608-256-8356 or emailing info@eisenberglaw.org.