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How wearable tech helps prove liability in bicycle accidents

On Behalf of | Jan 17, 2025 | Bike & Pedestrian Accidents

In California, bike crashes can lead to complicated legal fights, especially when deciding who’s at fault. Wearable tech, like fitness trackers and smartwatches, helps in these cases. Knowing how this tech can affect your claim can prove beneficial in helping you recover compensation.

How wearable tech helps

Wearable tech can give vital data that helps show the facts of a bike crash. This data includes:  

  • Activity tracking: Fitness trackers record your moves, speed and location. This information can help prove what you were doing when the crash happened.  
  • Heart rate tracking: Changes in your heart rate can show when you were hit, giving a timeline of events.  
  • GPS data: GPS data can show where you are and your route, helping to prove if you were following traffic laws.

These data points can be key in proving fault and supporting your claim. 

Legal considerations

When using wearable tech in a bike crash case, you need to consider the following:  

  • Admissibility of evidence: Courts usually accept data from wearable tech. However, you must ensure the data accurately represents what happened.  
  • Privacy concerns: Sharing data from wearable tech can raise privacy issues. Talk to your lawyer to learn how to protect your privacy while using this data as proof.  
  • Chain of custody: A transparent chain of custody for the data is vital. This ensures that the data remains unchanged.  

Knowing these points is key to using wearable tech to support your claim effectively. 

Steps to take after a bike crash

To use wearable tech effectively in your case, follow these steps: 

  • Save your data: Right away, save and back up the data from your wearable device. 
  • Consult with your lawyer: Share the data with your lawyer to see how it can help your claim. 
  • Document everything: Keep detailed crash records, including photos, witness statements and medical reports.  

These steps can strengthen your case and boost your chances of recovering compensation.