# What Is a Black Box and Does My Car Have One? | Attorney Brian White **Table of Contents***[*Expand*]* 1. How Car Black Boxes Work 2. What Car Black Boxes Actually Record 3. How Do You Know if Your Car Has a Black Box? 4. How Black Box Data Helps After Crashes 5. Who Owns Your Car's Black Box Data? 6. Relying On Car Monitoring Systems 7. Contact a Houston Car Accident Lawyer to Help You With Your Claim ![What Is a Black Box and Does My Car Have One?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/What-Is-a-Black-Box-and-Does-My-Car-Have-One-300x200.jpg) Most of us are accustomed to hearing about black boxes in airplanes, but your car might have one as well. Many modern vehicles are equipped with these devices, which record and save key details about your driving behavior. The information they track can prove to be vital evidence in the aftermath of an accident. ## How Car Black Boxes Work First, it’s important to establish that your car’s black box is also known as an Event Data Recorder (EDR), and it is usually part of your vehicle’s airbag system. Unlike airplane black boxes, which record entire flights, car EDRs only save information when something unusual happens, such as a crash or sudden braking event. When triggered, the EDR creates a record of what was happening in the seconds before and during the incident that can be downloaded later. For a legal consultation call [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) ## What Car Black Boxes Actually Record Different cars’ black box models record different information, but [most track the following](https://www.nhtsa.gov/research-data/event-data-recorder): - How fast you were driving - Whether you were pressing the brake - How far down you pushed the gas pedal - Whether you were wearing your seat belt - When your airbags deployed - How hard the impact was Newer cars with more advanced features might also record your location or even video. At the same time, however, it’s important to note that EDRs have limitations, namely: - Their raw data needs to be analyzed by experts who understand both the technical details and other crash factors - Some older systems may be less reliable or record less detailed information Familiarizing yourself with these details is crucial in the event that you end up in an accident that requires black box data. ## How Do You Know if Your Car Has a Black Box? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about [64% of 2005 model year](https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/edr_qas_11aug2006.pdf) vehicles already had EDR capabilities. In the same year, most car manufacturers began noting the presence of an EDR in the owner’s manual.  By September 2014, federal regulations required all new vehicles to include EDRs that meet standardized requirements. Nevertheless, to check if your specific car has one, try these steps: - Look in your owner’s manual for terms like “Event Data Recorder” - Call your car manufacturer with your vehicle identification number (VIN) - Search your car model on the NHTSA website Many drivers don’t know that such technology even exists until they’re involved in a [truck accident](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/truck-accident-lawyer/) or other serious crash that makes the data important evidence. [Click to contact](/contact-us/) us today ## How Black Box Data Helps After Crashes Today, investigators can download exact data about what happened before the impact from a car’s EDR. In turn, that information can show the following: - Who might be at fault - Whether the driver made a mistake or the car had a problem - If safety systems like airbags worked correctly - The severity of the crash All of these details can be key [evidence](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/understanding-evidence-in-a-personal-injury-case/) in personal injury cases, helping to prove what actually happened instead of relying on different stories from each driver. Complete a [Case Evaluation Form](/contact-us/) Now ## Who Owns Your Car’s Black Box Data? According to [Texas](https://www.texas.gov/) Transportation Code [§ 547.615](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.547.htm), EDR data belongs to the vehicle owner. That means no one can download the information without any of the following: - Your permission - A court order - Pre-approved research purposes Insurance policies often include terms requiring access to EDR data after an accident, and in lawsuits, attorneys can also request black box data through proper legal channels. However, the rules about EDR data continue to change as technology advances and privacy concerns grow. ## Relying On Car Monitoring Systems EDRs have become an important element of modern car designs, ensuring that drivers can demonstrate that they were being careful in the event of an accident. However, recognizing how they work, as well as their limitations, is important in knowing the extent to which they can be useful in a car accident case.  ## Contact a Houston Car Accident Lawyer to Help You With Your Claim Our offices Houston — Greenway/Upper Kirby 3120 Southwest Freeway, Suite 350 Houston, TX 77098 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 364-1466](tel:+17133641466) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%203120%20Southwest%20Freeway%2C%20Suite%20350%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077098) Houston — East Freeway 11811 East Freeway, Suite 630-06 Houston, TX 77029 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 609-1893](tel:+17136091893) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%2011811%20East%20Freeway%2C%20Suite%20630-06%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077029) Houston — South Loop 2600 South Loop West, Suite 293 Houston, TX 77054 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 281-4904](tel:+17132814904) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%202600%20South%20Loop%20West%2C%20Suite%20293%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077054) Houston — Katy Freeway 11511 Katy Fwy, Suite 515 Houston, TX 77079 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 909-7537](tel:+17139097537) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%2011511%20Katy%20Fwy%2C%20Suite%20515%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077079) Houston — Clear Lake 1300 Bay Area Blvd, Suite B268 Houston, TX 77058 By appointment only Call [(936) 508-2854](tel:+19365082854) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%201300%20Bay%20Area%20Blvd%2C%20Suite%20B268%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077058) The Woodlands 1776 Woodstead Ct, Ste. 203 The Woodlands, TX 77380 By appointment only Call [(281) 843-9777](tel:+12818439777) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%201776%20Woodstead%20Ct%2C%20Ste.%20203%2C%20The%20Woodlands%2C%20TX%2077380) Champion Forest (Cypress) 4606 FM 1960 Rd W, Ste. 444 Houston, TX 77069 By appointment only Call [(281) 843-9777](tel:+12818439777) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%204606%20FM%201960%20Rd%20W%2C%20Ste.%20444%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077069) --- ### About the Author Brian White ![About the Author Brian White](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/brian-white-houston-personal-injury-lawyer-300x300.jpg) [Brian White](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/our-attorneys/brian-white/) earned his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in Houston and is licensed to practice in Texas. He is a [Board-Certified](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/resources/brian-white-is-board-certified-in-personal-injury-trial-law/) Personal Injury Trial Lawyer. Dedicated to giving back, he actively supports local charities and [community initiatives](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/community-involvement/). [Client testimonials](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/testimonials/) highlight Brian’s compassion, open communication, and dedication to achieving the best outcomes for those he represents. [Avvo](https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/77098-tx-brian-white-74113.html) / [Justia](https://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/brian-elliott-white-201630) / [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/attorney-brian-white-378410166) / [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BrianWhiteLawFirm/) / [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDdkDcGkbY2GFTzpeTWypFQ) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/attorneybrianwhite/?hl=en) / [Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/biz/brian-white-and-associates-houston) / Call or Text [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) or Complete a [Case Evaluation Form](/contact-us/) Car Accidents Blog Posts: [![The 15 Safest Cars for 2021](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/The-15-Safest-Cars-for-2021-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/the-15-safest-cars-for-2021/) [The 15 Safest Cars for 2021](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/the-15-safest-cars-for-2021/) There are many online sources that rank cars for their safety. US News is one of the many resources where you can [![Cypress Car Accident Statistics](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/themes/brian-white/assets/app/img/default-thumb.webp)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/cypress-car-accident-statistics/) [Cypress Car Accident Statistics](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/cypress-car-accident-statistics/) Have you been injured in a car accident in Cypress, Texas? If you were hurt because of another driver’s [![Car Crash in Houston Texas](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/car-crash-houston-texas-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/five-things-to-know-about-car-accident-settlement-agreements/) [Five Things to Know About Car Accident Settlement Agreements](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/five-things-to-know-about-car-accident-settlement-agreements/) If someone else caused your car accident, that party might be liable for your damages. Damages include physical [![How Crash-Test Dummies and Biomechanics Improve Vehicle Safety](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/How-Crash-Test-Dummies-and-Biomechanics-Improve-Vehicle-Safety-300x214.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/how-crash-test-dummies-and-biomechanics-improve-vehicle-safety/) [How Crash Test Dummies and Biomechanics Improve Vehicle Safety](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/how-crash-test-dummies-and-biomechanics-improve-vehicle-safety/) Every year, our vehicles become safer. Much of that progress can be traced to the science behind crash-test dummies --- Source: https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/what-is-a-black-box-and-does-my-car-have-one/