How Fitness Tracker Data My Help Your Truck Accident Case

How Fitness Tracker Data My Help Your Truck Accident Case

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Fitness trackers do a reliable job of collecting data about your heart rate, movements, and whereabouts. But did you know this device can also provide crucial information that supports your truck accident compensation claim? In some cases, however, they can also have the opposite effect.

It’s crucial that you speak with a dedicated truck accident attorney immediately following your accident. This will also help ensure that no information from the truck data recorder is lost. Your attorney may get an accident reconstruction expert on the scene quickly to perform a detailed site analysis that strengthens your claim for compensation.

Fitness Trackers are Fast Becoming Popular in West Virginia

Portable fitness devices or “wearables” and fitness apps are seeing a surging demand. There is a general increase of 51.5% in the eService industry since 2017. An estimated 441.5 million people wore fitness trackers in 2020.

These were connected to fitness apps that recorded just about everything happening to the body. Fitness trackers can record:

  • Location
  • Active heart rate
  • Amount of sleep
  • Number of calories burned
  • Quality of sleep
  • Body composition
  • Blood pressure

Fitness Trackers Provide Location Information

There is some form of GPS component in fitness trackers to continuously report location data to associated apps. The fitness tracker may be used for pinpointing the exact location of the truck accident. In fact, if the tracker is advanced enough, it may be able to show the trajectory of the truck accident as well. For instance, if the car spun off the road after the impact, the fitness tracker’s GPS system may be able to record the car’s exact movement.

Your attorney may also be able to obtain the exact time of impact through the GPS component. You can pair the GPS data with other recorded data, such as heart rate and vital signs. This evidence may not be useful on its own. However, it may help support other evidence regarding your claim.

Fitness Trackers Can Provide Vital Medical Information

The information and data provided by fitness trackers can be useful in supporting medical claims. You may need to provide information to the court or insurance company about your injuries and other concerns.

Certain injuries, such as fractures and broken bones are easy to document. Furthermore, others may not be as easily documented. These are:

  • Decreased mobility
  • Sore back
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Exhaustion or lethargy
  • Loss of sleep

Such injuries may be difficult to prove, which is where data from fitness trackers come in handy. The data collected by the fitness tracker will show your daily routine. This means that reduced mobility or not being able to exercise the same way following the truck accident will be reflected in the fitness tracker data.

For instance, you may be able to show that you can no longer head out for your morning run or are not as agile while at work. You may even be able to demonstrate an inconsistent sleep pattern following the accident. This can be used by your attorney to support claims of ongoing pain and anxiety.

Again, this data on its own is not enough to prove a medical claim. Taking this into account, it can be used for supporting and bolstering other medical evidence and records.

Drawbacks to Using Fitness Trackers for Supporting Truck Accident Claims

Data recorded on fitness trackers can support a personal injury claim. Pertaining to this, there is always the risk of having the data used against you. The data may reveal that the accident occurred differently from your statement.

In fact, the data may also show that you were speeding at the time of the accident. These things will not work in your favor even if the other driver’s negligence is proven.

You should also remember that any data presented by the fitness tracker will be open to the opposing side in a trial and the insurance company. They will use the information obtained to their own benefit.

The fitness tracker data will be used in reconstructing the accident and proving your injuries. For instance, you may use the fitness tracker data to prove that your level of activity significantly reduced following the car accident.

In relation to this, the opposing counsel or insurance company may use the social area of the fitness app to reveal information about a routine change that is not tied to the accident. They may use the comments to explain your reduced mobility. Alternatively, they may also attribute no changes in heart rate and sleep pattern to a lack of ongoing pain or stress.

This double-edged characteristic of fitness trackers makes it necessary to work with an experienced personal injury attorney. It is best to speak with an attorney to be sure there is no data that can negatively impact your claim.

Talk to a West Virginia Truck Accident Attorney Today

Have you been injured in a truck accident? The experienced and knowledgeable attorneys at Bailey, Javins & Carter, L.C. can help you obtain the financial compensation you rightfully deserve.

We have helped numerous injured victims and their families receive the maximum possible compensation from truck drivers, trucking companies, and their insurers. To set up your complimentary consultation, call 800-497-0234 or reach us online.