Tech and Personal Injury: How Innovations Like Drones and Wearables Are Changing the Field

Technological advancements are significantly transforming virtually every field, and that includes personal injury law. Innovations such as drones and wearables are having a profound impact on every aspect of personal injury cases—how they are investigated, how they are documented, how they are litigated.

Here are some of the key ways these innovations are changing the field.

Drones

Accident Scene Documentation

• Aerial photography and videography—Drones can provide detailed aerial views of accident scenes, which can be crucial for understanding what happened. This visual evidence can then be used in court to give both judge and juries a clear perspective of the scene.
• 3D Mapping—Drones can accurately create detailed 3D models of accident sites, providing a comprehensive view that can be revisited at will. This helps to preserve the scene as it existed immediately after the incident, which can be particularly useful, as accident sites can change over time.

Evidence Collection

• Faster response—Drones can quickly be deployed to accident scenes, allowing for immediate documentation before evidence can be disturbed or removed.
• Difficult-to-reach areas—Drones can access and document hard-to-reach areas, such as high-rise buildings, remote locations, and especially hazardous environments, ensuring thorough, exacting evidence collection.

Accident Reconstruction

• Detailed analysis—Drones are capable of providing detailed data that can be used to reconstruct accidents with a high degree of accuracy. This includes measurements, angles, and other relevant details that can support expert testimony.

Wearables

Health Monitoring

• Activity tracking—Because wearables, including fitness trackers and smart watches, monitor physical activity, heart rate, and other vital signs, that data can be used to demonstrate the impact of an injury on the wearer’s daily life and activity levels.
• Injury verification—Data from wearables can verify claims regarding the extent of an injury and the limitations it may or may not impose. For instance, a sudden drop in activity levels after an accident could corroborate the plaintiff’s claims.

Real-Time Data Collection

• Continuous monitoring—Wearables provide continuous data collection, offering a detailed picture, a snapshot, of a person’s health and physical capabilities over time. This can be especially crucial in cases where the impact of long-term injuries are being assessed.
• Immediate alerts—There are some wearables that can alert both users and medical personnel to unusual activity or health events, providing immediate evidence of incidents like falls or sudden deterioration in health.

Legal Evidence

• Objective data—The data collected by wearables is generally seen as objective and reliable, providing strong evidence in court. This can include timelines of physical activity, heart rate variations, sleep patterns, and more, all of which can support injury claims.

Impact on Legal Processes

• Enhanced Evidence Quality—The introduction of high-quality, objective data from drones and wearables can greatly improve the quality of evidence in personal injury cases, leading to more accurate assessments and fairer outcomes. 
• Improved Case Preparation—Experienced lawyers can use data from these technological innovations to build stronger cases. Detailed accident reconstructions, health data, and visual evidence provide a comprehensive view that supports legal arguments more effectively. 
• Increased Settlement Rates—Strong, objective evidence can lead to higher settlement rates, as defendants may be more likely to settle out of court rather than face the risk of trial with compelling evidence against them. 

Challenges and Considerations

• Privacy Concerns—The use of drones and wearables raises privacy issues, particularly regarding the collection and use of personal data. Legal professionals must navigate these concerns carefully to avoid violating privacy rights. 
• Data Interpretation—Interpreting data from drones and wearables requires expertise. Lawyers and experts must have the experience to understand how to analyze and present this data effectively in court. 
• Regulatory Compliance—There are regulations governing the use of drones and data from wearables. Ensuring compliance with these regulations is crucial to avoid legal complications and ensure the admissibility of evidence.

Drones and wearables are revolutionizing the field of personal injury law by enhancing the quality and availability of evidence, improving case preparation, and increasing the likelihood of fair settlements. However, it requires an attorney with the experience and expertise to balance these benefits against privacy concerns, the need for expert data interpretation, and regulatory compliance.

If you or a loved one are involved in a personal injury incident, contact the attorneys at LaSalvia Law. We will fight to win you the compensation you deserve.