Airbag Download

One of the most exciting developments in the field of accident reconstruction has been the increasing availability of airbag module data after a collision. The technology has been around for about twenty years, but more and more vehicles are equipped with airbag modules that can be downloaded. Now, about 90 percent of vehicles produced today have airbag systems that can be downloaded after a crash.

The type of data typically available from an airbag module is similar to the data from an airplane black box. Often, pre-crash vehicle speed is recorded, as well as the severity of the impact (delta-V), the status of the accelerator pedal and brakes, and engine RPM. On many vehicles, such as Toyota's and Ford's, there is additional information such as pre-crash steering wheel angle, stability control status, seatbelt status, and a variety of other data. With this additional data, such as when the brakes were engaged or when a steering wheel began to turn, it is often possible to determine a vehicle's position on the road when a driver began to react, and exactly what a driver did during the time before the collision.

As an attorney or insurance adjuster, if you are working on a car accident where there is any question about the collision, please consider getting the airbag module downloaded as soon as possible after the collision. The video below demonstrates the process of downloading airbag data. The following link will take you to a list of vehicles with airbag modules that can be downloaded. If the vehicle that you're interested in is on the list, you can contact Moore Forensics for additional information about what might be available from a particular download.

CDR Vehicle Coverage List