JCFR-July-August 2013.qxp 8/6/13 3:31 PM Page 11 A NEW DIRECTION IN AUTO CLAIMS Inside the World of developed them because it needed not only to make a Event Data Recorders safer automobile, but to defend itself in cases of "he said/she said" litigation. By Lou Stanley If a car hits a tree, the standard EDR data will The initial EDR technology reflect the exact speed of the car/tree impact, accelerated into the public Fraud fighters are constantly looking for the acceleration or deceleration for a number eye during the years of new approaches to old problems and old of seconds before and just after impact, if the phantom acceleration approaches to new problems. Within the foot was on the brake or still on the gas, and claims against Toyota and realm of automobile claims, a sister industry many other items of fact. Imagine a very pre- has progressed since has developed and implemented a tool that cise, multi-second, looping device that that time. may have a huge impact on the future of records and saves data at each and every trig- insurance claims handling. gering incident. It's just that simple. Now, with the technology exactly as it is, an EDR read- The Crash Data Retrieval (CDR Tool) is a Using this real world data, government can out will provide technical combination of hardware and software that develop more effective occupant protection vehicle and occupant infor- The inner workings of an Airbag Control Module reads the crash data found in a vehicles’ and motor vehicle safety programs and man- mation for a short amount of Event Data Recorder (EDR). The EDR, a ufacturers can collect information with which time just prior to an event, during an event, learning to use this evolving tool. So far, the name coined by the National Highway they can improve vehicle safety in a crash and for a brief period after an event. We are feedback has been promising, and the positive Transportation Safety Administration event, thereby enhancing safety in future gen- talking about seconds, not minutes, of data results are beginning to accumulate. capture. It’s enough data for an insurance claims adjuster/fraud investigator to get a The considerations of a trial program fairly good portrayal of what actually hap- include: pened. Witnesses disagree because they must depend on perception and accurate recall to Standardization -- While the majority of define an incident. But EDR technology is vehicles now on our highways have EDRs, indisputable. Raw data is just that ... raw data. there was never any absolute standardiza- tion between EDR reporting methods. EDR The EDR may record pre-crash vehicle data is proprietary to each auto manufactur- dynamics and system status, driver inputs, er. Ford has its version; Toyota has another restraint usage/deployment status, and post- version; and Honda, still another. What is crash data, such as activation of an automat- different now? NHTSA has issued a regula- ic collision notification system. And while tion to standardize the data collected and we instantly think of the airplane's infamous recorded by an EDR. Beginning with the black box as a comparison, there are major model year 2013, NHTSA defined the min- differences. The black box on a plane imum data set (15 items) that must be col- records everything about the flight for the lected if a manufacturer decides to volun- entire duration. An EDR System, on the tarily install an EDR in its vehicle lines, Rusty Haight in a 15 mph crash from the 2010 ARC/CSI Crash Conference other hand, only records seconds of informa- along with requirements for the range of tion. The airplane's black box also records accuracy of EDR data. Additionally, as of (NHTSA), was developed to obtain the infor- erations of vehicles. Collected data can pro- sound; the EDR unit does not. EDR readouts 2014, it is proposed that any new car sold in mation needed to reduce deaths, injuries, and vide valuable information on the severity of just give us technological details via num- the United States must be equipped with an property damage due to vehicle crashes on the crash, operation of the air bag, and what bers and measurements; none yet, at least as EDR. This also applies to foreign manufac- the nation’s highways. EDRs give govern- deployment decision strategies were used far as we know, include a voice clip, "Honey, turers; if you sell the vehicle in the united ment researchers and investigators informa- during the event. EDRs are working for them slow down before you hit that .... SPLAT." States, it'r got to have an onboard EDR. tion with which they can assess motor vehi- just like they were intended to do. Period. Since the designs are proprietary, cles crashes in real world events with real many manufacturers have significantly people. So even though it was developed for What aspects of this event data is of value TRUE LIFE EXAMPLE NUMBER TWO added to those minimum data points one purpose, it's a valuable tool for another to insurers? Some of the collected data defined by NHTSA. Items of measurement purpose. Claims investigations. points include any change in forward crash Adjuster: Ms. Jillian, you reported that are continually being added to the units, speed, the maximum change in forward you were driving Mr. Osborne's 2010 limited only by cost and imagination. Think of an EDR as a vehicle's "little black crash speed, the time from the beginning of Corvette, that had no insurance coverage, box"; one that is designed and programmed to the crash at which the maximum change in on the night of June 24th. Mr. Osborne Cost of Equipment -- If Gigantic record pure data -- making EDRs a valuable forward crash speed occurs, whether the was in the passenger seat because he was Insurance Company (GIC) has 10 region- objective tool in our arsenal. Sensors located gas pedal was pressed and whether the too inebriated to drive. al claims processing centers, the trial pro- throughout the vehicle feed information back brake was applied, whether the driver’s seat gram shopping cart would look like this. to the ‘brains,’ or electronic control units belt was buckled before the crash, whether MJ: That's right. But I have full coverage Two regions (Atlanta serving the Eastern (ECUs), contained within the vehicles Air the air bag worked correctly, etc. Under on my owned vehicle, so it extends to USA and Los Angeles serving the Western Bag Control Module (ACM),which is typical- specific conditions the EDR will also anything I drive, right? USA) would each own one top-of-the-line ly found in a fairly well protected area, e.g. record the following information: sideways Premium EDR Tool (approximately under the driver’s seat, the center console, or acceleration or force, forward or rearward Adjuster: Yes, that's correct. $10,000 each). Satellite claims personnel; any other ‘safe’ and protected location. acceleration or force, vertical acceleration twenty four on each side of the country, or force, engine RPMs, whether the vehicle MJ: (Smiling) forty eight in total would each get a basic rolled over, steering wheel operation five EDR Tool, currently priced just under TRUE LIFE EXAMPLE NUMBER ONE seconds before the crash, and a host of Adjuster: (Looking at EDR report). The $3,000 each. (Both commercially avail- other items you can check out in the tables responding officers noted that you were able units can take the EDR data snap- Adjuster: Policyholder Phillips, I'm here near the end of this article. sitting in the driver's seat and Mr. shots. Premium kits contain additional to look at the damage to your 2006 Toyota Osborne was in the passenger seat; how- cables to take the EDR data snapshots Camry. Flash backward 45 years to the insurance ever, the EDR data shows that the driver’s from more seriously damaged vehicles.) world in the late sixties A Midwest insurer, seat was pushed all the way back for a EDR tool hardware is purchased one time PP: Yeah, like I reported on the phone, it at the top of its game, bought a Honeywell taller person at the time of impact, and the with an annual software renewal required was fine when I parked it last night; but 58 computer -- so technologically advanced passenger seat was pushed all the forward to keep up with manufacturer changes and this morning there was all this damage! that it allowed a machine to type policies for a shorter person in the passenger seat. data reporting abilities. Add in the cost of Some hit and run driver must have crashed with amazing speed, while, at the same You are less than five feet tall and could training and the cost to deliver that train- into it during the middle of the night while time, generating billings to individual not safely operate the vehicle with the ing to those so designated, and GIC is up it was parked in front of my house. agents. Even more spectacular, in July 1969, seat in that full rearward position. How and running for an amount that could con- a pilot named Michael Collins flew the do you explain that? ceivably be less than one serious fraudu- Adjuster: (Opening the Door.) No prob- Apollo 11 spacecraft to the moon -- using lent claim. After that, it's all uphill. lem. I'm just going to take a quick read some of that same astounding computer MJ: (No longer smiling) What's an EDR? from the EDR. technology that so amazed those watching Application -- GIC's 50 units would be in that Honeywell spit out policies.