IT Forensics · Car

Forensic analysis of airbag deployment data – Forensic documentation of restraint system deployment data

When the restraint system is deployed, the airbag control unit usually records a brief data set containing information on the severity of the collision, the restraint systems that have been deployed, and vehicle data from a few seconds beforehand.

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These records, known as event data recorders, are among the most valuable sources of forensic data in the event of serious road traffic accidents, as they contain data directly relating to the collision.

Why LanCologne?

Since its foundation, LanCologne has specialised in professional IT forensics. Our staff have decades of experience in the field of information technology and assist companies, solicitors, private individuals and, on a regular basis, the courts in the technical investigation of complex digital matters.

The examination is, as a matter of principle, carried out exclusively on a forensic copy, a forensic image or a data source captured in a technically equivalent manner that preserves the integrity of the evidence. The original evidence remains unchanged and is stored in a manner that preserves its integrity.

Our services

We retrieve and analyse the event data log from the airbag control unit in a manner that is forensically verifiable, and document the time of deployment, the systems deployed and the associated vehicle data.

Typical areas of application

•Reconstruction of the severity of the collision and the time of impact
•Supplementing pre-crash and post-crash data analyses
•Verification of the retention system’s functionality
•Support with personal injury assessments
•Judicial and non-judicial expert reports
•Collaboration with experts on accident reports

This is how an airbag deployment data analysis is carried out

Once the airbag control unit has been secured in accordance with forensic procedures, the event data recorder is read out and the data is broken down into its individual fields. The values are cross-referenced with other vehicle data and compiled into a comprehensive report.

Why is the analysis of airbag deployment data relevant in a forensic context?

The event data recorder often provides the most accurate information available regarding the final seconds before and during a collision.

Determining whether the restraint system functioned as intended may also be of forensic relevance in relation to product liability issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every vehicle have an event data recorder?+
Not necessarily; this depends on the manufacturer, model and year of manufacture, and is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
How many events can be stored in the memory?+
Capacity is limited and varies depending on the system; older events may be overwritten by new ones.
Is only the driver’s information recorded, or is the passenger’s information recorded as well?+
The event data recorder generally covers the vehicle as a whole; individual occupant data is supplemented by associated seat occupancy and seatbelt buckle data.

LanCologne – Vehicle IT Forensics, Cologne

Do you require a professional forensic investigation into the „forensic analysis of airbag deployment data"? LanCologne can assist you in securing digital evidence to a standard that will stand up in court, as well as in the transparent analysis of relevant vehicle components.

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