Insurers Seek Auto Black Box Data

By Daniel Hays

NU Online News Service, April 5, 4:20 p.m. EDT?An insurer trade group asked the Nevada Legislature today to givethem the right to look at the "black box" recorders in new modelcars when a policyholder with such a vehicle has anaccident.[@@]

The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) madethe request in seeking an amendment to a bill giving auto ownerscontrol over the information in event recorders that was thesubject of an Assembly Transportation Committee hearing.

Sam Sorich, vice president for the PCI western region, said thegroup wants disclosure so an insurer can investigate accidentclaims.

"We think this would help insurers settle the claim more fairlywith better information." It is consistent with policy languagerequiring insureds to cooperate with carriers by providinginformation, said Mr. Sorich.

The data involved is recorded just prior to accidents.

"We believe this data should be made available to insurancecompanies to improve claims handling and help prevent fraud," saidKate Diehl, legislative advocate for PCI.

The legislation, AB 315, was introduced in March.

It would only permit release of black box information when thevehicle owner consents, by court order or for research or repairpurposes. Violating the act would be a misdemeanor.

"PCI and its members recognize that consumers are concernedabout the privacy of their financial and health information, andaccordingly, property-casualty insurers strictly adhere to allrelevant federal and state privacy laws.

"Nevertheless, to assure that crash claims are administeredefficiently and fairly, property-casualty insurers should not beprecluded from having access to data from the Event DataRecorders--commonly called "black boxes,"' said Ms. Diehl.

PCI said EDRs can benefit everyone from drivers to traffic andsafety-control officials, law enforcement agencies, vehiclemanufacturers, repair shops and insurers. EDR data can help quicklyverify or disprove claimant or witness accounts and help determinewhether alleged injuries are consistent with the nature of thecollision, PCI added.