When shopping for car insurance, you want to get the cheapest rate and the most coverage available. Finding the right fit can take time. Insurance companies often offer specials or discounts to drivers with good driving records.
One way insurance companies offer discounts is by enabling a car insurance tracker device. These tracking devices vary; they can either be attached to your car, plugged in, or an app on your mobile device connected through Bluetooth.
Saving money is certainly enticing, but there are risks of using car insurance tracking devices. Always research your options and find out if the pros outweigh the cons.
Data Privacy
An insurance company tracking device obtains information about you and your driving habits, and a major concern here is your data privacy. Your data is valuable, and understanding when you are being tracked is important. If you have given permission to an app, this app could be connected to other apps and turned on even when you aren’t driving. When your Bluetooth is enabled, your insurance provider could potentially track, through your smartphone, where you are at any given time.
Additionally, your information could be sold or shared from your insurance company to third parties or affiliates. For example, in the event of a car accident, your data could be shared with the other driver’s insurance company and weaken your argument, resulting in a reduced settlement.
What Is Being Tracked
Every insurance company will have its own list of data points they are tracking. Below is a list of what is generally tracked.
- Phone calls (handheld and hands-free)
- Phone use of any kind
- Harsh braking
- Cornering
- Acceleration or deceleration
- Speed
- Time of day
- Location
It is important to note which data isn’t being tracked. If you drive in traffic and someone in front of you slams on their brakes, you may slam on yours, too. What the insurance company will see is harsh braking and not responsive driving.
Vehicle Malfunctions
Can an insurance tracking device be blamed for vehicle damage? Although uncommon, there have been reports of vehicles malfunctioning after a tracker is installed. To protect yourself and your vehicle, it’s important to pay close attention to anything that you install or plug into your vehicle that did not come from the factory.
How an Insurance Tracking Device May Be Used Against You
In the case of an accident, your insurance company will check your tracking device to gain more information. Tracking devices in a civil case can provide skewed data. As we mentioned, they don’t tell a complete story of what happened, only what your car did, leaving out crucial details. Without witnesses attesting otherwise, this could be the strongest unbiased evidence in your case.
How Do Insurance Tracking Devices Affect Your Claim?
In Indiana, there is the Modified Comparative Negligence Law. This law states that the plaintiff must be found as less than 51% at fault to receive compensation.
This means that insurance tracking devices can affect your claim in Indiana. The data from your insurance’s tracking device could be used against you for the insurance company to avoid paying the settlement. The data from the accident and all of your data since installing the tracker could be brought into your personal injury case.
This data, if not adequately protected, could be accessed by the opposing car insurance company. It could reinforce or build an argument strong enough to tip the fault scale, leaving you no compensation.
If you have installed or are considering using a tracking device through your car insurance, be sure to speak to an attorney first to discuss the risks of using car insurance tracking devices. Attorneys are well-versed in legally binding contracts and can explain what the agreement you are making means long term.
If you’ve been in an accident and wish to file a personal injury claim, contact Crossen Law Firm today. Crossen Law Firm specializes in personal injury claims and is dedicated to getting you the compensation you deserve regardless of inaccurate evidence from insurance tracking devices. We understand that accidents happen, and we are here to help when they do. Call us at 317-401-8626 or contact us online today to get started.
.jpg)