The Modern Trail: Reading the Digital Evidence Left Behind by Today’s Vehicles

When I was younger, I would take the old Louis L’Amour books from my mom’s desk and read them to the cows at the ranch. I was fascinated by the old west and the “trackers” in the books that were always patience and observant.

There was a time when the best investigators didn’t carry laptops or digital forensic tools. They carried experience.

A seasoned tracker could tell you whether a horse had been walking or running by the depth of its tracks. He could estimate how long ago a rider had passed, notice where a wagon had begun to list under a heavy load, or recognize where two trails became one. Long before forensic science became a profession, the truth was often found by someone patient enough to read the evidence left behind.

I’ve always enjoyed the novels of Louis L’Amour because his characters understood something that still applies to investigations today: every journey leaves a trail.

The tools have changed, but the principle hasn’t.

Today’s highways have replaced dusty wagon trails. Horses have become vehicles equipped with dozens of computers. Instead of studying hoofprints in the dirt, investigators now examine electronic data, video recordings, and digital systems that quietly document a vehicle’s operation every time it starts.

For claims professionals, one of the biggest changes in recent years isn’t simply the increase in technology—it’s the realization that modern vehicles have become silent witnesses. They don’t have opinions, they don’t forget details, and they don’t become influenced by the passage of time. When properly preserved and interpreted, they often provide objective information that helps answer one of the most important questions in any claim:

What really happened?

Every Vehicle Leaves a Digital Trail

Every experienced investigator knows that no two cases are exactly alike. The same is true for today’s vehicles.

A late-model sedan, pickup truck, or electric vehicle may contain dozens of electronic control modules that communicate with one another continuously. Depending on the manufacturer and model, these systems may record information related to vehicle operation, safety systems, navigation, communications, or driver assistance technologies.

Not every vehicle records the same information, and not every collision produces recoverable data. However, the important lesson for claims professionals is recognizing that valuable evidence may exist long before anyone begins asking the right questions.

Just as an investigator would never ignore fresh tire impressions at a collision scene, we should no longer overlook the digital evidence that may exist within the vehicle itself.

The Event Data Recorder: A Snapshot, Not the Entire Story

Most claims professionals have heard the term “black box,” but Event Data Recorders (EDRs) are often misunderstood.

Unlike the flight recorders used in aviation, vehicle EDRs generally do not continuously record everything that happens during a trip. Instead, they preserve a limited amount of information associated with qualifying crash events.

Depending on the vehicle manufacturer, an EDR may capture information such as:

• Vehicle speed
• Brake application
• Accelerator position
• Steering input
• Engine RPM
• Seat belt status
• Airbag deployment timing
• Delta-V (change in velocity)

When viewed alongside scene evidence, vehicle damage, witness statements, and photographs, EDR data can help investigators reconstruct the sequence of events surrounding a collision.

It is important, however, not to give EDR data more weight than it deserves. Like every piece of evidence, it tells only part of the story. Good investigations are built by combining multiple sources of information—not relying on a single one.

For additional information about Event Data Recorders, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides an excellent overview at https://www.nhtsa.gov.

Listening to the Vehicle’s Conversation

Imagine standing outside a busy railroad station. You may not understand every conversation happening inside, but you know important information is constantly being exchanged.

Modern vehicles operate much the same way.

Every electronic system—from the engine and transmission to the anti-lock brakes, steering, airbags, and advanced driver assistance systems—communicates across what is known as the Controller Area Network, or CAN bus.

Think of it as the vehicle’s internal nervous system.

Electronic control modules constantly send and receive information, allowing the vehicle to operate efficiently and safely. Specialized forensic tools can access portions of this communication to better understand how the vehicle was operating before, during, or after an incident.

Claims professionals don’t need to become CAN bus experts. However, understanding that these electronic conversations exist can help identify situations where specialized vehicle data recovery may be appropriate.

More Than Music: The Hidden Value of Infotainment Systems

Most drivers think of an infotainment system as the screen that controls music, maps, or phone calls.

Investigators often see something different.

Depending on the manufacturer, infotainment systems may contain information such as recent navigation destinations, paired Bluetooth devices, call history, voice commands, timestamps, and other user interactions.

This information rarely proves liability by itself. Instead, it provides context.

A navigation destination may help establish travel intent. A recently paired device may help identify the driver. System timestamps may assist investigators when building an accurate timeline.

Like pieces of a puzzle, seemingly ordinary information often becomes meaningful when viewed together with other evidence.

Dashcams and Built-In Cameras: The Silent Witness

Few technologies have changed vehicle investigations more dramatically than cameras.

Only a decade ago, investigators often depended on witness statements that differed significantly from one another.

Today, many collisions are recorded from beginning to end.

Personal dashcams continue to grow in popularity, while commercial fleets, delivery vehicles, public transportation, school buses, and rideshare companies increasingly rely on onboard camera systems. Many manufacturers have also incorporated cameras into their own vehicles as part of advanced safety features.

Perhaps no manufacturer has accelerated this trend more than Tesla.

Tesla vehicles may utilize multiple exterior cameras for features such as Dashcam and Sentry Mode, preserving video that can become invaluable during a claim investigation.

When available, video evidence often removes uncertainty by documenting events exactly as they occurred.

Of course, video should never replace a complete investigation, but it can significantly reduce speculation and conflicting interpretations.

Connected Vehicles and Telematics

Today’s vehicles don’t simply record information—they often communicate it.

Many manufacturers now offer telematics services that connect vehicles with cloud-based platforms for navigation, diagnostics, maintenance, emergency response, and remote vehicle management.

Depending on the manufacturer and available services, telematics may include information relating to vehicle location, maintenance events, crash notifications, or system health.

Accessing this information depends upon vehicle ownership, customer agreements, privacy laws, and manufacturer policies. Nevertheless, claims professionals should understand that these connected systems represent another potential source of relevant evidence.

As connected vehicle technology continues to evolve, cloud-based information will likely play an increasingly important role in future investigations.

Time Is the Enemy of Digital Evidence

Old trackers understood something every investigator should remember:

Trails disappear.

Rain washes away footprints.

Wind covers wagon tracks.

Other travelers erase yesterday’s path.

Digital evidence behaves much the same way.

Dashcam footage may automatically overwrite itself after only a few days.

Temporary system logs may expire.

Cloud-based information may be retained only for limited periods.

Vehicles are repaired, salvaged, or dismantled.

Storage devices are replaced.

Some of the strongest evidence in an investigation can disappear simply because no one realized it existed.

Recognizing potential digital evidence early—and taking appropriate steps to preserve it—can dramatically improve the quality of a claims investigation.

Respecting Privacy While Pursuing the Truth

As technology expands, so does our responsibility.

The existence of digital evidence does not automatically grant unrestricted access to it.

Vehicle-generated information may be subject to privacy laws, contractual agreements, manufacturer policies, ownership rights, or legal process requirements. Claims professionals should always work within applicable legal and ethical guidelines when seeking or preserving electronic evidence.

The goal is not simply finding evidence.

It is finding evidence that can withstand scrutiny.

The Trail Has Changed—The Mission Has Not

Technology has transformed nearly every aspect of modern claims investigations.

Vehicles are smarter than ever before. They communicate, record, monitor, and preserve information that investigators could scarcely imagine twenty years ago.

Yet the qualities that define a great investigator remain remarkably unchanged.

Curiosity.

Patience.

Objectivity.

Attention to detail.

A willingness to follow the evidence wherever it leads.

Whether the clues come from tire marks on pavement, witness interviews, damaged sheet metal, or digital information stored inside a vehicle’s electronic systems, the mission remains exactly the same.

Read the trail.

Follow the facts.

Let the evidence tell the story.

As vehicles continue to evolve, so too must the professionals responsible for investigating claims. Understanding digital vehicle evidence isn’t about chasing the latest technology or becoming an engineer. It’s about recognizing that the modern trail often extends far beyond the roadway.

The best investigators have always known that the truth leaves tracks.

Today, many of those tracks simply happen to be digital.

Find out how a vehicle’s digital trail can help inform your claim investigation.

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Author Bio:

Justin D. Hodson, CPI, is the founder and CEO of Hodson P.I., LLC, a nationwide private investigation firm supporting claims professionals, attorneys, and organizations. With more than 20 years of industry experience, Justin was named the California Association of Licensed Investigators’ 2024 Investigator of the Year. His leadership has helped shape Hodson P.I.’s strategic approach to providing reliable investigative findings and court-defensible reporting that support informed client decisions.