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If you were ever to get in a car accident on a remote Arizona road during odd hours of the day or not, it might take hours or even days for someone to find you. Depending on the extent of your injuries, you may not have hours to spare. Unfortunately, if your cell phone gets lost or damaged during the crash or you’re too badly injured to exit your vehicle in search of help, your already-dangerous situation could get even worse. Crash detection may be a good way to prevent these types of scenarios from happening.

You may have heard of features in vehicles that can detect crashes, but did you know electronic devices can do the same thing? Here’s what to know about these types of devices and if they really work as intended.

What Is a Crash Detection Device?

Technology that can detect crashes is one of the newest bells and whistles in some modern cell phones. Select iOS and Android devices have a feature that can detect if you’ve been involved in an accident. You can also download apps that purport to do the same thing. Some of these apps will ask you if you’re OK after a collision. If you don’t respond, they’ll notify your emergency contacts of the incident and share your precise location with them so they can come to your assistance or send help.

While this type of technology sounds promising, it’s natural to wonder if it really works as intended. After all, it’s not like you can test it out without getting in an actual car accident. To satisfy your curiosity and help you decide whether to use a crash detection device, here are a few things you should know about how they work and how accurate they are.

How Do Crash Detection Devices Work?

Phones with collision detection have advanced accelerometer and gyroscope sensors. These sensors detect speed and motion and can sense when your vehicle’s forward motion is suddenly and violently stopped. These devices also rely on GPS data and microphone activity to detect sounds and other indications of a crash. They can even tell if your vehicle’s airbags have been deployed thanks to a highly sensitive barometer. All of these factors help trigger a crash response in the device if you’ve been involved in an accident.

Amazingly, crash detection devices can tell the difference between a car accident and a non-threatening impact. This means you don’t need to worry about emergency services being called when you accidentally drop your phone on the sidewalk.

However, there have been instances of roller coasters and other amusement park rides triggering collision detection devices and calling emergency services. How embarrassing! The easiest way to avoid this scenario when riding a roller coaster in Phoenix or anywhere else is to avoid taking your phone with you on a roller coaster or at least turn it to airplane mode beforehand.

Learn What To Do if Your Phone Triggers a Genuine Crash Report

If your phone’s crash detection feature accurately detects a collision, there are certain steps you should take after having your injuries addressed. To make sure you get proper compensation for your injuries, get help from an experienced Phoenix car accident lawyer. To request a free consultation, contact Sargon Law Group today.