Influencer Jack Doherty recently made headlines after crashing his McLaren, with video evidence suggesting he looked down at his phone just before the collision.
A clip of the livestream that circulated online shows Doherty glancing down at his phone before losing control of the McLaren and crashing into the guardrail.
While this video offers a glimpse of what might have caused the accident, the same conclusions could have been reached through a forensic examination of his smartphone alone, even if the video didn’t exist.
What If There Was No Video?
For Doherty’s fans, there is unlikely to be video evidence if they get into an accident themselves. However, this does not mean there is no evidence of distraction that can be uncovered.
Cell phone forensics has become a critical tool in investigating vehicle accidents, particularly when distracted driving is suspected. By extracting data from the physical smartphone itself, digital forensics experts can extract data that provides a comprehensive picture of a driver’s actions in the moments leading up to a crash.
Cell Phone Evidence In Distracted Driving Cases
Cell phone examinations can reveal which applications were used at specific times, what interactions a user had with the applications, when the screen was locked or unlocked, and other crucial details about the phone’s usage.
Calls and Texts
One of the first things investigators would look for is any record of calls or text messages sent or received around the time of the crash. This can establish whether Doherty was in the middle of a conversation or replying to a text when the accident occurred. Even if messages are deleted, specialized forensic tools can often recover this data, showing the exact time and content of the interaction.
App Usage and Activity Logs
Most smartphones store detailed logs of app usage. A forensic expert can often determine whether social media platforms or messaging apps were open just before the crash. Many apps, like Instagram, TikTok, or even navigation apps, store timestamps for when they were last accessed, providing a timeline that could match the accident time.
For example, if Instagram was open, the forensic data could show the exact moment it was being scrolled or when a video was being watched. This would be valuable evidence to confirm if a driver was indeed looking at his phone while driving.
Screen Time and Touch Data
Many modern smartphones track screen usage, including how long the screen was active and where it was being touched. Forensic tools can analyze this information to see if the screen was turned on in the moments leading to the crash.
Additionally, they can retrieve data on where the screen was tapped or swiped, indicating what the user was doing at that exact time, including whether they were interacting with an app, typing, scrolling, connecting a Bluetooth headset and even changing the orientation of the smartphone screen.
Browser History and Notifications
If Doherty had been browsing the web or checking notifications, these too leave a digital footprint. Digital forensic experts can examine browser history to determine if web pages were being accessed, as well as when notifications from social media or other apps appeared.
Deleted Data Recovery
Even if attempts were made to hide the use of the smartphone, such as deleting texts or call logs, a forensic investigation can often recover this data. Deleted messages, photos, and even apps can be extracted from the phone’s memory using advanced forensic software. This capability is crucial in accident cases where there’s an effort to conceal evidence of distraction.
Further, if messages or calls are deleted, digital forensic experts can often tell that intentional deletion has taken place, even if the contents of the messages or call logs cannot be recovered. When data is intentionally deleted, it often leaves a digital mark that is hidden from a normal smartphone user, but visible to an examiner using cell phone forensic technology.
How Digital Forensics Builds the Timeline
When reconstructing the moments leading up to a crash, the forensic expert gathers data from multiple sources on the phone. For example, if a call was made five minutes before the crash, a text message sent three minutes before, and an Instagram app was opened one minute before, all of this information together builds a detailed timeline of activity.
By correlating phone usage data with external factors like the time of the crash, traffic reports, or even witness accounts, a forensic examination of a smartphone can provide “smoking gun” evidence for attorneys when building a holistic distracted driving case.
Remember This When Tempted By Your Smartphone While Driving
The case of Jack Doherty’s crash highlights a critical lesson. Even without video evidence, your smartphone leaves a trail of digital breadcrumbs. Whether it’s texts, app usage, or notifications, nearly everything you do on your phone can be potentially recovered through a cell phone forensic investigation.
Further, attempting to delete evidence of distraction doesn’t erase accountability and can further incriminate you.
The best way to avoid the serious consequences of distracted driving, including legal issues, financial penalties, and potential personal injury, is to keep your focus on the road. No text, notification, or social media update is worth risking lives.
So next time you’re tempted to check your phone while driving, remember that it could lead to an accident and cell phone forensic technology could uncover your digital activity, holding you accountable long after the crash. Stay safe, stay alert, and keep your phone out of reach while driving.
