Over the last decade, wearable technology—like smartwatches, fitness trackers, and health-monitoring devices—has become part of everyday life. These gadgets help people stay active, track their sleep, monitor heart rates, and even detect falls. But recently, they’ve started playing a surprising new role: as evidence in personal injury cases.
From proving the extent of an injury to challenging exaggerated claims, wearable data is quietly changing the legal landscape. Here’s what injury victims—and insurance companies—need to know.
The Rise of Wearable Tech in Daily Life
Devices like the Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin trackers, and Whoop bands collect a huge amount of real-time health data. This includes:
- Step counts
- Heart rate patterns
- Sleep quality
- Activity levels
- Location and movement data
For most people, this information is about reaching fitness goals. But in a personal injury case, it could tell a story about how an accident affected someone’s daily life.
How Wearable Data Can Support Injury Claims
✅ Proving the Impact of an Injury
Let’s say someone was in a car accident and suffered back injuries. Before the accident, their wearable showed they walked 10,000 steps a day. After the accident? That number dropped significantly. This change can help demonstrate real limitations and lifestyle changes caused by the injury.
📉 Showing a Decline in Health or Activity
If someone is struggling to sleep or experiencing ongoing physical stress after an accident, the data from their wearable may show:
- Poor sleep patterns
- Abnormal heart rate spikes
- Consistent inactivity
This can support claims for pain and suffering or long-term disability.
⏱️ Creating a Timeline
Wearable data can help verify when symptoms began, how long they lasted, and whether a person followed treatment recommendations—information that’s often difficult to track otherwise.
How Insurance Companies May Use This Data
It’s important to note: wearable data can help or hurt a case, depending on what it shows.
🔍 Challenging Injury Severity
If someone claims they’re unable to walk or perform physical tasks, but their tracker shows a high level of daily activity, insurance companies may use that data to dispute the claim.
❓ Raising Questions About Inconsistencies
Insurers may request wearable data to look for gaps or inconsistencies in the injured person’s story. In some cases, they may argue that data contradicts medical records or personal testimony.
Legal Questions Around Wearable Data
The use of wearable tech in court is still relatively new, and some legal questions are being debated, such as:
- Is this data accurate and reliable?
- Can the data be admitted as evidence?
- Who owns the data, and can it be subpoenaed?
Personal injury attorneys now have to consider wearable data early in the case process, deciding whether it can help build a stronger case or whether it could be used against the client.
Tips for Injury Victims Using Wearables
If you’ve been in an accident and use wearable tech, keep these tips in mind:
- Preserve Your Data – Don’t delete or reset your device after the injury.
- Talk to Your Attorney – Let them know what devices you use so they can evaluate the data’s potential impact.
- Be Honest About Your Activity Level – If your case goes to court, your wearable may become part of the discussion.
- Use It as a Tool for Recovery – Some people use wearables to track their rehab progress and show how hard they’re working to recover.
Conclusion: A New Layer of Truth in Injury Cases
Wearable technology is changing the way personal injury cases are handled. It provides a new layer of transparency that can support legitimate claims or challenge questionable ones.
At the end of the day, it’s one more reason why having a skilled attorney on your side matters. They’ll know how to use every available tool—including your own smartwatch data—to build the strongest case possible.
