This information has been used to improve
vehicle crash performance and may be used to
improve crash performance of future vehicles
and driving safety. Unlike the data recorders
on many airplanes, these on-board systems do
not record sounds, such as conversation of
vehicle occupants.
To read this information, special equipment
is needed and access to the vehicle or
the device that stores the data is required.
GM will not access information about a crash
event or share it with others other than:
with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if
the vehicle is leased, with the consent of
the lessee,
in response to an official request of police
or similar government office,
as part of GM’s defense of litigation
through the discovery process, or
as required by law.In addition, once GM collects or receives data,
GM may:
use the data for GM research needs,
make it available for research where
appropriate con dentiality is to be
maintained and need is shown, or
share summary data which is not tied to a
speci c vehicle with non-GM organizations
for research purposes.
Others, such as law enforcement, may have
access to the special equipment that can read
the information if they have access to the
vehicle or the device that stores the data.
If your vehicle has OnStar
®, please check the
OnStar®subscription service agreement or
owner manual for information on its operations
and data collection.
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If your vehicle cannot be driven, know where
the towing service will be taking it. Get a
card from the tow truck operator or write down
the driver’s name, the service’s name, and
the phone number.
Remove any valuables from your vehicle
before it is towed away. Make sure this
includes your insurance information and
registration if you keep these items in your
vehicle.
Gather the important information you will need
from the other driver. Things like name,
address, phone number, driver’s license
number, vehicle license plate, vehicle make,
model and model year, Vehicle Identi cation
Number (VIN), insurance company and
policy number, and a general description of
the damage to the other vehicle.
If possible, call your insurance company from
the scene of the accident. They will walk you
through the information they will need.
If they ask for a police report, phone or go to
the police department headquarters the
next day and you can get a copy of the report
for a nominal fee. In some states/provinces
with “no fault” insurance laws, a report may not
be necessary. This is especially true if there
are no injuries and both vehicles are driveable.
Choose a reputable collision repair facility
for your vehicle. Whether you select a
GM dealer/retailer or a private collision repair
facility to x the damage, make sure you are
comfortable with them. Remember, you will
have to feel comfortable with their work for a
long time.
Once you have an estimate, read it carefully
and make sure you understand what work
will be performed on your vehicle. If you have
a question, ask for an explanation. Reputable
shops welcome this opportunity.
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