The Trucking Defense Guide to
Cellphone Forensics
Presented by:
Josh Lorencz
Principal Consultant, Digital Forensics
Rimkus
Monday, March 16, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Online via Zoom
Presented by Josh Lorencz, Principal Consultant, Rimkus Digital Forensics Cell phone data is some of the most powerful - and most perishable - evidence in accident litigation. Location data, power logs, and application usage can begin degrading within 7 to 28 days of an incident, making rapid preservation the single most important step after a crash.
This session walks attendees through practical, no-special-training-required protocols for preserving cell phone evidence immediately after an incident, including enabling Airplane Mode, disabling updates, documenting credentials, and using Faraday bags. Attendees will learn the difference between limited logical extractions and Full File System (FFS) extractions, the forensic gold standard for recovering the most complete picture of device activity.
The presentation covers forensic analysis techniques used to prove or disprove distracted driving by integrating cell phone data - messaging gaps, app usage, screen activity, device orientation, and precise GPS - with vehicle data, call detail records, and connected devices like wearables. Real-world case examples illustrate how FFS extractions have revealed active app manipulation seconds before impact, enabling strong defense opinions in trucking litigation.
Additional topics include strategies for working with law enforcement to secure early high- quality data, obtaining plaintiff phone data through technical education and insisting on raw FFS extractions, joint examinations with livestreaming for transparency, advanced recovery methods for damaged phones, and leveraging wearable data to challenge injury claims.
While the case studies focus on trucking collisions, the principles and techniques covered apply across all civil and criminal disciplines. This session is built for attorneys, paralegals, adjusters, and litigation support professionals who want to understand what cell phone evidence can deliver and how to protect it from the moment an incident occurs.
Police Department Detective with 16 years of law enforcement experience, Josh Lorencz built a forensics lab from the ground up and led complex investigations into financial crimes, auto theft crews, crimes against children, and criminal enterprises. He holds over 1,100 hours of advanced digital forensics training and is certified by the National Computer Forensics Institute, Cellebrite, Magnet Forensics, and IACIS as a Mobile Device Examiner. He earned his B.S. in Finance from Cal State Northridge and is a California P.O.S.T. Academy graduate through the LA County Sheriff's Department. Since 2021, Josh has provided consulting services for businesses and attorneys across civil and criminal cases, with a focus on trucking collisions. He specializes in mobile forensics, cell site location analysis, call detail records, cloud investigations, and data recovery. He's also an IACIS instructor who has trained students worldwide, and regularly educates lawyers and insurers on cell phone forensics.
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