Will Black Box Data Impact Your Truck Accident Claim?

Proving how an accident happened is a necessary step if you hope to receive compensation after a crash with a truck. Many people suffer horrifying injuries in accidents, but the fact you are hurt does not give you an automatic right to demand compensation. Instead, we need to prove fault, and that means showing what happened. Fortunately, those injured in collisions with tractor-trailers can probably access the truck’s “black box” data. What is this data, and how can you use it to build a claim for compensation? We answer these questions in this blog.

What Data Is Recorded?

A “black box” is the name given to Event Data Recorders (EDRs), which are installed in most modern tractor-trailers. These electronic recorders download information about the truck while it is in motion, somewhat like the “black boxes” do on airplanes.

Some of the most critical information recorded includes:

• Speed at impact. We can find out how fast the truck was going when it collided. This information might show the trucker was speeding and is therefore possibly negligent for an accident.
• Acceleration or deceleration. We can also uncover whether the trucker was slowing down because he hit the brakes or whether he was accelerating. That can show if the trucker took any type of defensive action to avoid an accident. For example, a trucker who doesn’t brake might have been distracted.
• Whether brakes were applied. Some EDRs will tell us when the trucker hit the brakes.
• Steering inputs. Some black boxes will also tell us the steering angle or whether the trucker made a turn leading up to an accident.
• Cruise control. We might also find out the trucker was using cruise control, which could be negligent, especially when traffic is congested.
• Duration of the trip. We might also discover how long the trucker had been driving that day, which can show if they complied with the hours of service regulations.

This data can help us visualize what happened. Without this data, it could be easier for a trucker to lie that they were not accelerating or that they had only been driving a few hours. By using the data, we can paint a more accurate picture of the accident.

Call our office. It is critical to send a letter to the trucking company asking them to preserve the evidence. If the trucking company loses the data or destroys it, then we can seek sanctions.

Although black box data is useful, it is not the only data we use in negotiations. We might also check the trucker’s cell phone records, which can show if they were talking or texting in the moments before the crash. Many trucks also have cameras inside the cab, which record what the trucker was doing. Our firm seeks access to all helpful information.

Contact Us to Discuss Your Accident

Davis & Snyder Injury Attorneys provides “one stop” comprehensive legal services for accident victims. Our firm knows the importance of securing relevant evidence to use when negotiating a fair settlement. Call us to speak with a Greenville truck accident lawyer, free of charge.

Sources:

fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hours-service/summary-hours-service-regulations

csselectronics.com/pages/r169-event-data-recorder-edr-intro