ESPANOL
A truck’s black box contains vital information that experts can use to recreate events before an accident.
A truck’s black box records crucial data that is pivotal in investigating truck accidents. A lawyer will rely on this data to prove liability if you sustained injuries and seek compensation.
Many people involved in serious truck accidents are unaware of how beneficial a truck’s black box information can be to them. A lawyer can access this information and use it to strengthen your case.
What Is a Black Box?
A truck’s black box is a computer system for recording data on the physical properties of the truck. This data is important for determining what happened just before an accident.
A truck’s black box functions the same way as an airplane’s black box, which investigators use to determine the conditions before a plane crash.
In some cases, people refer to the truck’s black box as an event data recorder (EDR) or an electronic control module (ECM).
What Information Do Black Boxes Record?
A truck’s black box records different data types that can prove liability in personal injury cases. However, the information that the black box collects is dependent on the truck’s model. Some of the possible data that you can access from the black box include:
- The truck’s speed before the crash happened
- The truck’s tire pressure
- The number of separate crashes that the truck got into
- The duration between these crashes
- If the truck decelerated or accelerated before the accident
- If the driver had a seatbelt on before the accident
- The state of the cruise control before the accident
- The frequency at which the driver was driving the truck above, below, or at the speed limit
- The truck’s usage data
- The locations that the truck visited
Sophisticated black boxes can record additional information like the truck driver’s and their employer’s communications. The information can be useful in ascertaining that a driver was exceeding safety limits because they were under pressure from their bosses.
How Do You Retrieve Data from the Truck’s Black Box?
It is prudent to retrieve the data from the black box as fast as possible after a truck accident. Old truck models store this data for only a few days. Wasting time might hurt your chances of proving liability in a personal injury case.
New truck models store the data for a longer period–maybe 30 days. But there’s always the chance that the at-fault party will destroy the data to shield themselves from liability. Many trucking companies rarely offer the data from the black box willingly to truck accident victims.
That’s why it is important to seek the services of a truck accident lawyer who may gain access to crucial information more easily. They will tirelessly work for the best possible outcome for your case.
How Can a Lawyer Help in Your Truck Accident Case?
A truck accident lawyer will deploy tactics that are within the law to retrieve the data from the black box. If a trucking company is reluctant to provide the data, the lawyer will file a lawsuit. This may prevent the company from destroying the data if they haven’t already. On the other hand, it could compel them to hand it over.
Once the lawyer has the data, they will analyze it. Truck accident lawyers can learn a lot about the accident’s circumstances and conditions from the analysis. Lawyers further engage truck accident investigators and reconstructionists to strengthen your case.
The truck’s black box holds pieces of vital information that you may need to prove liability in a trucking accident case. However, getting this data can be challenging as the at-fault party may try every means possible to get rid of it.
A Lawyer’s Help with Truck Accidents Is Invaluable
A truck accident lawyer knows all the legal maneuvers to access this data.
You have dealt with enough and shouldn’t have to worry about legal matters on top of your recovery. Allow a lawyer from our firm to manage your case from start to finish. They will identify the liable party or parties, gather all necessary evidence, engage in settlement negotiations, and file a lawsuit if necessary. Our firm does everything in its power to secure the compensation our clients deserve.
Contact George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers for a Consultation After a Truck Accident
At George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers, we can explain the right steps and legal actions to take after a truck accident. Our team will analyze your case and advise you on your options for compensation. We can pursue the liable parties and prove their negligence using the truck’s black box information.
If you or a loved one was involved in a truck accident, call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers today at (843) 779-1777 for a free consultation. A team member wants to hear about your accident and determine how we can help you. Our client testimonials can show you what working with us is like.1