When we’re involved in a truck accident, our Raleigh, NC truck accident lawyer knows determining the cause of the crash is critical to holding the responsible party accountable. Unlike typical car accidents, commercial trucks are equipped with electronic control modules (ECMs) or event data recorders (EDRs)—commonly referred to as “black boxes.” These devices store valuable information that can help us prove negligence, identify contributing factors, and strengthen our case in a truck accident lawsuit.
What Is A Truck’s Black Box?
A truck’s black box is an electronic device that records data about the vehicle’s operation before, during, and after an accident. Much like the black boxes found in airplanes, these devices help reconstruct the events leading up to a crash. While not all trucks have identical recording systems, most modern commercial trucks are equipped with EDRs that store critical driving data.
What Data Does A Black Box Record?
The black box in a commercial truck captures several key details that can provide evidence in an accident investigation, including:
- Speed before and at the time of impact
- Braking patterns and whether the brakes were applied
- Steering and acceleration data
- Engine performance and mechanical issues
- Driver activity, including hours of service compliance
- GPS location and route history
- Seatbelt usage
- Sudden maneuvers, such as sharp turns or lane departures
This data is crucial when determining whether the truck driver or trucking company acted negligently.
How Black Box Data Helps Prove Negligence
One of the biggest challenges in a truck accident case is proving who was at fault. Insurance companies and trucking companies often try to shift the blame onto us or argue that other factors, such as road conditions, contributed to the accident. However, black box data provides objective evidence that can counter these claims.
For example:
- If the truck’s black box shows that the driver was speeding before the crash, we can use this to prove reckless driving.
- If the braking data reveals that the driver failed to slow down, it may indicate distracted or fatigued driving.
- If the data shows that the truck exceeded the legal driving hours, we can argue that the trucking company pressured the driver to violate federal regulations.
Having access to this evidence can significantly strengthen our case and help us recover the compensation we deserve.
Securing And Preserving Black Box Data
One major challenge in using black box data is preserving it before it gets erased or altered. Trucking companies often own the black box data and may delete it after a set period—sometimes as quickly as a few weeks after an accident. That’s why we must act quickly by working with a truck accident lawyer who can file a spoliation letter to prevent the data from being destroyed.
Black box data plays a crucial role in truck accident investigations, providing objective evidence that can prove negligence and strengthen our claim. By securing this data early, we can ensure that we have the necessary proof to hold the responsible parties accountable and fight for the compensation we deserve. At Burton Law Firm, we are here to help.