How Important It Is To Request Black Box Data After A Truck Crash

If you were in a trucking accident, you must show evidence to win your case. You need aggressive legal representation to increase your chances of winning. Here, the burden of proof falls on the plaintiff, who must prove that the defendant is responsible for the accident beyond a reasonable doubt. This is called the preponderance of the evidence. 

You must establish the defendant’s negligence and liability before you can get any compensation. One of the valuable types of evidence in a truck accident is the black box. Also known as the electronic control module (ECM) or event data recorder (EDR), the black box contains crucial information about the truck’s performance and condition. This makes it a valuable piece of evidence for legal cases. 

What are the types of data recorded in a black box?

Here are the types of data recorded in a black box that can be valuable evidence in the face of an accident:

• Vehicle speed and acceleration: The black box can indicate the acceleration and deceleration just before the accident occurred. 

• Engine performance: It monitors engine speed, fuel use, etc., to indicate mechanical issues. 

• Brakes: Informs how hard or when the braking system was used. 

• GPS location: Shows the vehicle’s location and route, which gives insights about the environmental factors. 

• Route history: The route history of the truck is as follows: 

• Airbag deployment: Shows when and if airbags were deployed to indicate the accident’s severity. 

• Driving time and rest periods: This shows how long the truck was driven and the rest periods in between to indicate any potential fatigue or drowsiness. 
• Steering angle and input: Shows information about the driver’s maneuvers before the accident. 

What is the procedure for accessing the black box

Many people now think that they do not have the right to access the black box, which is completely false. You can collect the black box evidence by directly asking the trucking company. If they do not give it to you directly, you can also obtain a court order to collect it. 

Remember that trucking companies must have insurance policies for all of their vehicles. The insurance company can download the data from the black box in a collision. So, even if the trucking company attempts to destroy the evidence, you may be able to collect it from the insurance company.

However, you should not wait to do this. You must get to work as soon as the accident occurs. You may not know where to start, and that is normal. Hire an experienced truck accident attorney to help you with your claim.