In the aftermath of a plane crash, one of the first things that investigators search for is the plane’s “black box.” This is the flight data recorder, which can provide valuable information about the aircraft’s performance in the moments leading up to the crisis.
Commercial trucks are equipped with their own version of a black box, called an electronic logging device (ELD) or electronic data recorder (EDR), which can help prove negligence after a semi crash.
Whenever a commercial vehicle is involved in a serious crash, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is automatically notified, and they will dispatch representatives to conduct a thorough investigation. They will also assume control of the black box and its data collection.
That’s why it is important to get an experienced Gulfport truck accident lawyer to help with your claim as soon as possible. If you’ve been involved in a crash with a commercial rig, you should set up a consultation with Owen, Owen & Smith, PLLC, to discuss what happened and explore the options for collecting the truck’s black box data.
What Type of Data Is Recorded by the Truck’s Black Box?
All new cars have computer systems that can record a limited amount of data. It is how a trusted mechanic can determine what might be happening when you have a “check engine” light. A truck’s black box can include the following data:
- Frontal airbag deployment
- Stability or lack of stability
- Speed of a truck before a crash
- Sudden braking
- Seatbelt usage
- Number of crash events for a specific vehicle
Depending on the truck’s EDR system, the black box can also include some of the following information:
- Use of cruise control
- Truck activity logs
- Tire pressure
- Engine oil levels
- GPS location and information
- A truck’s mechanical status
- Engine speed and RPM
When you understand how to interpret that data, it can help support a claim that the truck driver’s actions contributed to the accident. That will strengthen your chances of receiving fair compensation for your losses.
Why is Preserving the Black Box Data an Urgent Matter?
Black box data doesn’t last forever. In fact, many trucking companies have a policy that the data can be overwritten in just under a month. That means you have around 30 days from the date of the accident to ensure you and your attorney have collected that data. Your attempt to collect that data may face challenges from the trucking company.
When a truck accident attorney becomes involved in the claim, they can send an immediate spoliation letter. That puts the trucking company on notice that they must preserve and turn over all the records pertaining to the truck, the driver, and the accident.
That includes the black box data, maintenance logs, dispatch records, and cargo manifests. Any delay in collecting that data could compromise your claim.
How Does Black Box Data Help Prove Truck Accident Negligence?
Once you and your attorney have collected the black box data, you’ll be able to work with an expert to analyze the information and incorporate it into your claim. The goal is to clearly establish the truck driver’s negligence.
This is how the data can be used for that goal:
- Prove the truck was speeding
- Establish that the truck didn’t brake in time
- Confirm the driver was fatigued
- Assert if the driver was operating their vehicle for too many hours
- Identify when the mechanical failure occurred
- Support witness statements or video footage
All of that data can also help our team of experts reconstruct the accident. That can mean creating animation videos that can demonstrate to an insurance carrier or a jury the exact details of how the accident occurred.
Of course, black box data is not without limitations. For instance, the data you collect might be incomplete or corrupted. On an older model rig, the recording data technology is not as comprehensive as that of a modern truck. There could also be technical malfunctions that prevented data collection.
Finally, black box data might not capture all relevant factors contributing to an accident.
For instance, it might not be able to detect road conditions due to adverse weather or the presence of obstacles such as debris or potholes.
Putting Black Box Data to Work for Your Claim
A truck’s black box data can prove to be invaluable for a personal injury claim, but only if it is collected quickly and analyzed properly.
The attorneys at Owen, Owen & Smith, PLLC, have represented many clients involved in collisions with semi-trucks. We know the first vital step towards building a strong claim is to collect that black box data.
More importantly, we know how to put that data to work to help our clients get the maximum compensation they are due.
If you’ve been involved in a trucking accident, we want to hear from you. Call our office right away to set up a consultation. We’ll answer your questions and help you decide the best way forward for getting what you are owed.
