An 18-wheeler truck is one of the largest vehicles you will encounter on the road. These commercial vehicles carry countless valuable goods on any given day and are much larger and heavier than the average car. In a semi-truck accident, the average passenger motor vehicle faces a risk of severe damage just from the sheer speed of the truck. When damage occurs, accident victims seek to use any evidence available to prove their case. That is where the assistance of an experienced Mississippi truck accident lawyer is necessary.
While it is to their disadvantage, trucking companies provide computerized systems in their trucks that record data. These systems are known as a truck’s “black box.” The black box may provide victims with important evidence that may not have been made available otherwise.
Definition of the Black Box on a Commercial Truck
A black box is the common term for an electronic logging device (ELD) or an electronic data recorder (EDR). The device captures what happens to the 18 wheeler before, during, and after the time of the truck accident. The black box takes a timestamp of the crash. It records important information that is transferred to FMCSA safety officials following the accident to determine what caused the accident.
Some older trucks may not have an EDR, while newer trucks will likely have one, which trucking companies use to track their vehicles.
Another major component of a truck’s black box is the Electronic Control Module (ECM). An ECM is similar to an EDR or an ELD; however, an ECM also “communicates” with other systems and utilizes sensor systems to regulate engine performance. ECMs are what prompt signals such as check engine lights and regulate fuel injection. They are also responsible for important functions such as transmission, anti-lock brake, and traction control.
The Data Types Recorded By the Truck’s Black Box
A black box must record certain types of data. For instance, there is data that an EDR is legally required to record. They include:
- Frontal airbag deployment
- Stability (Or lack of stability)
- Speed of a truck before a crash
- Sudden braking
- Seatbelt usage (Or lack of seatbelt usage)
- Number of crash events for a specific vehicle
An EDR also contains additional information that may be relevant, even if not officially required. That information may include the following:
- 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
This is not an exhaustive list of all the information that EDRs record. The exact information that an individual truck’s black box may vary from case to case or by the individual truck company.
Some drivers may need supporting documents in addition to what is contained in their black boxes to provide additional information. Some information, such as communication between drivers and trucking or logistic companies, may also be tracked by only some truck manufacturers.
Relevant black box evidence suggests that a negligent truck driver caused an accident for the sake of recovering damages. For instance, if you are in an accident with a semi-truck and the truck’s EDR shows that the driver was driving well over the speed limit, you may be able to hold the truck driver accountable and receive proper compensation from them.
Obtaining the Data From the 18-Wheeler’s Black Box Data
Receiving an 18-wheeler’s black box data is not always a simple legal process. In truck accident claims where the truck driver is likely responsible for the accident, black box records are critical evidence for the truck accident victim. Because of this, the trucking company and insurance company associated with an at-fault party will take evasive actions around releasing black box data when possible and craft an alternative narrative about what happened.
If you are involved in a truck accident, your truck accident lawyer will first send a spoilation letter to the trucking company to provide them with the black box data. It’s extremely important to hire a truck crash attorney as soon as possible because some data is only available temporarily, so you may only have a brief period to obtain it before it becomes unavailable. That may keep you from crucial evidence proving your case, so it is essential to act quickly.
The information in black box data should be enough to decide whether a truck driver is responsible for an accident. The data can definitively show that if a driver was speeding, driving erratically, or misbehaving in some other way, they may be liable for injuries and damages. If they are found to be the negligent party, they or their insurance may need to pay for property damage, medical bills, and more.
How a Mississippi Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help Preserve the Black Box Data
You should never try to obtain or preserve black box data alone. It is the job of experienced personal injury attorneys to decide what key evidence needs to be obtained and how to do so. They can make requests during discovery or outside of court on your behalf. If they fear that a negligent party may destroy black box data, it is up to them to draft an evidence letter for its preservation. Seeking proper legal representation is the best way to prevent a loss of evidence, especially when you only have a limited time to do so.
Suppose you’ve been injured in a commercial truck accident in Mississippi and are considering filing a claim against the at-fault party. In that case, black box data may hold the irrefutable evidence you and your legal team need to prove your case and receive the compensation you deserve.
Attorney John Giddens will advocate for your right to fair compensation and exhaust all avenues for securing important evidence and filing an injury claim. For decades, his law firm has represented the good people of Mississippi and secured millions of dollars in compensation, and he is prepared to do the same for you.