In truck accident cases, injury victims and their legal representation can look to many different sources for evidence: The driver’s trip logs, records from their employer, mechanical evidence, and more.
Another source for recovering evidence after a truck accident is through the vehicle’s black box. The black box is a device that gathers data on the vehicle’s operations during drives. This information can provide insight into the causes of a truck accident.
What Does a Black Box Do?
Black boxes work by connecting to sensors in the vehicle and identifying changes in a truck’s speed, direction, and other factors through those sensors. This information can be priceless in a truck accident case.
In a semi-truck, a black box will collect data on:
- Speed
- Acceleration
- Brake use
- Driving time
- Mechanics
- Seat belt use
- Airbag deployment
- Tire pressure
- Location
What Does Black Box Data Reveal About Truck Accidents?
Black boxes gather data on nearly every aspect of a vehicle’s operations. When an accident happens, they show not only what the driver was doing when the collision occurred but also provide a look into other contributing factors like mechanical issues, the time that was spent driving, and more.
By evaluating these factors, it can be determined whether the driver’s negligence or external issues caused the collision. For example, data from a black box that shows excessive speed before a truck accident could be evidence of the driver’s liability. Data that reveals mechanical issues could be evidence of a third party’s liability (such as the truck manufacturer) or demonstrate the trucking company’s failure to regularly repair their vehicles.
Recovering Evidence for a Truck Accident Claim
To access the data from a black box and apply it to your case, you will need the assistance of a lawyer. Our legal team can help you recover the information and utilize accident reconstructionists and other experts who can interpret the data.
It is important to act quickly following a truck accident to ensure you can recover all available evidence. Black boxes regularly erase data automatically, and a driver and their employer may attempt to erase the data manually following a collision. With the help of McHargue & Jones, LLC, you can act quickly to get the most helpful evidence for your case.
The McHargue & Jones, LLC legal team can help you recover the compensation you deserve following a motor vehicle accident. Contact us to discuss the details of your case.
To request a free consultation with our attorneys, send us a message or call (312) 739-0000.
