Navigating the aftermath of a serious truck accident is confusing and stressful for accident victims.
Amid the physical pain, mental anguish, and general chaos, it can be challenging to determine what actually occurred and how the accident happened. Historically, making sense of these complicated events required manual driver logs that were prone to mistakes, extensive witness testimony, and physical evidence collected at the scene.
However, today, the truck black box is one of the strongest pieces of evidence used in these cases. Below, our West Virginia truck accident lawyer explains further.
What is a Truck Black Box?
In the context of commercial trucks, the term ‘black box’ refers mainly to the Electronic Logging Device (ELD). Although these are referred to as a ‘black truck box,’ they are not actually black. Unlike the black boxes found on planes, the black boxes found on trucks are also not indestructible.
Federal regulations mandate black boxes in trucks, as they record how long a truck driver has remained on the road and ensure they have complied with the hours of service rule. The hours of service rule is a regulation established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to prevent fatigued driving.
A truck’s black box connects to the engine of the vehicle and automatically records driving time, as well as other important information. Black boxes within trucks are designed to be tamper-resistant, eliminating the possibility of having records falsified, which was a common issue associated with the manual logbooks that truck drivers once kept.
What Information Does a Truck Black Box Capture?
Recording the hours of service a truck driver is on the road is the main purpose of ELDs, but they have other functions, as well. A single black box is made up of many recording devices that work together to capture a thorough picture of the manner in which a truck was operating before, during, and after a collision. The information captured by a black box truck includes:
- Speeding and braking: If a truck driver was not complying with the posted speed limit, as required by West Virginia Code §17C-6-1, it can indicate they were to blame for a crash. Additionally, if the brakes were suddenly and forcefully applied, it can show the truck driver was trying to avoid colliding with another vehicle or object.
- GPS data: A truck’s black box also records certain route information, including exact locations with timestamps. These can verify the path of a truck and the speed at different points along the route.
- Engine performance information: Information regarding throttle position, the engine’s RPM, and diagnostic coding can show that mechanical issues contributed to a crash.
- Seatbelt data: The black box in a truck can also indicate whether the truck driver was wearing his seatbelt at the time of an accident.
- Impact dynamics: Some black boxes can also record the force of impact, as well as the direction a truck was traveling at the time. This can provide valuable insights into how an accident occurred.
One of the most important aspects of a truck black box is that they are objective and can provide factual data regarding an accident.
Why are Black Boxes So Important in Truck Accident Claims?
Again, due to the fact that the information obtained from a truck’s black box is objective and neutral, it can provide powerful evidence in the aftermath of a truck accident. There are many ways a black box can help with your claim, and they are as follows:
- Prove violations of the law: If a truck driver was operating their vehicle longer than the hours of service rule allows, this can prove fatigued driving, establishing the direct link between the illegal operation and the cause of the crash.
- Support or challenge witness testimony: The black box in a truck can either corroborate a witness statement regarding a crash or show inconsistencies, which helps paint a more accurate picture of the crash.
- Identify driver wrongdoing: A black box can also indicate that a truck driver braked hard, made a sudden maneuver, or sped excessively, and that these actions were not due to an emergency. This can establish reckless or aggressive driving patterns.
- Highlight mechanical issues: Engine data and error codes can show if mechanical issues, such as engine problems or defective brakes, contributed to a crash. This can help establish if a manufacturer or trucking company is liable for an accident.
Without truck black boxes, proving the most important parts of a case is very challenging and relies mainly on the testimony of the individuals who may have a significant interest in the outcome of a case.
Our West Virginia Truck Accident Lawyer Can Obtain Black Box Data
The information stored within a truck’s black box is incredibly valuable, but it is not always stored permanently. Some of these devices only store data for a short period of time. Additionally, if the truck continues to operate after a crash, the old data may be overwritten by new information. It is for this reason that prompt action after a crash is so important.
A West Virginia truck accident lawyer can send a spoliation letter to the trucking company immediately following an accident. This is a legal notice demanding that the trucking company preserve all evidence related to a crash, including driver qualification files, maintenance logs, information obtained from a truck’s black box, and more. If a spoliation letter is not sent, the trucking company may have the right to destroy this important information, which can significantly hurt an accident victim’s ability to prove their claim.
Our West Virginia Truck Accident Lawyer Can Prove Your Case
At Kaufman & McPherson, PLLC, our truck accident lawyer in West Virginia knows the important evidence that can prove your case and will help you collect it. Call us now at 304-842-4300 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our experienced attorney and to learn more about how we will fight for you.
