Why Is the Black Box Important in Truck Accidents?

An accident with an 18-wheeler will leave you reeling, and wondering “how did this happen?” And soon enough, that question will be relevant for your attorney, for your insurance company, and for your finances. To get the answer, you might need to request information held in the black box of a truck.

Black boxes aren’t just for planes. They are also installed in many 18-wheelers to record driving data. If you’ve been in an accident with an 18-wheeler or other commercial truck, your attorney can request data from the black box to understand who was at fault for the accident. That information can bolster your case for compensation.

What Are Black Boxes?

“Black Boxes” are more accurately called “EDRs” or Electronic Data Recorders. EDRs are designed to collect data in the brief period before, during, and after a crash.  EDRs collect several different types of information, including:

• Pre-Crash Vehicle Speed and Velocity — This information indicates whether a driver was exceeding the speed limit before the crash or making urgent maneuvers.
• Driver Inputs — The EDR helps us understand what actions a driver was taking in the moments before and during an accident. This includes the use of or failure to use seatbelts, the presence or absence of steering wheel turns and acceleration or deceleration, and whether the brakes were used.
• Vehicle Crash Data — The EDR collects detailed mathematical data on the velocity and dynamics of the vehicle during and after the crash. This includes tire pressure, oil levels, and more.

EDRs collect all of this information via sensors dispersed throughout the truck. The “brain” of the EDR, however, is typically housed in an area insulated from damage, like the driver’s seat. Though not required by law yet, black boxes are installed in most 18-wheelers nowadays.

How a Black Box Can Help You in Case of an Accident

If you’ve been in an accident with an 18-wheeler, you deserve compensation. But, to get it, you will likely be going up against a large trucking company. Naturally, trucking companies are not apt to want to disclose information about reckless drivers they employ. A black box could reveal that the truck driver was speeding, making sudden turns, or failing to brake. Therefore, they will not willingly hand over information contained in the black box. If they did, they might be on the hook for huge compensation settlements.

However, all is not lost. A skilled attorney can gain access to the data and establish a case for compensation.

An attorney will be able to assemble data from eyewitness reports, the ELD of the driver, the physical evidence remaining from the crash, and the raw data from the black box. They will then help build a case to bring before the trucking company’s insurance carrier and fight for you to get compensation for your pain and suffering. The right personal injury attorney will be accustomed to dealing with all the intimidation tactics of insurance companies. They will be able to help you get the answers you deserve and understand who is liable for the accident.

Call Goings Law Firm, LLC Today

Dealing with the aftermath of a truck accident can be nearly as nerve-wracking as the accident itself. You are likely dealing with a pile of medical bills, hordes of insurance queries, lack of communication from the trucking company, and maybe even questions from government agencies. While the black box holds the key to how the accident happened and to getting compensated for your pain, you struggle to access it. You need help. Contact a Goings Law Firm, LLC attorney today.

Any sort of vehicular accident is devastating. However, truck accidents, as opposed to car accidents, often result in larger financial, physical, and legal consequences for victims.  Truck accidents can wreak havoc on your life and cause issues that last for years to come.

If you’ve been in a truck accident, call the skilled lawyers at Goings Law Firm, LLC today. We are adept at assisting with all types of personal injury cases. We will deal with the trucking company, insurance companies, and even the government on your behalf. You need a professional in your corner who can gather evidence, organize a case for compensation, and fight for you to get the money you deserve.

Don’t let a truck accident hold you back any longer. Call Goings Law Firm, LLC at (803) 350-9230 now.