What Truck Black Box Data Can Reveal After a Serious Accident

After any type of plane crash, investigators scramble to recover the plane’s flight data recorder, also known as the black box.

This device contains valuable information about the plane’s operations in the moments leading up to the crash, and it can help determine the cause. That same technology is used in commercial vehicles, and black box data can reveal a lot about what caused a truck accident.

If you’ve been involved in a collision with a semi-truck, you’ll want to access the black box data to support your eventual claim.

An experienced Etna truck accident lawyer can help secure that evidence and use it in pursuit of a possible settlement. It is important to understand what data you can retrieve and how it can be utilized in support of your claim.

Understanding the Role of the Electronic Control Module

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates that commercial truck drivers use an Electronic Logging Device (ELD) to record their service hours.

Additionally, each truck driver must have an Electronic Control Module (ECM). This is often referred to as the “brain” of a semi-truck. It is a computer that monitors and controls engine performance in real time.

Most importantly, it records all collected data, providing you with a snapshot of the truck’s operations.

Here are the key functions provided by the ECM:

• Engine Optimization: As with your car, a semi-truck has sensors for all engine operations. The ECM analyzes sensor data for temperature, pressure, and speed. That helps a truck driver maintain optimal fuel efficiency and performance.
• Emissions Management: Exhaust gases are a major concern for commercial vehicles. The ECM continuously monitors a truck’s exhaust gases to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
• Diagnostic Reporting: When there is an issue with the truck’s engine or other systems, the ECM records Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) that assist in diagnosing and maintaining the vehicle.
• Safety System Management: The ECM also manages a truck’s brake systems, airbags, and other crucial safety features.

That is a lot of vital information to sort through. A skilled truck accident attorney will know what to look for and how to put it to use in your claim.

Critical Data Points Captured During a Collision

A truck’s black box constantly collects data while the truck is in operation. At the moment of a crash, the record might stop functioning, but it would have collected data up to that point.

These are the critical data points an ECM captures in a collision:

• Vehicle Speed
• Braking
• Throttling
• Engine RPM
• Steering Input
• Impact Forces
• Safety Systems Deployment
• Cruise Control Status
• GPS and Movement Data
• Driver Behavior

In order to preserve that evidence, your attorney will need to immediately send out a spoliation letter. That will prevent the truck’s owner from deleting any data from the black box.

How Data Proves Trucking Company Negligence

In a trucking accident, the primary at-fault party would be the truck driver.

However, a trucking company can also be found liable based on information collected by the truck’s black box. For example, if driver fatigue contributed to the accident, the data will prove how many hours the driver was on the road without a rest.

That driver might have been operating his vehicle under pressure from the truck company.

A truck’s black box stores data related to the truck’s performance. It records information about brakes and tire pressure that could indicate negligence by the trucking company, which failed to provide proper maintenance.

Outside of the black box data, you can also gather vital proof of a truck company’s negligence with inspection reports, dispatcher communications, and driver qualification files. The cumulative effect of all this evidence can help to establish liability on the part of the trucking company.

Why You Need an Expert to Interpret Black Box Records

Taking on a major trucking company after an accident requires the skills of an experienced truck accident attorney.

The legal team at the Edwards Law Office, P.C. has helped many Etna residents secure the maximum benefits allowed in a trucking accident. We know how important it is to secure those black box records as quickly as possible. Once we have that information, we can tap into our network of truck accident analysts to help make sense of it all. The information provided by the experts will form the foundation of any potential claim.

A strong claim that is backed up by the trucking company’s own data will be hard to dispute.

However, if there is resistance, we are fully prepared to take the claim to the next level and file a civil lawsuit. Just as a spoliation letter compels the trucking company not to destroy black box data, filing a lawsuit often motivates them to settle.

All of these strategy options can be discussed in your first free consultation with our office. The sooner we can review your claim, the better off you’ll be to understand what your next move should be.

We offer guidance to help you make an informed decision.