When trucks are involved in accidents, the results can be devastating and often result in serious injury or death. In a state like Missouri, where highways like I-70, I-40, and I-55 are used frequently by these massive commercial vehicles, truck accidents happen more often than we’d like to believe. When they do, there is one piece of evidence that is usually more powerful than anything else: the “black box” of the truck.
What Is a Truck’s Black Box?
The truck’s black box is a device that records important data that can provide insight into the circumstances surrounding an accident, including:
- The speed of the truck
- Sudden braking or acceleration
- Angles of steering
- The driver’s seatbelt usage
- The performance of the engine
- GPS information
An experienced lawyer will use this information to paint a clear picture of the details that led up to the accident. Often, it can reveal the truck driver’s behavior and prove negligence, which is why black box data becomes a central piece of evidence in a serious injury case.
Why Black Box Data Matters
Black box data can’t be altered or biased. It’s objective, time-stamped data that can help determine who is at fault. For instance, if a truck rear-ends another vehicle, the black box data could show whether the truck was speeding or didn’t attempt to brake.
This data can also help protect victims from false claims. A truck driver might try to claim he wasn’t speeding and that he followed all traffic laws, but the victim acted erratically. However, the black box data will show exactly what happened with the truck driver’s behavior and can often prove that they were, in fact, speeding. The black box data can make or break your case.
How Attorneys Use Black Box Evidence
Trucking companies know how critical black box data is in a legal case, so they will do everything possible to keep it from you. An attorney will act quickly and send a spoilation letter, which is a formal notice that requires the company to preserve the black box and its data. Deleting or tampering with this evidence after they receive the letter can result in legal consequences, so they are not likely to mess with it.
Once the data has been preserved, your attorney will work with experts to read it and reconstruct the scene. They’ll combine it with other evidence, like witness statements and accident photos, to clearly depict what happened. This reconstruction can help determine who was at fault.
Get Holland Injury Law on Your Side
Trucking companies often have teams of lawyers and insurers who aggressively protect their interests. You deserve the same level of support. At Holland Injury Law, we protect your rights and fight for fair compensation for your injuries. We have recovered over $300 Million for our 7,000+ clients and have received 800+ 5-star reviews. We act fast and preserve vital evidence. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn how we can help you.