A Philadelphia Truck Accident Lawyer Discusses The Role of Black Box Data in Proving Fault After a Truck Accident

Large commercial vehicles are equipped with electronic devices commonly known as a black box. These devices record and store a great deal of information about the vehicle and its operator. When a truck accident takes place, it is this black box that can provide crucial evidence in an insurance claim or lawsuit. The process of collecting, reviewing, and then utilizing that information can be the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful insurance claim or lawsuit. An experienced Philadelphia truck accident lawyer understands the complexities and challenges associated with these types of cases. Black box data can be effective in helping protect injury victims- when used correctly.

What Is A Black Box?

A truck’s black box is an electronic device installed in commercial vehicles that records a variety of information. The type of data collected helps those involved with the transportation of goods via the truck to better understand how the driver is performing, as well as how the truck is operating.

Large, commercial trucks have equipment and systems that are subjected to a heightened level of stress due to the extremely long journeys that trucks endure. Additionally, the sheer size of commercial trucks places parts and other systems under an extreme amount of stress. Engine performance, brake wear and tear, and the driver’s decisions can all be captured by a black box.

In short, when a truck accident occurs, the black box data is often crucial to understanding how the accident unfolded. Notably, determining fault in a truck accident is greatly aided by the information captured by a truck’s black box.

Breaking Down What Data The Black Box Contains

While there are a range of different types of black boxes equipped in large trucks, the vast majority of black boxes collect and store the following types of information:

• Commercial trucks are notoriously difficult to brake. If a roadway hazard is noted by a truck driver, it is still not easy to stop a truck in time to avoid a collision. The black box can disclose when the driver began to depress the brake pedal and the amount of pressure applied to the pedal.
• Speed is a major factor in commercial truck accidents. The speed at which the truck was travelling immediately prior to an accident can go a long way towards determining fault for an accident.
• In trucking accidents, seconds count. Depending upon the type of impact that occurred in an accident, it can tell investigators a significant amount about what occurred. A truck’s black box can help illustrate how the crash took place, the speed at which the truck was travelling prior to impact, and even the angle at which the truck approached the other vehicle.
• In some circumstances, a black box can track the number of hours a trucker was operating their vehicle prior to an accident. Rest breaks at regular intervals are recommended and in many cases required for truckers. That black box may contain the answers to questions involving whether the driver was operating the vehicle at full capacity.

Where Can A Truck’s Black Box Be Found?

Beneath the truck’s dashboard is the Engine Control Module (ECM) for the truck. This is the location most commonly chosen by truck manufacturers to install the black box. This is the ideal position to locate the black box in terms of accurately collecting the most important data associated with the vehicle.

What Is The Size Of A Typical Black Box For A Commercial Truck?

For the most part, a truck’s black box is usually small in size. The types of black boxes which are located within the truck’s Engine Control Module are typically 8 inches long and 2 inches in thickness. The small size of a black box allows for secure mounting of the unit in an area where there is a minimized risk of damage in the event of an accident.

Proving Fault Using The Black Box Data Of A Large Truck

The first question asked in any truck accident case is: Who is at fault? Once the fault is determined, an injured party can determine their likelihood of being compensated for their injuries.

A thorough examination of the black box data can put investigators in a position to better understand what happened at the time of the accident. Whether the truck driver, the truck owner, or any other party is responsible for the injuries of a motorist can be determined using the black box data.

Was a truck driver travelling above the posted speed limit at the time of the accident? Were the brakes applied at an appropriate juncture? What about mechanical failures? Were all the vehicle parts examined in working condition prior to the accident? Has any necessary maintenance on the truck been missed for any number of reasons?

Will An Injured Party Gain Access To The Truck’s Black Box?

In most cases, yes, the party injured in the truck accident will have an opportunity to review the data contained in the black box. However, an experienced Philadelphia truck accident lawyer is best suited to examine the underlying data and make recommendations associated with an injury claim or lawsuit.