Why Is the Black Box Important in Truck Accidents?

Large trucks travel hundreds of miles across the country, carrying the supplies we rely on each day. The drivers behind the wheels of these large trucks are on the road for many hours at a time, facing long distances and heavy traffic as they deliver their cargo from one place to the other. Because of their limited visibility and increased stopping times, large trucks can be difficult to maneuver and are often the cause of devastating accidents.

Even though federal regulations do not yet require that all commercial trucks be equipped with a black box, they are becoming more prevalent, and newer trucks may have them. The black box is intended to be used much like the black box in an airplane. They can keep truck drivers and trucking companies accountable for their driving habits and the maintenance of these vehicles and can help determine what caused an accident. These devices document important metrics and data in order to keep truck drivers and surrounding motorists safe at all times.

The data from the black box data and other key pieces of evidence can be used to build a compelling case that could enable you to obtain compensation for your injuries and other accident-related losses. Here are a few important things to know about black boxes.

Functions of the Black Box

The black box is a device installed in many large trucks that records several different metrics. Examples of data that may be recorded include:

• Truck’s speed just prior to the accident
• GPS location of the truck
• Truck’s braking activity
• Truck’s tire pressure
• Whether or not the driver was wearing a seatbelt
• Vehicle tilt

This data can be useful for several reasons. The black box can provide victims of large truck accidents with evidence, should they wish to prove a truck driver or trucking company’s liability in an accident.

Tampering with the Black Box

Because the data stored in a black box device can potentially be incriminating, truck drivers and trucking companies sometimes attempt to tamper with or hide this information. This prevents the victim of a large truck accident from using the data as evidence of the truck driver’s liability in the accident.

Truck drivers and/or trucking companies may attempt to clear the data from the black box, reset the device entirely, or even resort to destroying the device. As you can imagine, actions like these are a violation of federal regulations and are punishable in a court of law.

Crash Liability

As previously stated, black boxes can store key information that may prove a truck driver and/or trucking company’s negligence that led to a motor vehicle accident. In order to pursue compensation for injuries you sustained in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you must show that the truck driver, their company, or some other party was negligent. Negligence is generally defined as an action or lack of action that brings harm to or creates a hazardous circumstance for another party.

There are several parties who may be considered liable in a large truck accident. A few common examples of such parties include:

• The shipping company whose failure to properly load cargo onto a large truck caused an accident
• The company whose failure to properly repair or maintain a large truck and its parts caused an accident
• The truck driver whose failure to obey traffic laws caused an accident
• The trucking company whose failure to hire a properly licensed driver caused an accident

In order to gain a clearer understanding of liability and negligence in your truck accident case, contact one of the Texas truck accident attorneys of Portner Bond, PLLC today.

Need Help? Call Portner Bond, PLLC Today

Dealing with the repercussions of a large truck accident can be a long and grueling process. From sorting out the regulations surrounding commercial vehicles to accessing black box data and communicating with insurance companies, seeking the compensation to which you’re entitled is no easy task when you’re working on your own.

At Portner Bond, PLLC, we’re prepared to walk alongside you as you seek the restitution you deserve. Our personal injury attorneys will provide you with excellent legal counsel as we fight to protect your rights. If you’re ready to stand up to the trucking companies, give us a call today at (409) 838-4444. We’ll put you in contact with one of our personal injury attorneys so they can help you determine the best course of action to seek justice for your injuries.