Black boxes in commercial trucks are similar to the devices used in airplanes that record critical information about the crash. Obtaining a truck’s black box can help prove how the truck crash occurred and who is responsible for it.
What Is a Black Box?
Black boxes, otherwise known as event data recorders, record critical information about a vehicle’s operation. They can reveal essential information about a truck driver’s actions before, during, and after an accident, so they can be a valuable form of evidence in Denver truck accident cases.
Black boxes are part of the engine’s electronic control module and are installed in most commercial vehicles. The electronic control module controls and monitors engine functions, such as the timing of the ignition, injection, and emissions. If engine functions fail, the electronic control module stores error codes, which could help show a mechanical failure contributed to the accident.
What Information Does a Black Box Record?
To get a better sense of the critical data saved in these boxes, here is a list of the information that event data recorders often record:
- The truck’s speed at the time of impact and the seconds before
- The force of impact
- The truck’s gear setting at the time of the accident and whether the driver was shifting gears before the crash
- Whether the anti-lock braking system was active at the time of the crash
- Tire pressure information, which can help determine if blown tires were a factor in the truck crash
- The truck’s rotation around its vertical axis
- Application of brakes, which may indicate that distracted or fatigued driving played a role in the crash
- Whether the vehicle was in cruise control before the collision
- How much pressure the truck driver was applying to the gas pedal at the time of impact
- Whether traction control was engaged prior to the accident
- The engine throttle percentage
- How much the truck tilted or rolled
The specific data that is stored in the truck involved in your crash will be based on that truck. Each manufacturer may have different data saved because manufacturers set unique parameters regarding the information the truck will record.
How Is Black Box Data Used?
Investigators and accident reconstruction experts can extract the data saved in these devices to reconstruct the events leading up to the crash. This data can help determine if the driver was operating the vehicle in an unsafe manner or whether the truck had mechanical issues that could have contributed to the crash.
Your truck accident lawyer may be able to use black box data and other evidence to establish liability. This evidence is usually admissible in court, so it can be valuable in building a strong claim on your behalf.
Denver Truck Accident Attorneys
Contact Us for Legal Assistance with Your Truck Accident Claim
The legal team at Dulin McQuinn Young can help obtain black box data and other critical evidence for your case. We are experienced litigators who can leverage strong evidence to fight for a fair outcome in your case.