Data Recorded by Truck Black Boxes

You were just in a tractor-trailer in Chicago and suffered catastrophic injuries. You’ve heard plenty of commercials where truck accident lawyers try to impress upon you how urgently you need to reach out to them. You’re unsure if it’s a marketing ploy or if there’s a valid reason they’re asking you to reach out fast.

Lawyers emphasize contacting them urgently after a big rig wreck in Chicago for a reason, which is because it’s the only way to ensure data recorded by truck black boxes can be adequately preserved.

What type of evidence does a truck’s black box record that is so valuable that it needs to urgently be secured? This event data recorder (EDR) preserves information leading up to and during a truck collision.

As you can probably understand, as someone with disabling injuries or even a family member who unexpectedly lost a loved one in an 18-wheeler accident, this information can be critically important in helping you or your attorney establish elements of negligence and prove liability so that you can recover a financial settlement for your losses.

Information That a Truck Event Data Recorder Logs

There’s a large amount of data contained in the black box or EDR that may prove valuable to your Chicago truck accident attorney in proving the tractor-trailer operator or another party’s negligence for the wreck that injured you, including:

• Whether the ignition was in the on or off position
• The severity of a crash
• If the trucker and its passengers were restrained by a seat belt
• A truck’s location according to its on-board navigation system (i.e., GPS)
• The truck’s fuel efficiency
• Whether any engine code failures occurred preceding the crash
• Steering wheel movements
• Whether the collision resulted in the automatic collision notification (ACN) system to activate
• The throttle’s positioning
• A truck’s speed at the time of the accident
• How long a trucker had been driving when the crash occurred
• Whether the collision caused the truck’s airbags to deploy (if applicable)
• If (and when) a trucker applies their brakes

A black box truck can also record certain actions (referred to as inputs) that a trucker took, as well as any tampering with the EDR device.

Does Every Tractor-Trailer Reliably Have an Onboard Black Box?

Since 2019, it’s been mandatory for all tractor-trailers to have EDRs onboard. However, there may be some loopholes that some trucks fall into, or they may be grandfathered in under previous policies, thus not requiring them to have black boxes, such as:

• Truckers that operate their tractor-trailers eight or fewer days per month
• Trucks used exclusively for performing tow-away services
• Tractor-trailers fabricated prior to 2000

What Triggers EDRs To Cut On?

The answer to this question depends on the type of black box that comes installed on a truck. While some run on a loop and record everything that happens onboard the truck for any given time and then record over it after a certain period of time, others only record certain crash-related indicators, like sudden braking or acceleration.

How Long Does Data Remain Accessible on Truck Black Boxes?

Again, the answer to this question may depend on the type of device installed on the truck. Of course, an EDR that only records moments preceding a crash may capture more preserved data across a longer period than one that is constantly recording.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) distinguishes between an electronic data recorder and a black box. As for the former, it requires truckers or the fleet companies they work for to preserve EDR data for at least six months.

Getting Help If a Trucker Hit and Injured You or a Loved One

Truckers and trucking companies are notorious for putting up a strong defense after injury accidents occur in Chicago. This is why you need a Chicago truck accident attorney to put up a strong defense on your behalf. It’s key to securing the compensation you deserve for your losses.

Our legal team at Thomas Law Offices is ready to discuss your case with you and advise you of your legal options. Get in touch with us now. Consultations are free.