If you’ve been injured in an accident with a semi-truck, the hospitalization fees, long-term medical care, loss of income, and various other financial damages can place a heavy burden on you and your family. Our Hilliard Law lawyers understand the challenges you face and will use our knowledge, connections, and experience to provide you with the justice and compensation you deserve.
Throughout the country – and specifically in Texas – there has been a significant increase in commercial truck accidents. In 2017, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported 556 fatal commercial truck accidents in Texas alone. While many contribute these statistics to the rising number of oil fields in Texas, various other factors are involved in the increase in fatal commercial truck accidents.
Semi-truck accident victims may suffer severe, life-threatening injuries due to the sheer size and weight of the vehicle. Truck accident victims will need evidence of the truck’s negligence to recover justice and compensation for their losses in a semi-truck accident. Some of the most influential information and evidence used in a semi-truck accident comes from within the truck in what’s known as a black box.
What Is a Black Box in a Commercial Truck?
A black box is a device within commercial trucks and other large motor vehicles that contains information recorded about the drive. For commercial trucks, the black box records relevant information during its time on the road. However, the data stored in the black box is heavily secured and not easily accessible without legal representation.
In commercial truck accidents, the information within a black box is essential and may provide influential evidence in favor of your claim. Some of the data stored within a black box that may play a significant role in your claim includes:
- Maintenance and performance history
- The average speed of the truck
- Recent GPS coordinates
- How fast the truck was driving before the accident
- How the steering wheel and tires were positioned
- If the truck driver was wearing a seatbelt
- How long the vehicle has been driven consecutively
- If the brakes were used and when
Federal laws require all commercial trucks to install black boxes to ensure the vehicle and its cargo’s safety. If you suffered severe injuries in a commercial truck accident, speak with our lawyers about how they can recover the records within a commercial truck’s black box.
How to Obtain Data From a Black Box for Your Truck Accident Claim
Since commercial trucks are required by federal law to install a black box, you will nearly always have the ability to use the information within the device on your behalf. However, the main issue lies with receiving access to the information within the device.
On your own, you may not be given access to the records due to the classified data within the device. If you have a legal professional on your side, however, they will have resources that allow them to recover and receive approval to use the data within the black box in order to help support your claim.
Speak With Experienced Professional Truck Accident Lawyers at Hilliard Law
The hospitalization fees, long-term medical care, loss of income, and various other financial damages following a semi-truck accident can place a heavy burden on you and your family. Our Hilliard Law lawyers understand the challenges you face and will use our knowledge, connections, and experience to provide you with the justice and compensation you deserve. We have over 40 years of experience representing clients and will fight for you.
Recognized by peers and within our community as an empathetic and devoted firm, you can count on our team to guide you through the legal and medical process. Learn more about your legal options after a truck accident by calling (866) 927-3420 or completing our contact form today. We also work on a contingent fee basis, meaning you don’t pay us unless we win.