Black Box Data and Oklahoma Truck Accidents

What Is a Black Box?

While people in other vehicles suffer the most serious injuries in truck accidents, many of these collisions are the result of an act of truck driver negligence or truck equipment failure. When passenger vehicle occupants are fatally or catastrophically injured through no fault of their own, all negligent parties must be held accountable, and victims must be fully compensated for their losses. Data can be obtained from the truck’s black box to support a claim for compensation in many cases.

Most commercial trucks are equipped with an electronic control module (ECM) or event data recorder (EDR) - also known as a black box. This unit is integrated with the truck’s engine components and designed to capture data concerning the truck’s operations, which may be invaluable in establishing the facts in a truck accident injury claim.

The trucks black box records and stores a wealth of statistical data, including:

• Truck speed
• Engine revolutions per minute (RPMs)
• Rate of acceleration
• Braking data
• Fuel consumption
• Idling time
• Length of time driving
• Whether an airbag deployed
• Whether a seatbelt was in use

Evidence taken from the black box is admissible in a court of law, and it can serve to objectively corroborate the victim’s testimony. Black box data can also be used by experts to reconstruct the accident to establish liability in claims and lawsuits.

It is important to note that black box data pertaining to your accident is not available forever. Black boxes record data for a limited time - usually 30 days - after which they begin recording over existing information. Our Oklahoma truck accident lawyers at Car Accident Help can immediately take action to preserve this vital black box data when we handle your claim.

Truck Accident Injuries and Fatalities

Truck accidents kill or injure thousands of people every year in the U.S. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that, although large trucks accounted for only 4% of all registered vehicles in 2014, they accounted for 8% of all traffic fatalities.

When a large commercial truck collides with a passenger vehicle, passenger vehicle occupants are much more likely to suffer serious injuries or death than the truck driver. In the fatal truck crashes that occurred in 2014, 73% of the fatalities were occupants of other vehicles, while only 17% were occupants of large trucks. Of the people injured in large truck accidents, 73% were occupants of other vehicles and 23% occupied large trucks.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident that was not your fault, our truck accident lawyers at Car Accident Help can assist you to move forward with a claim for compensation. We have served as dedicated legal advocates for Oklahoma injury victims for many years, and have an impressive record of success for our clients. Call us right away at (405) 285-4357 for a consultation. With our Oklahoma truck accident attorney managing your case, we will move forward quickly to obtain and preserve black box data - a critical piece of evidence.

Additional Information

• U.S. DOT Proposes Broader Use of Event Data Recorders to Help Improve Vehicle Safety - U.S. Department of Transportation
• Event Data Recorders

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