Tennessee Tractor Trailer Truck Accident Cases Can Be Aided By Black Box Data
When someone has been injured or killed in a tractor trailer accident, seeking out an experienced truck accident lawyer, like the ones at Hill Boren, is very important. At Hill Boren, we understand that evidence found in ‘Black Boxes’ may be very useful in proving your case against the trucking company. Unfortunately, Tennessee trucking companies have been known to destroy or “lose” important data and documents that may establish negligence and hours-of-service violations to avoid liability when an 18-wheeler accident results in serious injury or death to another person. The truck accident attorneys at Hill Boren will try to reach an agreement with the trucking company regarding how and when the information will be downloaded to avoid “accidental” loss of critical data.
Black boxes provide a wealth of information that can be used by Hill Boren’s heavy truck accident lawyers to establish the basis for the trucking company’s liability during settlement negotiations and at trial. They record an abundance of critical information that can be important in establishing negligence in a trucking accident, including issues related to the condition of the vehicle such as the vehicle’s maintenance problems and tire pressure. Black box monitoring systems, also known as electronic log systems, electronic data recorders and electronic control modules systems, have revolutionized the way Tennessee trucking accident lawyers litigate 18-wheeler accident cases.
Because black boxes are typically equipped with global positioning systems (GPS), they provide detailed information regarding where the truck was prior to a trucking accident. Critical evidence about the truck driver’s performance is also recorded such as sudden braking, speed control issues, clutch application and shifting, following distance, and exceeding regulated hours. Email correspondence between the truck driver and their trucking company is also recorded and may provide damning admissions about mechanical problems, driver fatigue or other admissions of fault by the truck driver immediately following a truck accident.
If the Tennessee trucking company refuses to provide the black box data, claiming it has been destroyed or lost, the experienced trucking accident lawyers at Hill Boren can demand that the trucking company provide the backup copy that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires be kept somewhere other than the truck’s on-board computer.
Hill Boren may employ an accident reconstruction expert who will use the information obtained from the black box to create computerized animations of the 18-wheeler accident, which are very effective and convincing tools for proving liability to a jury. The black box data can be used to discredit falsified written logs or to contradict the testimony of the driver or trucking company representatives during a deposition or at trial. If the trucking company refuses to cooperate, the attorneys at Hill Boren may expedite the filing of a civil lawsuit and request an Ex Parte Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to prevent the trucking company from doing anything that might result in loss of the black box data.
Contact the experienced truck accident attorneys at Hill Boren today for a free case evaluation.
