How Can a Semi’s Black Box Help My IL Truck Accident Claim?

Preliminary data for 2023 report 6,402 truck crashes in Illinois, an average of 17 accidents every day. Truck collisions frequently produce significant property damage and catastrophic injuries, some resulting in fatalities. If you are injured in a truck accident, you may be eligible for compensation, but you need evidence proving the truck caused your crash.

What is a truck’s black box? How can black box data support my accident claim? Your knowledgeable lawyer from Fotopoulos Law Office can answer those and other questions during your free consultation, but it is important to call as soon as possible after your collision.

What Is a Truck’s Black Box?

Officially called an event data recorder, most commercial trucks have a black box installed. Similar to mandatory electronic logging devices that track a driver’s hours of service, EDRs record various data about the truck’s and driver’s behaviors surrounding an event, such as a crash. Data recorded by an EDR includes:

• GPS location
• Speed at the time of the crash
• Whether the driver was accelerating
• Whether the driver applied brakes trying to avoid the collision and how long between braking and impact
• Truck performance and stability information
• Seatbelt usage and airbag deployment
• Steering input
• Crash force severity

Recordings are brief, typically spanning 5 seconds before the crash to a few seconds afterward. Only authorized personnel can access and edit the data, but some devices are set to automatically delete data after a specified period.

The data in a truck’s black box is often invaluable evidence if the truck is involved in a crash. Since the data is likely to be erased either automatically or manually, it is vital that you call Fotopoulos Law Office as soon as possible after your accident so we can request a copy before it disappears.

How Can Black Box Data Support My Truck Accident Claim?

You must determine why and how your truck crash happened to identify the at-fault party or parties. With commercial vehicles, including tractor-trailers, several parties may be liable for your damages, such as the:

• Truck driver
• Trucking company
• Truck leasing company or owner
• Truck maintenance company
• Parts manufacturers
• Cargo loaders

Black box data can help you prove negligence on the part of one or more parties. As the basis for most personal injury cases, negligence may give you grounds to file a compensation claim. The data could show, for example:

• The driver did not steer or brake trying to avoid the collision
• The cargo shifted, causing trailer instability that may have led to the driver losing control
• The driver was speeding or driving too fast for the conditions

You need evidence to support your claim, and recovering black box data is crucial. Not just anyone can access this data, but your lawyer from Fotopoulos Law Office can.

What Damages Could I Receive After My Truck Crash?

Damages in personal injury cases reimburse or compensate victims for specific losses, such as:

• Lost income
• Property damage
• Medical and ongoing care
• Pain and suffering
• Lost enjoyment of life

Case-specific factors determine your eligible damages and amounts. Fotopoulos Law Office knows how to calculate them accurately and will work to get you the highest amount available.

Call Our Reliable Will County, IL Truck Accident Lawyer

As a retired Cook County judge, Attorney Fotopoulos has significant experience holding at-fault parties accountable for their actions. Call Fotopoulos Law Office at 708-942-8400 for your free consultation with our dedicated Orland Park, IL personal injury attorney.