There’s a lot of misinformation out there about big-rig trucks and their so-called “black boxes.” A black box is a device that records data about the performance of a vehicle so that if that vehicle is involved in an accident, valuable information about what caused the accident will be able to be recovered from the wreckage.
While some big-rig trucks do have black boxes, not all of them do. The confusion about this may come from the fact that black boxes are required on all commercial aircraft, however, the rules for commercial trucks are different. Only trucks that are part of a fleet that has six or more vehicles are required to have a black box.
If you were in an accident with big-rig, an experienced NY truck accident lawyer can protect your rights by building evidence from the investigation of the accident in full, including running diagnostics on black box data, if there is any. Call Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP at (212) 986-7353.
What Is a “Black Box” and How Can It Help Your Case?
A big-rig black box is a data recorder that is used to track the performance of a semi-truck or other large commercial vehicle. The black box typically records information such as the truck’s speed, engine performance, and braking performance. Other recorded evidence may include the engine RPM, the position of the throttle, and the braking and steering inputs. This information can be used to improve the truck’s performance and safety and can also be used to investigate accidents.
The black box is usually located in the truck’s cab, and it is typically mounted on the floor near the driver’s seat. The data recorded by the black box can be downloaded by a special device that is connected to the black box. The data can then be analyzed to help determine what happened in a truck accident.
A lawyer can help get the information from a black box big-rig accident by filing a lawsuit and subpoenaing the trucking company for the black box data. The attorney can also depose the truck driver and any witnesses to the accident and hire an accident reconstructionist if necessary to help interpret the black box data and determine what happened.
Hire a NY Lawyer After a Truck Accident
A New York truck accident attorney may be able to prove that the truck driver was at fault for the accident. The black box data may show that the truck driver was speeding at the time of the accident, or that he or she made an illegal lane change, which would indicate that the truck driver was not driving safely. The lawyer may also be able to obtain witnesses who saw the accident and can testify about what happened. Contact Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP at (212) 986-7353 for an immediate consultation.