Posted on Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 at 3:26 am    

Why is a Truck’s Black Box so Important in a California Truck Accident Case?

Have you been injured in a truck accident in California? Have you lost a loved one in a California commercial truck accident? If so, you need an attorney who understands that truck accidents cannot be handled in the same way as an accident involving passenger vehicles. Some attorneys do not have the experience necessary to represent your interests in the best possible manner. For example, if an attorney is not familiar with a truck’s black box, the attorney may miss crucial evidence that can increase your chance of receiving the maximum compensation allowable by law for your truck accident claim.

What is a Truck’s Black Box?

You may be familiar with the black box that is used in an aircraft to record vital information that helps investigators identify the cause of an airplane crash. What most people do not know, and some attorneys are unaware of, is that most commercial trucks have black boxes that record technical data about the trucks performance and the driver’s behavior immediately prior to a collision. The information recorded by the truck’s black box may be used to prove fault for the accident.

How Does the Black Box Work?

The black box is an EDR (electronic data recorder) that records data such as the speed of the vehicle; if the driver applied the brake or the accelerator; whether the airbags deployed, if the driver had his or her seatbelt buckled; and, other vital information. Standards for EDRs are set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The data from a black box can be downloaded by law enforcement agencies to assist with an accident investigation. An attorney for a truck accident victim can also request the data from the black box as part of his accident investigation on behalf of the accident victim.

Why is the Data from the Black Box Important in a Truck Accident Case?

The data obtained from the truck’s black box can help prove that the truck driver was negligent in causing the accident (i.e. speeding) or whether a defect in the truck caused the accident (i.e. faulty brakes). However, the truck accident attorney must act quickly to preserve the data on the truck’s black box. The information on the black box is recorded over; therefore, if a truck attorney fails to put the company on notice to preserve the data on the truck’s black box, vital information could be lost.

Losing the information on the truck’s black box can significantly affect your truck accident claim; therefore, you need an experienced truck accident attorney who understands what steps need to be taken to preserve this vital evidence.

Get Help from an Experienced Sacramento Truck Accident Attorney

If you or a family member has been injured in a truck accident, contact Tiemann Law Firm immediately. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling truck accidents; therefore, we know exactly what steps to take to preserve evidence and protect your best interests.

Our Sacramento personal injury attorneys offer free consultations so that you can get the legal advice you need to protect your right to receive a fair and just settlement for your truck accident claim. Contact us online, call our toll free number at (916) 999-9000, or chat with a representative on our website to schedule your appointment with one of our attorneys.

Client Testimonials

Hanna Padilla Testimonial
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From the very start of my case the Tiemann Law Firm was wonderful. Perter came all the way to my home to sit down and talk to me about my options. He made me and my partner feel very comfortable and promised us he would take the very best care of my case. Peter kept me informed every step of the way and was always on top of things. everything was done in a timely manor and I always felt like I was the only case he was working on because he was so fast. In the end Peter got me back way more money than I ever expected. I would recommend this law firm to everyone. I am very happy with the outcome of my case thanks to the Tiemann Law Firm! Thank you!

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It is hard to put into words the care and dedication that I received from the Tiemann’s. They have been here for me every step of the way and were always available when I had questions or concerns. My husband and I will be forever grateful for everything they have done for us and our family. Thank you so much for all of the hard work and time you have put into my case, we greatly appreciate it and your friendship. We highly recommend this firm and will always be thankful for everything they have done. Thank you so much again, Kim

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I just saw my lawyer Jelena Tiemann on a t.v ad, which reminded me how much she helped when I was in a desperate situation. I just love her! That is why I feel a need to tell everyone. I had a situation that happened & didn’t know what to do, our where to go. I didn’t even know if she could help me or if any lawyer could. All I wanted was it to go away & was afraid most lawyers wanted to drag it out & possibly go to court. For one she was very professional but was very personable (maybe b.c she’s a lady). She didn’t make me feel embarrassed or self-conscious that I did something wrong or was the cause of the situation. She immediately said we should try our best before going to court. Let me handle some paperwork, if at the last we do go to court we have documents. She gave me all the details, pros and cons but reassured me she deals with these cases all the time. She came through and made it as painless as possible. I now have my life back.

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Tiemann Law Firm helped us with an injury case for my nephew. They were very knowledgeable and we are very happy with the service they provided. The entire staff is topnotch!

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I chose Tiemann Law Firm to help me after a car accident I was involved in. Throughout the entire process, Moe made sure to keep me updated, he always responded quickly whenever  I had questions about anything. My case won thanks to this law firm and its dedication. My experience with Tiemann Law Firm was amazing! 10/10 recommended.