Life after a truck accident is often marked by pain, uncertainty and a mountain of medical bills. Your pain and hardship warrant answers, justice and fair compensation. Understanding the critical role of a truck’s black box, also referred to as an Electronic Logging Device (ELD), in building your case is the first step toward reclaiming your life.
Injured victims need to preserve this evidence before it disappears
In Tennessee and across the United States, federal law requires most commercial trucks to have ELDs installed. These devices record vital information about the truck’s operation, including:
- Speed
- Braking pattern
- Hours of service
- GPS location
- Engine performance
This data can reveal the cause of the accident that led to your injury, including whether the driver violated hours-of-service regulations, drove recklessly or had mechanical issues with the truck.
If you are an injured victim seeking compensation, this information can support your claim and potentially increase the amount you may recover, which can cover your medical treatment, missed income due to days away from work and emotional distress.
Accessing the truck’s black box, however, may be challenging. The law does not require trucking companies to keep this data indefinitely. In general, they can legally erase it after a brief period.
This is why prompt action after an accident is crucial. In Tennessee, you have one year to file a personal injury lawsuit and seek compensation, but the sooner you start, the better your chances of preserving critical evidence.
Enlisting legal help can be advantageous to your case
When pursuing this legal path, you will likely go up against trucking companies, whose insurers have lawyers working to minimize their liability. To level the playing field and protect your rights, it is best to have a skilled attorney on your side.