Important trucking evidence—such as electronic driving logs and vehicle data—can be lost or overwritten if it is not preserved quickly.
Truck accident cases often depend on technical evidence that is not present in most car accident investigations.
Per the Code of Federal Regulations, commercial trucks are equipped with systems that record operational data. These records may show what happened in the moments leading up to a crash.
Key evidence may include:
- Electronic logging device (ELD) records
- Hours-of-service logs
- Engine control module (“black box”) data
- GPS tracking data
- Vehicle inspection and maintenance reports
Some of this data may only be stored for a limited period before it is automatically overwritten. Because trucking companies typically control these records, preserving them early in an investigation can be extremely important.
In addition, commercial trucks today often capture multiple streams of electronic data and video that can be crucial for reconstructing a crash. In trucking accident cases, this evidence is often some of the most important proof available because it shows exactly what happened in the seconds before and after a collision.
BOTTOM LINE FROM TWWLAWFIRM.COM
👉 Critical trucking evidence may only exist for a short time. Getting an experienced legal team on-board quickly after a crash can help ensure important records are identified, located, aand preserved.
(This legal/medical information is for general educational purposes only. While it applies in many situations, no attorney-client relationship is formed—which enables a lawyer to give specific legal advice—until you have spoken to the lawyer directly and retained him or her in writing.)