COMMERICAL TRUCK’S BLACK BOX RECORDERS PROVIDE VALUABLE EVIDENCE
Most commercial trucks are equipped with “Electronic Control Modules” (ECM’s) or “Event Data Recorders” (EDR’s) that record and preserve evidence that can be extremely valuable as key evidence in litigation involving a trucking collision. Preservation of electronic data from these devices is the most reliable and objective source of evidence about the collision, which could be a rare occurrence when the parties of the litigation offer conflicting accounts of an accident.
Each year over 500,000 trucking collisions occur in the United States. Approximately 5,000 of these collisions involved the death of a person. Many more involve serious injury to an individual or to their property.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides the following certified definition of these devices:
A device installed in a motor vehicle to record technical vehicle occupant information for a brief period of time (seconds, not minutes) before, during and after a crash. For instance, they may record:
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pre-crash vehicle dynamics and system status,
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driver inputs,
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vehicle crash signature,
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restraint uses/a deployment status, and
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post crash data, such as the act of activation of an Automatic Collision Notification (ACN) system.
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Verifiable information that can be uploaded and downloaded from these “black boxes” include the truck’s speed history, rpm data, heavy braking, speed, exceptions, movement summary, fast accelerations, accident reports, driver identification, idle time, fuel consumption and seating driving time limits.
The Trucking Accident Lawyers at the Schmidt Salita Law Team have experience in dealing with, and effectively utilizing, evidence obtained from black box recordings in commercial trucks.
Recently, evidence obtained from the black box of a large commercial truck was valuable in bringing justice to the family of a farmer who was killed when his pickup truck and was hit from behind in a rear end collision by a large commercial truck.
COURTROOM EXPERIENCE
The St. Paul, MN Car Accident Lawyers know that it is extremely important to have a personal injury lawyer who can effectively present your case to a Judge and Jury if the case cannot be settled without trial. Our Trucking Accident Lawyers have actual trial experience in the Courtrooms of Hennepin County as well as many other counties around the state – even in other states. They have “been there, done that” and won!
PERSONAL INJURY WITH PERSONAL CARE
The Car Accident Lawyers at the Schmidt Salita Law Team are dedicated to providing legal services with personal attention and care to each case. They are 5-star rated and recommended by satisfied clients thanks to their professional etiquette as well as verified, high-damages awards.
CONTINGENT FEE ARRANGEMENTS AVAILABLE
The Car Accident Lawyers at the Schmidt Salita Law Team understand that the victims of personal injury are often dealing with financial issues due to medical bills, car damage, and lost wages and earnings. Most do not have the financial resources to pay for a lawyer on an hourly basis – especially for a really good lawyer. The answer to this dilemma is the contingent fee contract where the lawyer doesn’t get paid by the hour. Instead, the lawyer gets paid on a “commission basis” like a real estate agent, as a percentage of the settlement produced. The Schmidt Salita Law Team offers contingent fee contracts in most cases.