Eighteen-wheeler trucks are so large that they often cause big accidents with multiple victims, and it can be difficult to work out liability. It’s very important to show what was happening in the truck at the time of the accident and find out if the truck driver was complying with all federal regulations, and the “black box” and logbook data from the truck are key to all this. Talk to an El Paso, TX truck accident attorney right away, as you will need their help to make sure this evidence is preserved.
Preserving Data After an 18-Wheeler Crash
The “black box” is the Electronic Control Module (ECM) or Event Data Recorder (EDR), which most of these large trucks are now equipped with. The ECM or EDR captures data like the speed of the vehicle, the throttle position, the RPM of the engine, and braking events, which it will save if these happen not long before an impact.
In a rear-end collision, the presumption of fault normally lies with the following driver, but there are a few exceptions where the lead driver can be held responsible or fault can be shared. Whichever position your car was in in the accident, an El Paso, TX car accident lawyer can help you find the evidence you need to prove what really happened and who was at fault.
All drivers are required to drive safely: if they don’t, they can be held liable if there’s an accident. Safe driving requires that you keep a safe distance from cars ahead of you and be watching for sudden stops. In a rear-end collision, the determination of liability will often be made res ipsa loquitur, which means “the thing speaks for itself.” In other words, the nature of the accident itself already proves the following driver was not driving with enough distance between them and the car ahead of them.
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