When a commercial truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the issue goes beyond determining who caused the crash; it also involves understanding how and why it occurred. That’s where black box data comes in. These electronic records, stored within a truck’s onboard systems, capture critical evidence that can reveal driver error, speed, braking, and other key details.
At Goff Law Group, our Connecticut truck accident attorneys use this data to uncover the truth and hold negligent trucking companies accountable. With a 99% success rate, millions recovered for clients, and a female-led team that fights like family, we combine compassion with cutting-edge legal strategy to deliver results that matter.
What is “Black Box” Data?
“Black box” is the everyday name for event data recorded by a truck’s onboard systems, including:
- The engine control module (ECM) or heavy-vehicle event data recorder (EDR)
- The driver’s Electronic Logging Device (ELD) (hours-of-service)
- Onboard video event recorders and telematics such as GPS, forward/driver-facing video, etc.
Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) are mandatory for most interstate carriers to monitor hours of service as outlined in 49 C.F.R. Part 395. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) states that Hours of Service (HOS) regulations limit driving time and mandate rest breaks to prevent driver fatigue. Carriers are required to maintain ELD records for a minimum of six months, with a separate backup copy stored in a secure location.
Event data recorders for light vehicles are governed by 49 C.F.R. Part 563. This regulation establishes standards for the types of data that can be captured and outlines the procedures for investigators to retrieve that information. While standards for heavy trucks are still being developed, the existing framework guides how crash data is stored and accessed.
The NTSB has repeatedly urged federal regulators to:
- Set performance standards and
- Require EDRs in trucks over 10,000 lbs.
- Deploy onboard video event recorders that capture time, GPS location, acceleration, driver-facing and forward views, and instrument panel data
Why This Data is a Legal Game-Changer
Black box evidence can answer the questions that decide your case:
- Fatigue & Hours-of-Service: ELD logs reveal whether a driver exceeded legal driving limits or skipped required rest—classic evidence of negligence in fatigue cases.
- Speed, braking, throttle, and seatbelt use: ECM/EDR snapshots reveal pre-impact speed, brake application, and throttle position in the seconds leading up to a crash—objective facts that can corroborate eyewitness accounts and counter blame shifting (Event Data Recorder | NHTSA).
- Maintenance & fault codes: Engine fault histories and ABS events can point to poor maintenance or mechanical failure, shifting liability to companies that cut corners.
- Where and how it happened: Video recorders and telematics/GPS provide location, lane position, and context (including traffic, weather, and driver behavior) that strengthen reconstruction and settlement leverage.
In simple terms, data serves as solid evidence that strengthens your narrative by providing undeniable proof of liability, causation, and damages.
How We Preserve Black Box Data
Trucking and insurer response teams move immediately after a crash. So do we. We issue litigation-hold letters to preserve ELD, ECM/EDR, telematics, and video data, and we demand access for forensic downloads.
If a company fails to preserve relevant electronic evidence, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(e) authorizes courts to impose remedies—and in cases of intent to deprive, severe sanctions (including adverse-inference instructions or default).
Experience the Goff Law Group Difference
Trucking companies and insurers protect themselves with teams and technology. We counter with stronger evidence, expert analysis, and courtroom-tested strategies. If you were hurt in a truck crash, contact us today to schedule your free consultation. We’ll move immediately to preserve and secure the data that can win your case.
