Black Box Data in a Colorado Semi Accident

The term “black box” refers to the event data recorder (EDR), a device installed in many 18-wheelers, semis, and other commercial trucks to record information about the vehicle’s operation and the driver’s actions before, during, and after a Colorado semi accident. It is part of the engine’s electronic control module (ECM) on most commercial vehicles. The information is crucial in determining the cause of a Colorado semi accident. In this article, the Colorado semi accident lawyers at Bowman Law shed some light on black boxes. 

The ECM controls and monitors engine functions, such as fuel injection, ignition timing, and emissions. When engine functions fail, the ECM stores error codes that help mechanics diagnose and fix problems. The EDR component of the ECM monitors and records data about multiple functions. For example, if a reduction in wheel speed is sensed, the EDR can record almost two minutes of data about vehicle speed, brake application, clutch application, and cruise control status.

Most but not all commercial trucks have EDRs. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which regulates the trucking industry, does not require EDRs on commercial trucks.

The FMCSA does require commercial trucks to install electronic logging devices (ELDs), which some people lump into what they consider a black box in commercial trucks. The ELD tracks drivers’ hours of service (HOS) behind the wheel and other information, such as:

• The duration of engine use
• When the vehicle moves
• How many miles the truck travels

Most late-model passenger vehicles have EDRs, which also can be accessed for their data after a crash. Data recorded by a black box can be downloaded with appropriate software. Accessing EDR and ELD data from a commercial truck can be crucial when investigating the cause of a truck accident and performing a comprehensive accident reconstruction.

What Does a Truck’s Black Box Record? 

After a Colorado semi accident, one of the most critical pieces of evidence is the truck’s black box data. A truck’s black box collects and stores vital information about the truck’s operation. The data can accessed by investigators to reconstruct the events leading up to a crash. However, it is also important to note the specific data recorded by an EDR varies by manufacturer. Each truck maker sets unique parameters for what their system captures. That said, most black boxes track key performance and safety metrics, including:

Key Data Recorded by a Truck’s Black Box:

• Vehicle Speed – The truck’s speed at the time of impact and in the moments leading up to it.
• Crash Severity – The force of impact, often measured in G-forces.
• Seat Belt Status – Whether the driver was buckled in at the time of the crash.
• Tire Pressure – Helps determine if tire issues contributed to the accident.
• Brake Switch Status – Indicates whether the driver applied the brakes before the crash.
• Cruise Control Status – Shows if cruise control was engaged prior to the accident.
• Engine Throttle Percentage – Measures how much power the engine was delivering.
• Accelerator Pedal Percentage – Indicates how much pressure the driver applied to the gas pedal.
• Traction Control Activation – Determines if traction control was engaged to prevent skidding.
• Gear Position – The truck’s gear setting at the moment of impact.
• Delta-V – A key measurement of how much force was required to change the truck’s velocity.
• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) Status – Shows if ABS was active to prevent wheel lockup.
• Yaw Rate – Measures the truck’s rotation around its vertical axis.
• Roll Angle – Indicates how much the truck tilted or rolled.
• Longitudinal & Lateral Acceleration – Tracks the truck’s movement forward/backward and side-to-side.
• Clutch Status – Reveals whether the driver was shifting gears before the crash.

How Long Does a Black Box Store Data?

EDRs are designed to capture data in the seconds leading up to and immediately following a collision. Typically, the Airbag Control Module (ACM) manages this process, using sensors to detect a crash’s severity. If the impact is strong enough—or nearly strong enough—to trigger airbag deployment, the EDR locks in the recorded data for later analysis.

Why Is This Data Important?

For accident investigators, attorneys, and insurance companies, black box data provides critical, unbiased evidence about what happened in a crash. It can help determine:

• Whether speeding, braking, or reckless driving played a role.
• If the driver was wearing a seatbelt or engaging cruise control.
• Whether mechanical failures, such as brake or tire issues, contributed.
• The sequence of events leading up to the collision.

Legal Implications of Black Box Data

Following semi accidents, black box data is incredibly helpful to establish liability. This makes retrieving and analyzing the EDR information a crucial step in building a case. Data gathered from a truck’s black box is generally admissible evidence in court. Black box data can also be beneficial during settlement negotiations.

In a Colorado semi accident claim, our lawyers work to demonstrate liability against the trucker. By far, most commercial truck accidents are caused by driver error.

Data from a black box in semi-trucks amounts to incontrovertible information. For example, black box data would clearly show excessive vehicle and engine speed followed by hard braking and swerving, all typical in a crash caused by speeding. If data showed no braking, no swerving, no let-up on the throttle, and no downshifting just before a crash, we would argue that the truck driver was likely drowsy, fatigued, or asleep when the accident occurred. Records of the driver’s hours on the road would also contribute to the theory that fatigue contributed to the accident.

Black box data might indicate one or more mechanical malfunctions, such as brake failure, which may have caused or contributed to the accident. This might give us reason to pursue a third-party claim against a service vendor responsible for maintaining the truck.

Data from a truck’s EDR and ELD provides an accurate and fairly measured assessment of the events leading up to the crash under scrutiny. These devices are more precise, detailed, and dependable than anything a witness to the crash can provide. In a courtroom, this data can challenge or support either side’s version of events.

Truck accidents can be complicated. If a truck’s black box data is intact after an accident, its contents can be crucial for understanding how the accident occurred. We cannot overstate the value of acting quickly to obtain black box data.

Problems with EDR Data

EDR data can be an extremely useful tool for investigators and reconstructions, but it does have its limitations. Some of the instances in which EDR data may not be reliable include:

• Data is contradictory to physical evidence
• Data has flat lines or spikes
• Multiple impact collisions
• Vehicle spins, rolls over, or goes airborne
• Improper download of the data
• The black box was damaged

Multiple impact collisions can produce flawed EDR data since the timing of the impacts can cause the data to be overwritten or recorded out of sequence. Collisions that alter wheel speed, including spins and rollovers, can also impact the reliability of the recorded data.

Contact our Colorado Semi Accident Lawyers

At Bowman Law, we recognize the profound impact a personal injury can have on your life. Our Colorado semi accident lawyers understand the overwhelming challenges you may be facing. Do not go at it alone. Let us help. Our Colorado semi accident lawyers provide compassionate legal representation.

Our client-first approach ensures your needs are at the forefront of everything we do. We pride ourselves on transparency, integrity, and clear communication, guiding you through each step of the legal process. From initial consultation to the resolution of your case, we will guide you through the process. Our goal is to alleviate the stress of legal proceedings so you can focus on your recovery. With a proven record of success, we are dedicated to securing the compensation you deserve.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, do not face the challenges alone. Please send us a message or call us at 720-863-6904 to schedule a free case evaluation. Remember, you have one chance at attaining full and complete justice, and we are here to ensure you seize it. Let Colorado’s top-rated personal injury lawyers fight for your rights, protect your interests, and deliver the justice you deserve. We serve clients across Colorado’s Front Range and beyond, including Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Fort Collins, Westminster, Lakewood, and Aurora. Call us now and take the first step toward reclaiming your life.