Proving Negligence in a Truck Accident Vs. a Standard Auto Accident

If you’ve been involved in a crash with an 18-wheeler in Texas, understanding the complexities of proving negligence is crucial. When considering truck vs. car accident liability, truck accidents typically involve multiple parties, intricate regulations, and substantial damages, while auto accidents rarely involve these situations. Navigating these challenges without legal expertise can be overwhelming and may jeopardize your ability to secure fair compensation. Our Houston truck accident attorneys can help you work through these more complex cases. Learn more about the key differences.

The Complexity of Proving Negligence in Truck Accident Cases

Truck accident injury claims are often far more complex than standard auto accident claims for a few different reasons.

Multiple Parties Might Be Liable

Unlike a typical car crash, a collision with a commercial truck may involve not only driver negligence, but also negligence from the trucking company, a third-party maintenance provider, a cargo loader, or even the truck or parts manufacturer. Determining whether one or more parties are liable requires a detailed investigation and a deep understanding of legal standards.

The Trucking Company Might Be Violating Regulations

Commercial trucks are subject to strict operational rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), such as hours-of-service limits, drug testing requirements, and vehicle maintenance protocols. A violation of these rules that leads to a crash can establish negligence. However, identifying and proving such violations demands legal experience and access to critical evidence. Standard accidents between two non-commercial cars don’t involve these FMCSA regulations.

Truck Crashes Might Cause Catastrophic Injuries

The injuries in trucking accidents are often more severe than in auto accidents. Severe injuries result in long-term medical care, lost earning capacity, and significant pain and suffering. Calculating damages requires speaking with medical experts, economists, and life-care planners. Because of these complexities, victims are strongly encouraged to work with personal injury lawyers with extensive truck accident litigation experience.

The Role a Truck’s Black Box Data Plays in Proving Negligence in Truck Vs. Car Accident Liability Cases

When a commercial truck is involved in an accident, one of the most valuable pieces of evidence for injury victims and their attorneys is the truck’s black box, technically known as an Event Data Recorder (EDR) or Electronic Control Module (ECM). This device records crucial information about the truck’s operation before, during, and after a collision—data that can be essential in proving negligence.

Modern semi-trucks are equipped with EDRs that automatically record and store data related to the truck’s performance. Many cars on our roads do not have these devices. The types of data captured by black boxes in commercial trucks may include:

• Speed at the time of the crash
• Sudden braking or acceleration
• Engine RPM
• Throttle position
• Steering input
• Whether seat belts were in use
• Airbag deployment
• GPS location
• Hours of service and driver logs (in trucks with integrated ELD systems)

The data can potentially identify violations of federal safety regulations and state and local traffic laws. In car accident cases, however, attorneys often have to rely on witness statements because this extensive data is not available.

Why Your Truck Accident Lawyers May Need to Rely on Black Box Data

Black box data can confirm or contradict statements made by the truck driver or the trucking company. For example, if the company claims the driver was obeying the speed limit or took proper evasive action, the EDR can either support or disprove these assertions. It also helps in proving if the driver was fatigued, speeding, or braking too late—key factors in proving negligence. This information helps expert witnesses in truck accident litigation cases reconstruct the crash and confirm the driver’s actions before impact.

How Attorneys Force Companies to Preserve Black Box Data After a Truck Accident

Trucking companies are not required to preserve black box data indefinitely. The data can be overwritten during regular operation or deleted during repairs or inspections. After an accident, an unscrupulous trucking company might delete the data to try to avoid taking responsibility. Therefore, prompt legal action is necessary to preserve it.

Attorneys can send what’s known as a spoliation letter—a formal legal notice sent to the trucking company, its insurer, or legal representatives. This letter demands that the company preserve the black box data and warns of legal consequences if the data is destroyed or altered. If necessary, attorneys may also file motions with the court to compel the trucking company to grant access to the truck or to produce the data.

Once a party is aware of potential litigation, they are obligated to preserve relevant evidence. If the trucking company fails to preserve the black box data after receiving a spoliation letter, courts may issue sanctions or allow juries to infer that the missing data would have been unfavorable to the defense.

Black box data plays a vital role in proving fault in truck accident cases. Forcing a company to preserve it is essential, which is why injury victims should contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible after a crash. Prompt action can make the difference between winning and losing a complex trucking case.

Contact Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law Today for Help in Establishing Negligence in a Truck Accident

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Texas, don’t navigate the complexities alone. Determining negligence in a truck accident is difficult for you to do as an accident victim, yet it’s a vital aspect to ensure the best chance of winning your injury claim. Our truck accident attorneys track down the extra evidence required to deal with the complexities of establishing truck vs. car accident liability and negligence, hopefully leading to a successful outcome. Some of the benefits we bring to your claim of negligence in a truck accident include:

• Expert Investigation: We conduct thorough investigations, including obtaining and analyzing critical evidence like EDR data.
• Regulatory Knowledge: We can identify violations of federal and state trucking regulations that may show negligence.
• Negotiation Skills: Our experienced lawyers can negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you receive fair compensation.

Call Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law now at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 for a free and confidential consultation. We can explain what to expect during a Texas truck accident lawsuit and assess all of your potential claims.