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Your shiny new automobile may include a feature you didn’t request, and probably don’t even know about. Most- almost 96 percent- of the mass-produced vehicles in 2013, contain an event data recorder, or EDR. These EDRs, akin to “black box” surveillance devices, record your every maneuver while you’re behind the wheel.

Most people don’t know about the EDRs, even though they soon could become a mandatory automotive feature. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is requesting that, starting in September 2014, the installation of EDRs in all light passenger vehicles be required. However, opponents of the idea have begun raising awareness in an attempt to enlighten drivers to the fact that data concerning their every move behind the wheel is being collected, and could easily be shared, and used against them.

Few safeguards are in place and the still-emerging technology raises many questions about what types of information can legally be collected and who should be allowed to access it. Opponents of the NHTSA’s proposal argue that the EDRs are capable of collecting huge amounts of data, and that without proper protections, use of that information could be abused.

So far, only thirteen states have implemented restrictions safeguarding the data from being used without consent, by making it the property of the driver.

What Data Does an EDR Collect?

Law enforcement officials in Washington State told National Public Radio that the devices were never intended for investigative purposes, but rather designed to improve motor vehicle safety and help minimize passenger injuries.

Standard EDRs do not differentiate between specific drivers of the same vehicle, but rather, they provide a “snap shot” of what happens in a vehicle in those crucial moments just prior to a crash. According to the type of EDR, the device can record vehicle speed, crash force at the moment of impact, whether the brake was engaged before impact, if the seat belt was buckled, and other information about the state of the engine right before the crash.

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Trucking AccidentThe Importance of Black Box Data

Rainy and wintry weather make tractor-trailer accidents some of the most catastrophic and deadly accidents that occur on Seattle roads. When a trucking company or truck driver is responsible for these accidents, you will need an experienced trucking accident attorney on your side. Proving fault in a trucking accident can be difficult, but if you act quickly, it is not impossible.

Many commercial trucking companies outfit their large trucks with electronic data recorders known as black boxes. Most of these black boxes will record maintenance issues, driver performance and email exchanges between the driver and the trucking company. Specific information about driver performance includes rate of speed, hard braking, engine RPMs, and whether or not the clutch was engaged. Obtaining the data contained in these black boxes is vital to winning your case in Seattle courts.

Black box data can be lost if the truck is driven after the accident, so it is important for attorneys to download a truck’s black box data as soon as possible. Trucking companies are well aware of their importance in a personal injury case, and consequently many black boxes are “accidentally” lost or destroyed after trucking accidents.

Using Black Box Data

How lawyers use the black box data varies depending on the facts and circumstances of your individual Seattle trucking accident. The data can be used by an expert witness to prepare a computer animation that re-creates the accident. Such demonstrative aids are very effective tools for proving liability.

Additionally, the data can be used to contradict defense experts’ opinions. If their opinions are based on assumptions that are inconsistent with the data downloaded from the black box, your attorney can show that the defense’s reconstructions are incorrect.

How a Seattle Trucking Accident Attorney can help You

A knowledgeable Seattle trucking accident attorney can effectively use data obtained from a truck’s black box to prove liability and recover compensation for your medical bills, property damage, and lost wages after a commercial vehicle wreck. The damage that results from these collisions can be incredible, and the risk of serious injury to you can be significant.

Contact Seattle Trucking Accident Attorneys

If a large commercial truck driver injures you or someone you love, an experienced Seattle trucking accident attorney at Phillips Law Firm can help. If you are interested in learning more about your legal options, call us at 1-800-708-6000. Our Seattle trucking accident lawsuit attorneys are waiting to assist you 24/7, offering a free case evaluation. Remember our no fee promise. If we do not recover anything for you, you do not owe us an attorney fee.

The personal injury lawyers at Phillips Law Firm have successfully represented injured individuals and their families in Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Kent, Auburn, Renton, Federal Way, Bellingham, Marysville, Lakewood, Redmond, Shoreline, and throughout the State of Washington.

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Seattle Trucking AccidentEvery year, an estimated 15 million trucks travel more than 500 billion miles on United States freeways and highways. From produce to livestock, gasoline to consumer goods, these trucks generate $250 billion annually for trucking company owners. Yet even with this staggering profit, trucking companies still place profits before safety and routinely violate federal trucking regulations.

Trucking companies often look for ways to cut corners, in an attempt to increase profits. This can include cutting back on truck maintenance, neglecting to replace worn tires or auto parts, and encouraging drivers to drive long hours to get their jobs done. This often leads to truck drivers who are driving fatigued or under the influence of stimulant medication, and the results can be deadly to all those who share Seattle’s roads.

An estimated 500,000 trucking accidents occur each year in the United States and account for 1 out of every 8 traffic death. Yet even when a trucking company’s negligence has led to your accident, it is impossible to fight these large trucking companies without obtaining legal representation.

At Phillips Law Firm, our Seattle trucking accident lawyers have extensive experience fighting large trucking companies. Trucking companies often have large legal teams dedicated to protecting their profits and minimizing their liabilities. Our firm has the resources needed to take these large trucking companies to court and hold them accountable for their negligence. We don’t back down because we believe in obtaining justice for you.

When trucking companies are facing a lawsuit, they will stop at nothing to protect their bottom line and avoid responsibility. As such, they may falsify driving records, destroy black box data, and contact injured victims quickly to offer a low-ball settlement. Don’t let the trucking companies take advantage of you. You need to fight aggressively to obtain the compensation you need to fully recover and get your life back on track after a Seattle trucking accident.

Contact Seattle Trucking Accident Lawsuit Attorneys

If a large commercial truck driver injures you or someone you love, an experienced Seattle trucking accident attorney at Phillips Law Firm can help. If you are interested in learning more about your legal options, call us at 1-800-708-6000. Our Seattle trucking accident lawsuit attorneys are waiting to assist you 24/7, offering a free case evaluation. Remember our no fee promise. If we do not recover anything for you, you do not owe us an attorney fee.

The personal injury lawyers at Phillips Law Firm have successfully represented injured individuals and their families in Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Kent, Auburn, Renton, Federal Way, Bellingham, Marysville, Lakewood, Redmond, Shoreline, and throughout the State of Washington.

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