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Originally Posted On: https://davidstarneslaw.com/gps-and-driver-logs-in-18-wheeler-accident-investigations/

 

GPS and Driver Logs in 18-Wheeler Accident Investigations

Overview

Most claims for 18-wheeler accidents, which rely heavily on witness statements and police reports, can be meaningfully refined with GPS data and driver logs that provide detailed insights into the events leading up to the crash. In this blog, David W. Starnes Attorney At Law explores how these tools can help establish liability.

Highlights

• How GPS data strengthens a case
• How driver logs prove fault
• The role of black box technology
• Analyzing driver behavior with technology
• Corroborating witness testimony
• Building a stronger case

Introduction

To establish liability in an 18-wheeler accident case, you need evidence that clearly demonstrates fault. While the specifics vary case by case, GPS data and driver logs consistently provide reliable, objective information that can uncover key details about the driver’s actions.

Still, technological insights require other strong case-building details. It’s important, though, to use all evidence, especially with digital or technological insights available, alongside legal expertise to build a strong, comprehensive argument for liability and compensation.

Does GPS Data Strengthen Your 18-Wheeler Accident Claim?

Exculpatory claims often can’t survive the conclusive evidence that GPS data provides in an 18-wheeler accident claim. For instance, if a driver denies being in a specific location at the time of the accident, GPS data can reveal the truck’s exact route, speed, and stops.

This information, gathered either via formally filed requests for production or through subpoenas during the discovery process, undermines the defendant’s credibility and strengthens your case by providing indisputable proof of their presence at the scene.

The burden of proof in these proceedings requires demonstrating fault by a preponderance of evidence. In other words, GPS data is one such tool that can help you show that your version of the events is more believable than the defendant’s.

How GPS Tracking Works in Truck Accident Investigations

GPS tracking records a truck’s real-time location, speed, and route data through satellite systems, providing a detailed log of its movements. In many cases, this technology is standard in the trucking industry for fleet management and compliance with safety regulations.

In truck accident claims, GPS tracking can verify whether the driver adhered to designated routes, speed limits, or delivery schedules. For example, if a truck was on an unauthorized route or exceeded speed limits, GPS data can directly support claims of negligence.

Why Location Data Can Establish Liability in 18-Wheeler Accidents

GPS systems can establish precise details about a truck’s location at any given time, including its proximity to the accident site, nearby vehicles, and landmarks like intersections or construction zones.

Location data can be used in different ways to directly support your claim and can also help reconstruct the crash scene by mapping out the truck’s movements relative to other vehicles.

The Role of Trucking Company and Driver Logs in Proving Fault

The types of logs that are typically most relevant are those that track a driver’s hours of service, break times, and driving durations. If the logs show excessive driving hours or inadequate rest periods, it can demonstrate fatigue-related negligence.

Route logs and delivery schedules can also highlight whether the driver deviated from their assigned path or was under time pressures that encouraged unsafe driving behaviors. Logs might reveal, for instance, a rushed timeline or unauthorized detours.

There are often a lot of similarities between the data gleaned from GPS devices and electronic logging devices (ELDs), but the latter provides additional insights into driver compliance with federal safety regulations. GPS data focuses on location and movement, while ELDs track patterns of rest and activity.

How Truck Driver Logs Uncover Patterns in Unsafe Practices

Patterned behavior can provide the evidence needed to demonstrate a consistent disregard for safety regulations or company policies. Establishing recurring violations helps show that the accident wasn’t an isolated event but part of a larger pattern of misconduct.

Here are a few specific examples of relevant behaviors:

• Repeated hours of service violations: Indicate chronic driver fatigue and non-compliance with safety regulations.
• Irregular break patterns: Show insufficient rest periods or rushed schedules contributing to risky driving.
• Frequent unauthorized route deviations: Suggest a pattern of ignoring company policies or regulatory restrictions.
• Excessive speed or rapid acceleration trends: Highlight aggressive or reckless driving habits.
• Regular last-minute route changes: Indicate potential confusion or lack of proper planning that could lead to accidents.

How Black Box Technology Affects Truck Accident Cases

Black box technology, also known as an Event Data Recorder (EDR), is a device installed in commercial trucks that records data about the vehicle’s performance and driver actions. They collect distinct types of data compared to ELDs, focusing on crash-specific metrics like speed, braking, and throttle use.

In truck accident cases, black box data offers objective, tamper-resistant evidence that can confirm or refute claims made by drivers or trucking companies. Memory is not always reliable, especially in the case of fast accidents; black box data forces all parties to reckon with the facts of the case.

Here are a few important potential findings:

• Crash impact force: Measures the severity of the collision, helping to determine the extent of damage and potential fault.
• Airbag deployment timing: Indicates whether and when the airbags deployed during the crash.
• Engine RPM data: Shows how the truck’s engine was performing in the moments before impact.
• Trailer movement: In some cases, black box data may show irregular trailer movements that contributed to the crash.
• Gear shifts: Reveals if the truck was in the correct gear at the time of the accident, which may indicate driver error.

How an Expert Witness Interprets Black Box Data

Expert witnesses are often called upon to analyze and explain black box data clearly and comprehensibly to a judge or jury. During cross-examination specifically, the opposing counsel may attempt to challenge the expert’s credentials, methodology, or conclusions.

The expert witness might, for example, highlight key findings, such as speed or braking data, and explain how these align with or contradict other evidence, such as witness testimonies or police reports.

Cross-Examining With Insights From GPS and Log Records

GPS and log records provide insights into driver behavior that go beyond raw data. Patterns involving hard braking, irregular acceleration, or inconsistent speeds can indicate aggressive or inattentive driving habits, which reinforces a claim by establishing a history of negligence rather than a one-time mistake.

An attorney can argue that the driver’s actions reflect negligence or recklessness, linking their behavior directly to the cause of the accident. During a cross-examination of the driver or representatives, the attorney can highlight discrepancies between the recorded data and testimony.

Here are some potential questions an attorney can ask:

• Were you aware of the speed regulations for the route you were traveling?
• Why does the GPS data show that you deviated from your assigned route?
• Were you authorized to take that detour, and if so, by whom?
• Were you distracted or under any external pressure at the time?
• Did you report any delays or issues to your dispatch as required?

How GPS and Logs Corroborate Witness Testimony

Witnesses in 18-wheeler accident cases typically include other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or bystanders who observed the crash. Their testimonies can describe details like the truck’s speed, lane changes, or erratic behavior before the collision. GPS data and logs can corroborate these accounts.

For example, if a witness states that the truck was speeding through an intersection, GPS data can confirm the exact speed at the time. Similarly, driver logs may reveal whether the truck was operating outside its legal hours, supporting witness statements about a fatigued or distracted driver.

Raw data often doesn’t tell the full story, however, which is why a witness can still be highly valuable, even when ostensibly comprehensive GPS or log information is available. Witnesses provide context, including the driver’s demeanor or visible distractions that the data can’t capture or illuminate fully.

Why Technology Alone Can Fall Short in 18-Wheeler Accident Cases

Technology can be insufficient in 18-wheeler accident cases because it provides only partial detail. While GPS data, driver logs, and black box information are required to establish the facts of the matter, other external factors can swing or influence the outcome of the case.

Building a strong case also involves addressing legal and procedural components beyond the raw data. Lawyers need to consider liability from multiple angles, like the trucking company’s hiring practices, driver training records, and adherence to safety regulations. These broader aspects help establish negligence at both the individual and corporate levels.

Here are a few examples of other potentially relevant case-building details:

• Accident scene photographs: Visual evidence of vehicle damage, skid marks, and road conditions.
• Traffic camera footage: Captures the crash and surrounding events in real-time.
• Medical records: Documents the extent and cause of injuries sustained in the accident.
• Toxicology reports: Determines whether the truck driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Get Expert Legal Help for Your Truck Accident Lawsuit Today

Gathering evidence for your 18-wheeler accident lawsuit requires a thorough understanding of the legal and technical aspects involved. David W. Starnes Attorney At Law can build a strong case on your behalf by interpreting GPS data, logs, and other critical evidence.

Don’t navigate this complex process alone—reach out today at (409) 835-9900 to ensure your rights are protected and your claim is as strong as possible.