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What the data can show
Most heavy trucks have an engine control module, often called the black box. Depending on the model, it can record speed, braking, throttle and sudden stops in the seconds around a crash. Many carriers also use telematics systems that track the truck’s location and speed in real time and send that to the company’s office.
The electronic logging device records the driver’s hours. Federal rules limit a property-carrying driver to 11 hours of driving after 10 hours off duty, with no driving past the 14th hour on duty and a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving (49 C.F.R. 395.3). The logs can show whether the driver broke those limits. See how hours-of-service logs prove a tired driver.
Dashcams and other video
Many carriers use cameras that face the road, and some also record the driver. A road-facing camera can show the lane, the traffic and the moment of impact. A driver-facing camera can show a phone in hand or a driver nodding off. These systems often save only short clips, and the rest may be recorded over.
Video can also come from nearby businesses, buses, doorbell cameras and other drivers’ dashcams. That footage is often erased within days or weeks. Write down where the crash happened and which businesses face the road. If a delivery van was involved, our page on whether Amazon delivery vans have cameras has more.
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How to get the data before it is gone
Carriers must keep drivers’ duty status records, including electronic logging device records, for six months (49 C.F.R. 395.8). Engine data and camera clips may be kept for much less time, or overwritten when the truck keeps running. The truck can also be repaired or sold. That is why early action matters so much in truck cases.
A lawyer can send the carrier a written letter asking it to keep the logs, the engine data, the video and the truck itself. If a lawsuit is filed, the data can be requested formally and reviewed by people who know how to read it. After certain crashes, the carrier must also test the driver for drugs and alcohol (49 C.F.R. 382.303).
What to do now
Get medical care right away. Photograph the truck, the USDOT number, the company name and any cameras you see on the windshield. Save your own dashcam video and phone photos in more than one place. Get witness names and phone numbers, and ask nearby businesses whether their cameras face the road. Write down the report number and claim numbers.
In California, a personal injury lawsuit generally must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1). In Washington, the general deadline is three years (RCW 4.16.080). The data deadlines are much shorter, so call a lawyer quickly. Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement before you talk to one, and keep every receipt.
- See a doctor and keep your records
- Save your own dashcam and phone videos in two places
- Note businesses and homes with cameras facing the road
- Ask a lawyer to send a written request to keep the truck data
- Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement yet
How we can help
We send preservation letters to carriers early, and we work with people who download and read truck data and logs. That lets us test the driver’s account against what the truck recorded. Call (310) 552-6959 or use the form on this page to start. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
If you were rear-ended, see what to do after being rear-ended by a semi truck. If you think the driver was tired, read how fatigue is proven. You can also visit our California truck accident lawyer page or browse all accident questions for more on insurance, medical bills and deadlines.
Common questions
Do semi trucks have black boxes?
Most heavy trucks have an engine control module that can record speed, braking and sudden stops around a crash, depending on the model. Many also have electronic logging devices and telematics. The data can be lost, so a lawyer should ask the carrier in writing to keep it.
How long does a trucking company keep driver logs?
Federal rules require carriers to keep drivers’ duty status records, including electronic logging device records, and supporting documents for six months. Engine data and video may be kept for less time. Ask a lawyer to request them soon after the crash.
Can I get the truck’s dashcam video?
Often, yes, through your lawyer. A written request to the carrier asks it to keep the video, and in a lawsuit it can be formally requested. Many systems save only short clips, so the request should go out quickly.
What if the truck company says it has no video?
Ask why, and when the system last recorded. A lawyer can ask for the camera system’s records and the company’s policies on saving footage. Video from nearby businesses, buses or other drivers may still exist, so look for it quickly.
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Car and truck accident lawyer — Beverly Law
If you were hurt in a car or truck crash in California and Washington, talk to a personal injury attorney. Free, confidential, English or Spanish. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
Related pages
Can I sue a truck driver for hitting me? · Who is liable in a truck accident: the driver, the trucking company or the broker? · Rear-ended by a semi truck: what to do · Hit by a semi truck on the freeway: your rights · Jackknife truck accident: who is at fault? · All car and truck accident questions
Sources
Important: This page is general information about California and Washington law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Last reviewed: November 5, 2026.